A big part of what makes a Pathfinder course unique is goal setting. Before course, students are asked to identify someone from their support system (parent, friend, coach, teacher, etc.) that can help them stay committed to their goals once they're home. Then, before the course ends, students will participate in a call with that support person and their Outward Bound instructor. The call will highlight any lessons learned on course, identify goals for the future, and determine how to best incorporate all of this newfound knowledge into their lives at home.

Backpacking gives students a unique opportunity to travel further than many typically go. Students feel a sense of freedom in carrying everything they need in their packs - food, shelter, clothing, and gear. They can eat when hungry, set up camp when tired, and control what they accomplish each day. This simple mode of travel gives students the opportunity to focus on themselves and practice perseverance and self-reliance. 

During backpacking days, students learn Leave No Trace Principles that minimize their impact on the land, how to navigate with a map and compass, and the different parts of camp craft.

Equally important to the technical skills is learning conflict resolution, communication styles, leadership techniques, and teamwork. After the crew has practiced these skills, Instructors will take a step back and allow the group to lead themselves, where they will be rewarded with plenty of laughter and stunning misty mountain vistas.

After a few days of wilderness fundamentals and building crew camaraderie, students will learn to maneuver Class I-Class III whitewater rapids. Paddling through sculpted rock channels in tandem (two-person) canoes offers the perfect opportunity to foster teamwork and communication skills. Students will execute synchronized strokes, dynamic eddy turns, peel-outs, and ferries on the French Broad, Tuckaseegee, Chattooga, New, or Nantahala Rivers. Some of the topics crews cover during this portion of the course include identification and use of equipment, basic water safety and rescue techniques, how to work with paddling partners to successfully negotiate Class l-Class III rapids, and flatwater and whitewater paddling strokes.

With a focus on safety, climbing instruction starts by teaching the basics, such as working with ropes and learning to tie knots. As students progress, they'll learn to climb up, or rappel down, a rock face. They may also have the opportunity to work through a high ropes obstacle course together. These uniquely structured activities provide opportunities for self-reliance, communication, and collaboration as participants confront and work through fears and challenges.

Participants prepare for the unexpected by earning a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification. This fast-paced, hands-on training teaches how to care for those who become ill or injured and are far from definitive medical care. Offered through a partnership with Landmark Learning, an accredited organization, this certification includes classroom lectures, demonstrations, and realistic scenarios where mock patients challenge participants to use what they've learned. 

Solo is an opportunity for students to spend time alone to relax, recharge, and reflect on their course after having long days of strenuous group activities. Many students use this reflection time to think about their past and future, journal, or quietly enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. Many students find solo to be one of the most powerful and thought-provoking parts of their Outward Bound experience.

During Solo, Instructors assign students to their own space within a designated area. These sites are secluded and within hearing distance of other group members and Instructors for safety. Students will have all the necessary gear, food, water, and skills to enjoy this time alone. They also know the location of their Instructors’ campsite should they need to contact them for any reason. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this time. Students will participate in a Solo progression on this course that includes daily reflection time and a multi-day Solo experience.

Service has always been integral to Outward Bound, allowing students to experience a deeper relationship with the environment and the local communities surrounding the course area. Students can expect to engage in several service projects that may include trail maintenance, building and grounds maintenance in local recreation areas, invasive species management, working with rescue animals, or building houses. Students explore the role of service on course and in their life at home and reflect on the impact of service on the community and themselves.

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Mountains, or Southern Appalachians, is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. While the mountains formed over 250 million years ago, some rocks underlying the region are over a billion years old. The Southern Appalachians' long geologic and evolutionary history has created one of North America's most biologically diverse regions. Some even say it is “rainforest-like.” 

This region 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. Its diverse landscapes have been featured in many motion pictures, including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.

Outward Bound students can expect to share the wilderness with over 700 kinds of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 different types of birds, and over 50 species of amphibians. The huge numbers of trees and plants give these mountains their namesake. Trees put the ‘blue’ in the Blue Ridge Mountains from the organic chemicals they release into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the distinctive color of these mountains. Temperatures in this area range from 50 to 85 degrees in the summer, 30 to 65 degrees in the spring and fall, and 10 to 50 degrees in the winter. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Cherokee.