Semester Alum, Mac Gaither provides a bird’s eye view into his expedition learnings through his own words and photography. It was day 59 of our 63-day Leadership Semester program. We’d climbed mountains on top of mesas, canoed the Lower Canyons... READ MORE

Discover how leadership skills learned through an Outward Bound gap year program transition into lives of leadership in students back home. You just finished up a gap year program with Outward Bound. You’re ready to take a normal shower, eat... READ MORE

This post was originally published on July 6, 2015, and updated on July 1, 2021. “Gap year experiences invariably serve to develop some of the non-cognitive skills that current research are showing predict success better than IQ: motivation, optimism, grit,... READ MORE

 Are you ready to dive into backcountry travel this year? From long-distance backpacking to mountaineering, from dog sledding to climbing, these outdoor activities all have something in common: they’re physically demanding backcountry exercises. When you embark on an outdoor... READ MORE

As a leadership school, we know that in times of uncertainty, the leaders that shine are the ones who are obsessed with learning. We lean into failure and push each other to stretch past our comfort zones. Why? Because we... READ MORE

A few minutes into your Outward Bound course, you may think, “I’m nervous. I’m excited. I hope people like me.” A few days into the course, you may think, “I can’t do this. My body can’t do this. I want... READ MORE

 Life is a journey, and sometimes it can be challenging to find our way. Our Pathfinder course for young adults is an outdoor program designed to give you tools to navigate the challenges and decisions ahead. On a Pathfinder... READ MORE

You finished your first Outward Bound course. Congratulations! Now you can’t wait to go on your next one, right? Maybe you took a classic course as a high school student, and you’re looking to continue your journey of self-discovery. What... READ MORE

Perhaps you’re at the side of a river. It’s evening and you’ve just noticed that the campsite you were planning to sleep at is taken already. Or maybe you’re standing at a trail junction and looking at a sign that... READ MORE

A few weeks ago, I was standing in a circle with five dirt-covered adolescents just outside Marble, Colorado. With Aspen leaves still dripping from the early morning’s downpour, I told the students that the 15-day mountaineering course they had just... READ MORE