Deciding what type of expedition is right for your teen can feel overwhelming—we’re here to help.  This post was originally published on August 9, 2018, and updated on April 6, 2021. The list of things teens learn on Outward... READ MORE

Establishing expectations are important for creating a safe, collaborative and unified environment among teens. Whether it’s at school or home, expectations are the glue that can keep a family or a classroom of students together. They hold us accountable for... READ MORE

 What even is school right now? With students and teachers, school faculty and staff forging a path through overgrown, nearly-impossible-to-navigate, terrain—I can only imagine how challenging it must be emotionally for our young people. New, unprecedented circumstances bring about... READ MORE

 2020 was one big ball of stress, and just because the year came to an end doesn’t mean that stress dissipates. Of course, we all want to press the reset button, but more so, we want to make amends... READ MORE

Summer can present both opportunities and challenges to families and teenagers as they navigate the potential loss of routines and social time provided by school schedules. With extra time on their hands, and during this summer of a pandemic, there... READ MORE

 Our crew was sitting around the fire partaking in ‘Hopes and Fears,’ an activity where each student shares what they look forward to and what they’re scared about going into their course experience. The thing I’m most scared of... READ MORE

 “I have a daughter,” my 15-year-old student said to his peers around the campfire on the second night of our 20-day canoeing course. My co-Instructors and I looked around the circle at each other, at the other students, and... READ MORE

How was school? What’d you do today? Who’s going to be there? Where’s your sister? These seemingly simple questions, when asked to your teenager, may foster the vaguest responses. Fine. Nothing. I don’t know. A shrug. It can be frustrating... READ MORE

After spending three years living and working outside with teenagers, I’ve picked up on recurring obstacles that I’ve watched my students face. They know all along what they struggle with at home, but the intimacy of the wilderness as a... READ MORE

Parenting is hard. Sometimes, it can be really hard. Suffering in parent/teenager relationships can stem from the disconnect between the experience of the teen and the experience of the adult. Teens have a hard time understanding why their parents are... READ MORE