During the first phase of this Semester expedition, students get the opportunity to visit one of the least populated and pristine regions in the world. In Nahuel Huapi National Park, students learn the techniques of alpine trekking and perfect their technical skills as they prepare to summit an Andean peak (weather permitting). Patagonia's unique flora and fauna, snow-covered volcanic peaks, ice slopes and unique terrain have attracted many scientific expeditions, including those of Charles Darwin. After extended backcountry living in this unique environment, students will realize and appreciate the connection between teamwork and individual success.

While in Patagonia, students are encouraged to live in the moment and immerse themselves in the culture. Outside of trying new foods and meeting locals, students will practice giving back by completing a service project. This project could include fence building, painting homes, harvesting fruit and building structures with local farmers. Participants can receive service project hours for this course and simply need to alert their Instructors prior to the course start.

After spending the first part of the journey traveling with heavy packs, students welcome the chance to carry their gear for the second phase of the course in a canoe. Students can expect to spend a good deal of time each day in canoes as they go from campsite to campsite, moving through the unique ecosystem of the Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands off the Gulf Coast. These canoes are tandem, which means the crew works together in teams of two. Depending on the weather, the level of difficulty varies day to day, but crews learn marine expedition risk assessment and management, marine route planning and navigation, paddle strokes, canoe-based rescues, equipment use and how to work with a paddling partner.

During the last phase, students will backpack through the plunging valleys and ancient 6,000-foot summits of the Appalachian Range in Western North Carolina. By working together to backpack through temperate rainforests, climb in and around the Linville Gorge and paddle some of the best whitewater in the southeast, students step outside their comfort zones and learn to communicate with and trust their new crewmates.

The rock climbing portion of this phase focuses on safety, as students begin with the basics; tying knots, safety systems, belaying, and climbing techniques. Depending on group dynamics and weather, the goal is to achieve top-rope climbs and progress to a multi-pitch route led by a climbing specialist. There is also the chance to experience a rappel and the high ropes course.

Participants will also spend up to four days paddling Class I-Class III whitewater through sculpted rock channels in tandem (two-person) canoes. Crews learn how to identify and use paddling equipment, basic water safety, and rescue techniques, paddling strokes and how to work with their partner to successfully paddle flat water and negotiate numerous rapids and drops.

Participants will have the opportunity to prepare for the unexpected by earning a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification during the mountains phase of the course. This fast-paced, hands-on training is designed to teach skills to care for those who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Offered through a partnership with Landmark Learning, an accredited organization, this certification will include classroom lectures and demonstrations, combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge participants to use what they've learned. After successfully completing the WFA and CPR components, students are eligible to apply for academic credit for this certification.

Patagonia, South America

In southern South America lies a land untouched, growing wild and rugged. As one of the least populated regions in the world, Patagonia is a semi-arid plateau that covers over 250,000 square miles mainly in Argentina. This remote wilderness boasts dramatic landscapes and is famed for its adventures and adventurers. From its isolated mountain valleys and snow-clad volcanic peaks to its glaciers and waterfalls, Patagonia has few equals in lands of exploration. Students visit the city of Bariloche (population 108,205), which is situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and is surrounded by the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Established in 1934 to preserve local flora and fauna, it is the oldest national park in Argentina and the largest in the region with an area of nearly 2 million acres. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Mapuche and Tehuelche nations.

The Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands

The Florida Everglades are the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and the third-largest national park in the lower 48 states. The aquatic preserve is home to an array of wild creatures and exotic plant life. More than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 reptile species live within it. Because of this, it is one of only three locations in the world to show up on the following lists, an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a World Heritage Site. 

This course area is in a subtropical region, with a 12-month growing season. The Florida peninsula is believed to be the last part of the continental United States to rise from the ocean, making it the youngest region geologically and only Alaska can claim a longer shoreline. The Everglades are mild and pleasant from December through April, with low humidity and clear skies. Temperatures reach average highs of 88 degrees and lows of 54 degrees. Strong cold fronts may occasionally create near-freezing conditions, but such events are rare in this subtropical climate. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Calusa, Miccosukee, and Seminole nations.

Blue Ridge Mountains, NC

The Southern Appalachians, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, are some of the oldest mountains in the world. While the mountains themselves formed over 250 million years ago, some of the rocks that underlie the region are over a billion years old.

The long geologic and evolutionary history of the Southern Appalachians has created one of the most biologically diverse regions in the temperate world. It is home to beautiful rushing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls and some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States—including Mt. Mitchell (elevation 6,684 feet), the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Outward Bound students can expect to share the wilderness with over 700 different kinds of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 different types of birds and over 50 species of amphibians.

This course area is situated within a million acres of national forests, federally-protected wilderness areas, and other public lands. Its diverse landscapes have been featured in many motion pictures, including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans. 

Temperatures in this area range from 50 - 85 degrees in the summer, 30 - 65 degrees in the spring and fall, and 10 - 50 degrees in the winter. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Cherokee.