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Middle School
Potomac River – Canoe & Environmental Service
An 8 day adventure for ages 12 to 14
Paddle one of the East Coast’s most iconic rivers while learning how to care for the environment. Each day combines canoeing, teamwork, and hands on service work, helping students build confidence, make friends, and connect with the natural world.
No experience needed. Expert instructors guide students every step of the way in a safe and supportive environment.
Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Open 
Maryland/West Virginia
About This Course
Activity
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Canoeing -
Service Projects
Setting & Location
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River -
Course Start Location: Baltimore -
Course End Location: Baltimore
Session Details
2 sessions are available for this course
What You'll Learn
On this course, you will build confidence while learning how to work as part of a team in a new environment. You will practice communication, leadership, and problem solving skills through real challenges on the river. You will also develop a deeper understanding of the natural world, including how rivers and watersheds function, the plants and animals that live along the Potomac, and the role people play in protecting these environments.
What You'll Do
Travel down the Potomac River by canoe, working as a team to paddle, navigate, and set up camp along the way. Each day brings a mix of time on the water, hands on learning, and shared responsibilities with your crew. Along the journey, you will take part in environmental service projects that help protect the river. You will also learn practical outdoor skills, cook meals together, and take on leadership roles within your group.
Where You'll Be
The Potomac River flows nearly 400 miles from the mountains of West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay, providing drinking water, recreation, and natural beauty to millions of people along its tree lined banks. You will travel a scenic section of this historic waterway, paddling past forests, rock formations, and quiet shoreline campsites.
Why It Matters
The Potomac River is more than a place to explore. It is a vital natural resource for more than 6 million people who live in its watershed. On this course, you will build a deeper understanding of how rivers like the Potomac support both people and wildlife. Through your service work and time on the water, you will learn how watersheds function, why they matter, and how you can play a role in protecting them.
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Confidence Starts Here
What if you learned how to face obstacles head-on while feeling brave, included, and proud of who you are?
One Week Courses for Middle School
Try exciting things and practice new ways of connecting with your group. You’ll take on challenges, weigh healthy risks and work together with your crew to find success! Are you ready for adventure? Let’s go!
Bravery Meets Belonging
Uncover your own bravery with support from your crew. Meet challenges designed to activate your strengths, develop persistence, and show you what you’re made of—even when things get tough.
Skills for Life
You’ll practice key skills like communication, taking initiative, and problem-solving with purpose. You’ll be given space to make choices – and take responsibility for them. Through trial and error, learn how to face obstacles head-on—growing more capable with every step.
Stronger Together
You won’t go it alone—crew is everything. You’ll explore common ground with your crew while also learning how to acknowledge each other’s uniqueness in a group where every voice matters. You will learn how to face challenges as a supportive team, forging strong friendships.
Life on Course
Experience a different camp sight each night as you traverse the twists and bends of the Potomac River.
You’ll have to work as a crew to navigate the river, while transporting all your gear from one campsite to the next each day. Learn paddling techniques, river navigation, and other technical canoe skills from our Instructors as you progress through a river steeped in history and wildlife.
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Sample Itinerary
Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.
Swipe on table below to view more.
8-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start, introductory lessons in canoeing and river dynamics, begin paddling |
| Day 2-5 | Canoeing, lessons in advanced paddling techniques and Potomac River ecology |
| Day 6 | Canoeing final challenge, solo |
| Day 7 | Return to base, clean and de-issue gear, service project |
| Day 8 | Graduation, depart from base camp |
FAQs
What will be happening on the expedition?
In addition to the physical activities of an outdoor overnight expedition, Outward Bound’s Educational Framework uses challenge and adventure to allow students to learn through experience. A supportive environment of peers and instructors make it easier to try new things, speak your mind, listen, and to be heard – all elements of today’s most successful leaders. We value and teach compassion, integrity, excellence in craft, inclusion, and diversity. Each student will return having practiced the skills of a leader and they will be more aware of their personal strengths and abilities
Where do students sleep?
Students on expedition will not be in cabins or permanent buildings, but will sleep outdoors in tents or tent like structures. Sleep groups will be determined by students’ gender. Crews will be moving to multiple camping locations during the duration of their expedition.
Will students have their cellphones while on course?
When students depart from our Baltimore basecamp, their phones will be left in a secure area on base and returned to them on the last day of the course.
Is it safe?
Outward Bound courses take place outdoors and include activities that present risks that can be managed but not eliminated. Running our courses safely is central to our educational goals and our safety record is excellent. Our instructors not only identify and reduce risks but also teach students to assess and address hazards with preparation and care, rather than fear and avoidance. Students and their families participate in our safety systems by familiarizing students with the course description prior to the course and by filling out our application and medical forms completely. We regularly review our safety training systems with our peers and other industry experts and continually seek to create or adopt the most effective practices. Every course is equipped with the ability to get help in an emergency. For more information, visit our Safety & Risk Management page.
What should I do if there is an emergency?
Please understand that you will not be able to speak with your child while they are on course. You will be provided with an emergency phone number for questions, concerns, or if there is a family emergency during the expedition. This phone is available strictly for true emergencies, and is monitored 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
