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

The first day of any expedition is nerve-wracking, thinking about the future days together with your crew—the miles not yet traveled and skills waiting to be mastered. You’re apt to see everyone’s true selves, which will be a mixture of... READ MORE

For the families of high school juniors or seniors, or for those with young adults out of high school, the stress of college applications and finding jobs is likely here. Every path leading to life after high school seems to... READ MORE

I remember when I found out my freshman roommate had taken a gap year. I was struck with curiosity and wonder. One semester she sailed the Atlantic Ocean and another she backpacked in New Zealand. Most college freshmen are timid... READ MORE

Maybe you’re fresh out of high school or are taking time off to figure out your next move, and something is drawing you to experience something new, different and a little scary. For those who seek an unknown landscape, a... READ MORE

I don’t know what to do with my life. Sound familiar? This is something we’ve all felt, no matter our age or stage in life. Whether you’re faced with the pressure of choosing a college major; you’re 30 and feel... READ MORE

Outward Bound Instructors are students, too. Not just in a ‘good teachers are also always learning from their students’ kind of way. We actively place ourselves in a learning role where we can be students. It’s not always easy. But,... READ MORE

What is a Gap Year? A ‘Gap Year’ is intentional time away from the classroom or workplace—far from a wild or leisurely vacation—that facilitates personal growth through challenge and purpose. It is a time to pursue life experience and investigate interests.... READ MORE

At some point during the shift to a new year, I love to look ahead and envision how I can make the most of the upcoming year. What’s important this year? A break from routine? A motivator for getting more... READ MORE

You are thinking of taking a gap year, but the idea of it is daunting. The year between high school and college can feel like chaos away from the structure you’re used to, an entire year where you have the... READ MORE