“I connected with people I never thought I would. I will never forget the characters on this trip. I learned that staying positive makes everything more enjoyable. I had a great time.” – Elise, Voyageur Outward Bound School Alum
"I’m glad I learned how to control a canoe and set up a tent. But what I’m most happy of learning is how to work as a crew. I have learned and completed so much on this course!" – Mia, Voyageur Outward Bound School Alum
Immerse yourself in the outdoors and paddle more than 80 miles on the St. Croix Riverway on this 10-day canoeing expedition.
River-shaped sandstone cliffs, shimmering silver maples and clean, rushing water will captivate you and your crew as you travel down the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers. These glacier-carved rivers make up the National Scenic Riverway, an ecological wonder of the Midwest. This stunning and diverse ecosystem also challenges your paddling skills through moving water and Class I rapids. The river demands your attention as you and your crew navigate its forks, twists and turns. You will learn new skills as you set up camp, tie knots and build fires around which to enjoy delicious back-country cooking and comradery with your crew. Awe-inspiring, fun and demanding, this expedition will push you to find new personal limits and develop self-reliance, teamwork and outdoor skills in a rugged and beautiful natural classroom.
NOTE: For the health and safety of students and staff in the COVID-19 pandemic, students may be required to travel to course start by private transportation. Please work directly with your Course Advisor for your course for the most up-to-date and regionally-focused travel options. All students and staff must provide a current negative COVID-19 viral test result before arrival to course and/or consent to having a COVID-19 test administered at course start. Outward Bound requires students and staff to follow COVID-19 protocols for 14 days prior to course start and while traveling including physical distancing, wearing a mask in public, and frequent and thorough handwashing.For complete “Health and Safety Practices for Outward Bound Expeditions,” 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!
Classic Courses
No two Outward Bound expeditions are ever quite the same. Every crew is unique; every route is distinct; and every adventure is dynamic. But one thing remains the same. On each course, students rise to meet exhilarating natural challenges in some of the country’s wildest places – and find strength and determination along the way.
Build core skills: Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Form a crew that supports and encourages one another, and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
Practice Outward Bound values: Learn to incorporate Outward Bound values into everyday life by pushing your own limits and seeking challenge as an opportunity for personal growth.
Demonstrate mastery: As the course nears the end, take on more leadership and decision-making responsibilities. Work together to apply new skills and achieve team goals during this final phase of the expedition.
What you’ll learn: Return home a stronger, more resilient individual. Discover increased self-confidence, improved leadership, and a desire to make a difference.
Photo courtesy
of Jon Reynolds
Photo courtesy
of Jon Reynolds
Photo courtesy
of Jon Reynolds
Photo courtesy
of Steve Woit
Photo courtesy
of Steve Woit
Photo courtesy
of Steve Woit
Canoeing
Students paddle together on the upper section of both the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers and enjoy pristine camping within this National Scenic Riverway. In two-person canoes, students learn to maneuver their boat through Class I or Class II rapids. After lessons in basic river travel, students learn about “reading” currents, anticipating obstacles, understanding river dynamics and working as an effective team to negotiate both technical and calm portions of the river. Students also learn about weather, swimming in moving water, paddle techniques and the importance of Leave No Trace ethics when camping and traveling.
Photo courtesy
of Will Zest
Photo courtesy
of Will Zest
Photo courtesy
of Will Zest
Photo courtesy
of David Morgan
Photo courtesy
of David Morgan
Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Known by many as one of the best climbing crags in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Interstate State Park offers a variety of beginner and intermediate climbs that provide an ideal introduction to rock climbing. Regardless of a student’s rock climbing and rappelling background, everyone is sure to find challenge and success as they spend time climbing at Blue Mounds.
All Outward Bound rock climbing and rappelling experiences are carefully supervised and employ safety systems aligned with national standards. During climbing days, students learn about rock climbing equipment, safety and etiquette, belaying techniques and climbing rescue techniques. Encouraged and supported by their group, students push their perceived limits and expand their comfort zones in a safe, fun and non-competitive environment.
Solo
The Solo experience provides an important break from the rigors of the expedition and gives students the opportunity to reflect on their time at Outward Bound. Many students use this reflection time to journal, make decisions about their future 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, students are given a secluded spot to reflect alone and are monitored by staff throughout to maintain safety. Students tend to 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 course.
Service
Service is a cornerstone of every Outward Bound experience. From the seemingly small daily acts of service for the environment to the regular tasks of being part of an expeditionary team, students have ample opportunities to experience the value of giving back to the larger community. On the expedition, students are encouraged to practice environmental stewardship in the form of Leave No Trace ethics — leaving campsites, trails and waterways in better condition than they found them. Students also practice regular acts of service for their team, including preparing and serving meals, helping others put on or take off packs or setting up shelters for the entire team.
Outcomes
Students will experience a sense of accomplishment as they learn about perseverance (or grit), risk taking, self-identity and self-reliance. Students will learn to trust themselves and push themselves harder as they own their choices and advance toward mastery in their skill development. Group adversity will teach each student critical thinking skills, collaboration and decision-making. They’ll experience leadership in action as they see their potential become reality while practicing empathy and compassion towards others.
Canoeing and wilderness navigation techniques are great practice for the essential skills and habits that help prepare students for new challenges at work, home and in the community. Outward Bound expeditions encourage students to:
Remain engaged and present, giving every challenge their best effort, even when the goal seems beyond reach.
Form a team and focus on the team effort.
Share responsibilities, communicate and lead. Leadership roles are shared within the group, and responsibilities rotate each day.
Find reserves of tenacity and compassion. Outward Bound courses are designed to expand and stretch your limits so that every expedition is a true accomplishment and a memorable journey.
Course Area
St. Croix National Wild & Scenic Riverway, Wisconsin and Minnesota
The Riverway starts at the Namekagon River in Northern Wisconsin and flows into the St. Croix River just north of Danbury, Wisconsin, where the river becomes the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The entire Riverway includes over 200 miles of river travel and many rapids up to Class I or Class II, depending on water levels. The river section concludes near Minnesota’s Interstate State Park in Taylor’s Falls, Minnesota.
Carved by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago, the Riverway harbors centuries-old rock formations and glacial potholes found in very few places on earth. This corridor provides scenic views and a haven for native fish and wildlife including bald eagles, osprey, fox and bear. With a rich natural and human history including Dakota, Ojibwe, Voyageurs, loggers and settlers, traveling the St. Croix Scenic Riverway gives students a chance to enjoy a wilderness-like experience while connecting to the past within easy reach of a major metropolitan area. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Očeti Šakówiŋ (Sioux) and Wahpekute nations.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course start, introduction to backcountry living
DAY 2
Paddle school, immersion training, begin paddling
DAY 3-5
Canoeing, introductory lessons in navigation and camp-craft
DAY 6
Solo
DAY 7
Final river challenge
DAY 8-9
Rock climbing, learn climbing and belaying techniques, rappelling and graduation
DAY 10
Clean and de-issue gear, transport home
Course Stories
“I connected with people I never thought I would. I will never forget the characters on this trip. I learned that staying positive makes everything more enjoyable. I had a great time.” – Elise, Voyageur Outward Bound School Alum
"I’m glad I learned how to control a canoe and set up a tent. But what I’m most happy of learning is how to work as a crew. I have learned and completed so much on this course!" – Mia, Voyageur Outward Bound School Alum
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.