Kwali, a student from Southwest Baltimore Charter School, shared a moving story about how his expedition with fellow students made him want to become a ‘better person’. Having time to step away from the sounds of the busy city and reflect meant a lot to him and his personal growth.
“One thing I'm gonna take a way is definitely know that life is short. Life is really short. A lot of times we don't stop and think of the beauty of life.” – Kwali McLean, Alumnus
Explore river, rock and trail wilderness across the outlands of Maryland.
This 12-day course is designed to challenge you at every turn as you and your crew shift between three distinct activities. Your crew will learn what it’s like to live off what’s in your pack for nearly two weeks – on foot, by boat, and supporting each other on a rock face. If you’re looking to level up your leadership skills for the next school year, this course will help prepare you for what’s next. Connect with new friends, and make memories that will last a lifetime on this epic course across Maryland’s wilderness.
NOTE: This course requires that students submit proof of "Up-to-Date" COVID-19 Vaccination status as defined by the CDC. For questions regarding this policy please see this page or call us at 866-467-7651.
UPCOMING COURSES
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For detailed information on course availability statuses and what they mean, click here.
This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!
APPLY NOW This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.
Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
Classic Courses
Are you ready to take a journey that will change your life? You won’t look at day-to-day drama the same way after you’ve conquered a high mountain ridge, made a boat obey your command in windswept waves or slept under the stars watching bats swoop overhead. Joining an Outward Bound expedition changes you. Your crew, your Instructor, your route and your adventures will have a profound and lasting impact on you as you rise to meet exhilarating natural challenges in some of the country’s wildest places.
Build skills, form connections: Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Find connections with your crewmates based on support and respect (and fun too!), and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
Value strengths and strengthen values: Uncover your unique character strengths, develop your leadership abilities and learn how to let compassion in to everyday life by pushing your own limits and working alongside your peers.
Demonstrate mastery: As you gain confidence in new skills, take on more decision-making responsibilities. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both as individuals and as a group.
What you’ll learn: For Middle School students, heading away from home means taking on new responsibilities and expectations with crewmates who are strangers when you first meet and trusted teammates by the end of your expedition. It’s all about confidence.
After you come home, many of the character, leadership and service traits you uncovered on your expedition stay with you, helping you navigate your daily life with more resilience and success.
Photo courtesy
of Gavin Reen
Photo courtesy
of Randy Morton
Photo courtesy
of Gavin Reen
Photo courtesy
of Randy Morton
Photo courtesy
of Dave Wilson
Photo courtesy
of Gavin Reen
Photo courtesy
of Ben Worden
Canoeing
Students must work as a crew to navigate the river, while transporting all their gear from one campsite to the next each day. Instructors will provide instruction on paddling technique, reading the river and other technical canoe skills as they progress through this section of the course.
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Ben Worden
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Gretchen Matt
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Randy Morton
Photo courtesy
of Dalton Johnson
Backpacking
Students learn how to hike effectively and efficiently as well as how to set up and manage trail campsites each night. As the team overcomes numerous expedition challenges, they develop a greater belief in themselves and trust in one another. Successful completion of this course requires more than the mastery of technical skills. It also requires adaptability, decision making and teamwork. The Appalachian Trail is a footpath that runs from Georgia to Maine, and is the crown jewel of trails in the United States. Students backpack for five days in the wilderness of western Maryland and southern Pennsylvania.
Photo courtesy
of Dalton Johnson
Photo courtesy
of Dalton Johnson
Photo courtesy
of Dalton Johnson
Photo courtesy
of Dalton Johnson
Photo courtesy
of Matt Freiere
Rock Climbing
During the expedition, students take a break from hiking and spend an afternoon rock climbing. This challenging activity pushes students out of their comfort zones and helps develop trust among crew members. Students rely on one another for support and encouragement to reach the top of cliff faces and crags.
Photo courtesy
of Ben Worden
Photo courtesy
of Ben Worden
Photo courtesy
of Ben Worden
Photo courtesy
of Ben Worden
Photo courtesy
of Brock Jones
Photo courtesy
of Brock Jones
Service
Service to others and to the environment are core values of Outward Bound and they are integrated into each course. Participants follow Leave No Trace ethics as part of their service to the environment. Students develop an ingrained appreciation of service, seeing the impact of their actions firsthand, by multiple small acts of service with and for their crewmates while leading and supporting each other throughout the journey.
Solo
In order for profound learning to take place, there must be time to reflect on the experience. Solo is that opportunity, and that time can range anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. It is a chance to experience solitude in the wilderness without distraction while also taking a break from the physical rigors of activities. Students experience short periods of time away from their group throughout the course for reflection. These “mini-solos” are at solo sites chosen by Instructors to provide as much solitude as possible (within emergency whistle-signaling distance of other group members). Participants have all necessary equipment, food and water during their Solo time, and safety is always the top priority.
Outcomes
Helping students and their families see positive development in character skills is a key component of Outward Bound courses. Each student will complete a 19-question self-assessment designed by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to measure growth in four specific socio-emotional skills: conflict management, emotional self-efficacy, grit/resilience and problem solving. After completing the course, students will receive a Report Card that illustrates the improvement in these areas, as well as a written narrative from the Instructor that highlights additional takeaways for the student.
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Randy Morton
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Zach Shenal
Photo courtesy
of Gavin Reen
Course Area
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail in Maryland follows a 41-mile route along the backbone of South Mountain, a north-south ridge that extends from Pennsylvania to the Potomac River. The AT varies in elevation across the state from 230 feet to more than 1860 feet. The trail extends to the north into Southern Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest where Outward Bound students in this area will rock climb at one of three sites: Annapolis Rocks, Shaffer Rocks or Pole Steeple in the nearby Pine Grove Furnace State Park. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Massawomeck and Piscataway nations.
Western Potomac River
The Potomac River is located along the mid-Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States and flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The river (main stem and North Branch) is approximately 405 miles (652 km) long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles (38,000 km²). In terms of area, this makes the Potomac River the fourth largest river along the Atlantic coast of the United States and the 21st largest in the country. Over 5 million people live within the Potomac watershed. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Massawomeck nation.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course start, introductory lesson is backpacking, begin hiking
DAY 2-3
Backpacking, introductory lessons in travel, navigation, camp craft
DAY 4
Rock climbing, belaying, climbing technique
DAY 5
Backpacking final challenge
DAY 6
Resupply, solo
DAY 7
Introductory lesson in canoeing and river dynamics, begin paddling
DAY 8-9
Canoeing, lessons in advanced paddling-technique and river rescues
DAY 10
Canoeing final challenge
DAY 11
Return to base, clean and de-issue gear, service project
DAY 12
Personal challenge event, graduation, depart for the airport
Course Stories
Kwali, a student from Southwest Baltimore Charter School, shared a moving story about how his expedition with fellow students made him want to become a ‘better person’. Having time to step away from the sounds of the busy city and reflect meant a lot to him and his personal growth.
“One thing I'm gonna take a way is definitely know that life is short. Life is really short. A lot of times we don't stop and think of the beauty of life.” – Kwali McLean, Alumnus
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.