“This was the toughest, coolest, hardest and most introspective experience I have ever had. Some positive highlights of my course were cross country skiing all day to push through and avoid the rain. My Solo was also a highlight. Overcoming fears about my fire going out, being prepared and so on. As well as pushing myself to exhaustion and learning that I know I can accomplish what I put my mind to.” – Josh, Alumnus
“A highlight of the course was the midnight dog run, to end at the dog yard. I learned through my experience at Outward Bound that all people need closer interaction with nature.” – Alumnus
“The group made this experience amazing. There are a lot of happy memories associated with it. Coming in at midnight on a dog sled expedition with Christmas lights was awesome.” – Alumus
“Through this course I learned to take time to contemplate. The more open the conversations that you have with others, the more you can take away from it. I don’t think I will stop telling people about this experience. But, most of all I will tell people that it was truly a life changing experience.” – Geerten, Alumnus
Dogsled, ski, and snowshoe over magical, pristine lakes and snowy forests on this exhilarating, eight-day dog sledding and cross country ski expedition. Experience the beauty and learn the techniques of winter travel and camping in order to be inspired and refocus on your priorities. Develop outdoor skills, greater self-reliance and increased self-confidence as you unplug and disconnect from the stressors of your normal daily obligations. Learn to harness, mush and care for a dog team as you work together with the dogs to move the expedition gear from camp to camp. Instructor-facilitated discussions around key concepts of life/work balance, coupled with time for personal reflection add a valuable dimension to this wilderness expedition. No prior winter knowledge or experience is necessary; skilled instructors and energetic sled dogs provide all of the training you will need.
COURSE # | DATES | DAYS | AGE | COST | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VMAD-826 | 12.27.18 - 1.3.19 | 8 | 18 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMRD-824 | 12.27.18 - 1.3.19 | 8 | 30 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMAD-921 | 1.5.19 - 1.12.19 | 8 | 18 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMAD-922 | 1.12.19 - 1.19.19 | 8 | 18 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMRD-921 | 1.12.19 - 1.19.19 | 8 | 30 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMAD-932 | 2.7.19 - 2.16.19 | 10 | 18 and up | $2,350 | ENROLL |
VMRD-922 | 2.9.19 - 2.16.19 | 8 | 30 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMAD-923 | 2.23.19 - 3.2.19 | 8 | 18 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMRD-923 | 3.2.19 - 3.9.19 | 8 | 45 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMAD-924 | 3.9.19 - 3.16.19 | 8 | 18 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
VMAD-925 | 3.16.19 - 3.23.19 | 8 | 18 and up | $2,025 | ENROLL |
This course may be full or preparing to leave in the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
Do you ever want to unplug, step away from the daily grind to take on new challenges? Are you ready to conquer harder skills and remind your senses (or discover for the first time) what it’s like to crest a mountain peak, hear the echoes at the edge of a vast canyon or feel the rush of white water spray on your face? Take a break from your routine, radically change your surroundings and test your tenacity. Put some “firsts” in front of you and find moments of unexpected discovery along the way. Experience Outward Bound as an adult and prepare for an injection of adventure, awareness and adaptability that sticks with you long after you unpack your backpack.
Return home with newly expanded wilderness acumen, an energized outlook, a rekindled allowance of empathy into situations and relationships and an eye toward the future.
Together with a team of expert Instructors and loveable sled dogs, students experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with nature, working animals and each other in thrilling, challenging and utterly stunning wilderness environments. Using map and compass, students learn to navigate a route over frozen lakes, rivers and the overland portage trails between them. Participants develop skills in dog mushing, cross-country skiing, ice reading, winter camping and sled dog care. Group members take turns mushing the dogsleds and skiing or snowshoeing throughout the course but everyone cares for the dogs on a daily basis. Take part in a beautiful winter choreography as skiers serve as advance “scouts” carrying their own supplies for the day in backpacks or towing a small personal sled known as a “pulk”. While skiers navigate, check for safe ice conditions and track out a trail, mushers help guide the loaded dog sleds to follow. The group comes together to maneuver the dogsleds over obstacles and steep terrain and at the end of each day, make and enjoy camp.
Students learn to live comfortably in the depths of a Minnesota winter and what it takes to construct a winter camp. Instructors teach participants techniques for harvesting water from beneath the ice, dressing properly for freezing temperatures, felling trees for firewood, cooking over an open fire and setting up shelters and cozy winter sleeping systems. A hearty dinner and enriching conversation with fellow group members around an outdoor fire or the wood stove in a large, canvas wall tent rounds out each day. Students often enjoy clear evening stargazing before drifting off into a well-deserved sleep. Students learn that not only can they survive, but truly thrive in an extreme and remote winter environment.
Service is a cornerstone of every Outward Bound experience. From the seemingly small daily acts of service to the environment to the regular tasks of being part of an expeditionary team, participants have ample opportunities to experience the value of giving back to the larger community. On the expedition, participants are encouraged to practice environmental stewardship in the form of Leave No Trace ethics - leaving campsites and trails in better condition than they found them. Participants also practice regular acts of service for their team including the hard-working sled dogs by preparing and serving meals, securing drinking water, breaking trail and giving the dogs plenty of affection.
The Solo experience provides an important break from the rigors of the expedition and gives students the opportunity to reflect on their Outward Bound experience. Many students use this reflection time to make decisions about their future, journal and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings unencumbered by the constant external stimulation of modern life. The duration of Solo depends on the course length and type, as well as the competency and preparedness of the student group. With all the food, skills and supplies they need, participants are given a secluded spot to reflect alone, and are monitored by staff throughout the experience to maintain safety. Students find that Solo provokes profound and powerful learning in a short period of time and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of their Outward Bound experience.
Courses are offered in a variety of locations and lengths of time to provide a range of programming options for students to choose the optimal experience for them. Longer courses allow for a full immersion into the Outward Bound experience, more time to practice wilderness skills and the opportunity to experience both success and failure to promote powerful and lasting personal growth. Shorter courses offer students an opportunity to step away from the hectic pace of modern life and experience the simplicity of wilderness travel while gaining new perspectives through a potent and energizing expedition.
Adult courses focus on self-reflection, defining or redefining values, increasing self-awareness and gaining clarity of purpose. Regardless of course type, participants can expect to get comfortable living and working together in the wilderness while creating a solid foundation of skills and perspectives they can continue to build on after the course.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
Over 10,000 years ago, continent-sized glaciers scraped their way across much of Ontario and northern Minnesota leaving deep ruts, ravines and holes in their tracks. Eventually, as the glaciers melted, these ravines filled with water, creating a seemingly endless interconnected web of lakes and rivers. In 1964, the US Forest Service designated 1 million square acres of this north woods environment as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) making it one of the largest, most pristine wilderness areas in the country. Without roads or motorized traffic, the Boundary Waters is true, remote wilderness where wildlife including black bear, moose, bald eagles and the common loon enjoy life unspoiled by human impact. In the winter, the BWCAW transforms into an even more wondrous and intense wilderness as many plants and animals hibernate or migrate, leaving the hardy, well-adapted species to take the spotlight. Playful otters, howling wolves and sturdy evergreens reign supreme in this snow-covered wonderland. While travel in these extreme conditions can be more difficult, winter enthusiasts enjoy moving over frozen lakes and rivers by dogsled, cross-country skis and snowshoes. Winter in the Boundary Waters is mesmerizing, peaceful and inspiring. It is a place of spectacular extremes: fresh snow resting on ancient granite; clean, cold air surrounding glowing hot fires; and powerful silence encased in a brilliant starlit sky with the occasional blast of colorful northern lights.
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.