In 2025, the settings varied. A windswept stretch of ocean in the Florida Keys. Granite cliffs rising out of coastal Maine. Red rock canyons in the Southwest. The sub-tropical wilderness of the Everglades. Sweeping views of the Alpines. But the throughline was the same—uncertainty, discomfort, and the quiet question that followed: What am I capable of?

For the organizations behind these experiences, that question was the point.

For the Morehead-Cain Foundation, the expeditions were an extension of its mission to develop leaders through challenge and reflection.

“Our partnership with Outward Bound USA reflects the Morehead-Cain Program’s commitment to developing principled leaders who are resilient, self-aware, and prepared to engage meaningfully with the world,” said Haley Allen, Morehead-Cain’s program coordinator for scholar advising and staff lead for the Outdoor Leadership summer. “Through immersive outdoor experiences, scholars confront real challenges, strengthen teamwork, and gain the confidence that comes from stepping beyond their comfort zones.”

Through immersive outdoor experiences, scholars confront real challenges, strengthen teamwork, and gain the confidence that comes from stepping beyond their comfort zones.

For Outward Bound USA, the partnership was about creating transformative experiences that endured long after the expedition ended.

“This partnership has grown into something truly meaningful,” reflected Kristina Stockburger, Outward Bound USA’s Account Manager. “Together, we create experiences that build confidence, resilience, and leadership. The longevity of this relationship allows us to deepen our impact each year, grounded in trust and a shared commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.”

At first, the challenge was immediate. Blisters formed on long hikes. Sleep came lightly on unfamiliar ground.

Out on the Water, Figuring It Out

In the Florida Keys, scholars on a Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Florida Keys Sailing course learned to navigate open water, balancing wind and tide while adjusting to tight quarters and constant motion. For some, even the first few days felt like a test.

“Over the first few days I struggled to adjust to the physical demands of this course and the unconventional lifestyle,” said Sydney, 19, reflecting on her Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Florida Keys Sailing expedition. “However, my first day as captain quickly came and I had to push aside my personal discomfort to elevate the rest of the crew.”

That moment, when discomfort gave way to responsibility, was where something began to shift.

Across courses, students were asked to lead, to navigate, to make decisions, and to care for one another. With instructors stepping back, scholars stepped forward. They learned quickly that leadership wasn’t about having all the answers—it was about showing up anyway. As Andy Colby, Director of Educational Partnerships at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, explained, that shift was by design.

“All HIOBS courses create a context where participants are brought together under the careful eyes of trained outdoor educators, learn a lot of new skills quickly, and then are supported to autonomy. Our goal is to create the environment for the students to lead the expedition…while providing safe oversight.”

In that space, supported but not directed, students began to see themselves differently: “This experience is the hallmark of leadership skills, self-possession, self-reliance, and reflection,” Colby added. “It cranks up one’s confidence level and facility working with others, helping each student to feel as if they are needed and belong.”

And slowly, something changed.

The Climb Builds Trust

Along the rugged coastline of Maine, scholars who participated in Hurricane Island Outward Bound School’s Backpacking & Rock Climbing course scaled granite cliffs and hiked remote trails, relying on one another for encouragement and safety. In those moments of shared effort, bonds formed quickly, and deeply.

“Going forward, this experience has taught me the value of cultivating a community of compassion and to share moments of vulnerability openly,” said Eddie, 18, reflecting on his experience.

Going forward, this experience has taught me the value of cultivating a community of compassion and to share moments of vulnerability openly.

Alone With Your Thoughts (In a Good Way)

In the Everglades, the pace shifted. North Carolina Outward Bound School scholars participated in their Everglades & 10,000 Islands Canoeing course, paddling through the treelined waterways and camping under open skies. Removed from distraction, they were left with themselves in a new way.

“If I could do it all over again, I would tell myself to just find comfort in discomfort,” said Melanie, 19, reflecting on her course. “I was shown a version of myself that I did not meet prior. I was able to believe in myself truly for the first time.”

Turns Out, You’re Not Stuck

In the vast canyons and mountains of the Southwest, scholars on a Colorado Outward Bound School Southwest Rafting & Backpacking course navigated diverse landscapes and challenges each day. There, new perspectives came into focus. Standing above a winding river, one scholar described a moment of clarity: “It really gave me a great idea of how much agency we had in our lives,” shared a scholar. “If there is something we don’t like, we have the ability to change it.”

By the end of the course, the challenges didn’t disappear, but they felt different. What once felt overwhelming became manageable. What once felt impossible became something they had already done.

“So many young people navigate the world believing that life happens to them,” says Kelsey Maxwell, Marketing Communications Manager. “But when they learn to adapt and lead in a setting as dynamic as a whitewater river, youth learn very quickly that they have the skills to take control of their lives and build the future of their dreams. A typical classroom doesn’t spark that kind of transformational growth.”

Hitting Your Limit—and Getting Past It

In California’s High Sierra, scholars on an Outward Bound California Alpine Backpacking and Rock Climbing course pushed themselves across rugged trails and up granite faces. Reflecting on the experience, Aran, 18, offered advice to those who would follow: “The course will be hard — physically, mentally, and socially. But the feeling of finishing the course is unparalleled. It’s okay to feel homesick… it’s okay to feel like you’ve reached your limit. Just. Keep. Pushing!”

“What made this experience so powerful wasn’t just the adventure, it was the transformation that happened. Students arrived with different backgrounds, comfort levels, and motivations, but through challenge, they learned to support one another with remarkable empathy and resilience. Even on their hardest days, they found ways to grow, to connect, and to persevere, reflected Rishi Bhandari, Course Director and Lead Instructor of OBCA’s Morehead-Cain expedition. “Outside their usual expectations and pressures, they built a real sense of community, confidence, and perspective that will stay with them far beyond the expedition, I hope!”

That persistence, through discomfort, uncertainty, and growth, was the thread that connected every expedition in 2025.

Even on their hardest days, they found ways to grow, to connect, and to persevere.

What Stuck After It Was Over

For decades, the partnership between the Morehead-Cain Foundation and Outward Bound USA has been built on that belief: that when students stretch beyond their comfort zones, self-discovery follows. What emerged wasn’t just stronger hikers or more confident leaders, but individuals with a clearer sense of who they are and what they’re capable of.

The landscapes may have faded, but the lessons didn’t. Scholars returned from these expeditions carrying more than memories. They carried a deeper confidence, a stronger connection to others, and a lasting understanding of their own resilience.

Every course was different. Every student was different. But the journey was one they all shared.

We are deeply grateful to our partners at the Morehead-Cain Foundation and to the Outward Bound Schools who help bring these remarkable 2025 stories to life. Their commitment makes it possible to capture and share the depth of these experiences in a meaningful way. As we reflect on a year of growth and discovery, we’re already looking ahead with anticipation. We can’t wait to welcome our 2026 scholars and to learn from the journeys, insights, and adventures that await them.