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Ten Thousand Islands Sea Kayaking for Adults

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LOCATION
Florida
EXPEDITION TYPE
Kayaking
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Sea Kayaking, Service, Base Camp
PRICE
$1,941 - $1,975
PROGRAM
Adult
AGES
18+ , 30+
LENGTH
6 Days
START LOCATION
Fort Lauderdale, FL
END LOCATION
Fort Lauderdale, FL
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SEASON(S)
Winter
Spring
SKILLS

TECHNICAL

  • Basic First Aid
  • Basic Paddle Strokes
  • Campcraft
  • Food Preparation and Cooking
  • Leave No Trace Methods & Ethics
  • Map and Compass
  • Natural History
  • Navigation
  • Tides and Currents
  • Water Safety and Rescue

INTERPERSONAL

  • Camaraderie
  • Character
  • Communication
  • Empathy
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Positive Risk Taking
  • Resilience
  • Self Awareness
  • Sense of Social Connection
  • Service
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Testimonial

“In fielding a lot of questions along the lines of, ‘Why on Earth would you want to do something like that?’ I was able to answer easily…’for the experience. While the brain craves order and finds comfort in patterns, it’s critical and healthy to throw ourselves for a loop every now and again, lest we find ourselves in a rut.’ I once read that the only difference between a rut and a grave is its depth. A rather ominous warning, don’t you think? These kinds of experiences provide time and space to see what’s working, what might need some tweaking and what needs eliminating. It is most excellent time spent getting to ‘know thyself.’” – Cathia Friou

This sea kayaking course is designed to help you unplug, reconnect with yourself and nature, and live in the moment.

On this expedition, you will be paddling through lush mangrove tunnels in a land of contrast: between tropic and semi-tropic, land and sea and salt and fresh water. You and your crew will learn to work together to read tide charts, explore unique ecosystems, cook and set-up camp on white sandy beaches under the stars as you paddle to new areas each day. You will also learn about what makes the Ten Thousand Islands famous worldwide, the unique environmental value of the area and how we can better take care of it.

During adult courses, Instructors often facilitate the sharing of life experiences amongst the group and design activities to allow for participants to examine where they’ve been, where they are now and where they’d like to go in the future. These courses are perfect for those who find themselves at a transition point in their lives, need a fresh new outlook, or want to remind themselves there is more in them than they know.

**Considerations: Outward Bound sea kayaks typically accommodate participants who are up to 6 feet tall, 275 lbs and size 12 men’s shoe. If you exceed these measurements, our sea kayaks may not accommodate you.

NOTE: Courses that start on or after April 1, 2022 require that students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend. 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.

COURSE # DATES DAYS AGE COST
NERK-221 2.8.22 - 2.13.22 6 30 and up $ 1,941 COURSE IS FULL
NEAK-222 3.8.22 - 3.13.22 6 18 and up $ 1,941 APPLY NOW ALMOST FULL
NEAK-321 12.28.22 - 1.2.23 6 18 and up $ 1,975 APPLY NOW
NEAK-322 2.7.23 - 2.12.23 6 18 and up $ 1,975 APPLY NOW
NERK-321 3.7.23 - 3.12.23 6 30 and up $ 1,975 APPLY NOW

Thank you for your interest in Outward Bound! 

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.

Adult Courses

Do you ever want to unplug, step away from the daily grind to take on new challenges? Are you ready to conquer harder skills and remind your senses (or discover for the first time) what it’s like to crest a mountain peak, hear the echoes at the edge of a vast canyon or feel the rush of white water spray on your face? Take a break from your routine, radically change your surroundings and test your tenacity. Put some “firsts” in front of you and find moments of unexpected discovery along the way. Experience Outward Bound as an adult and prepare for an injection of adventure, awareness and adaptability that sticks with you long after you unpack your backpack.

  • Build skills, form connections: Meet like-minded peers and make connections as you work through priorities and adventures together, learn outdoor skills at the hands of expert Instructors, and earn every good night’s sleep.
  • Value strengths and strengthen values: Re-discover your inner strength, renew your natural leadership abilities and practice adapting to new environments. Tap in to your trust and compassion as you tackle obstacles with a support crew standing beside you.
  • Demonstrate mastery: As you awaken your wilderness skills and dig deep to rise to the physical and mental challenges, the bulk of the expedition’s leadership and decision-making responsibilities transfer from the Instructor to the crew. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both individually and together.
  • What you’ll learn: By allowing yourself to focus beyond daily responsibilities and obligations, you’ll master more difficult skills and open up new directions and opportunities you never thought possible. You’ll find clarity in the life changes you’re facing, you’ll uncover inspiration in the wilderness and you’ll renew your sense of adventure to take on the next challenge in front of you.

Return home with newly expanded wilderness acumen, an energized outlook, a rekindled allowance of empathy into situations and relationships and an eye toward the future.

Sea Kayaking

On this course, students will be navigating the Florida Everglades, carrying everything they need in the hull of their sea kayak. Both single and tandem kayaks will be used and students will have the opportunity to spend time in both vessels. Depending on the wind and weather, the level of difficulty will vary from day to day. Crews will practice marine expedition risk assessment and management, route planning, navigation, paddle stroke techniques, kayak-based rescues and equipment use and its care. Once beached, the crew will practice cooking and Leave No Trace camping before tucking in for the night.

Service

Service to others and the environment is a core value of Outward Bound and is integrated into each course. Participants follow Leave No Trace ethics as service to the environment and do acts of service while leading and supporting fellow participants. Students develop a value of service, seeing the impact of their actions firsthand, and transfer this desire to serve their communities back home. On longer courses, students have the opportunity to do a formal service project with a local agency. Common projects include working with the Pacific Crest Trail Association doing trail work, the local food pantry and other local non-profit organizations. Service projects can be a few hours up to a full day.

Solo

A little more than halfway through course, students will participate in a reflection period called Solo. During this time, Instructors assign students their own individual spaces within a designated area. These sites are both secluded and within hearing distance of other group members and Instructors for safety. Students will be given all the necessary gear, food, water and skills to enjoy this time alone. Solo is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge and reflect on their course after having long days of strenuous group activities. They also know the location of their Instructors should they need to contact them for any reason. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this experience.

Outcomes

Acquire a taste for adventure on this week-long Outward Bound experience, which reminds students of their connection to nature and leaves them feeling inspired to take on real challenge in their everyday life. Through these condensed experiences, students become comfortable living and working together in the wilderness while practicing the Four Pillars of Outward Bound; craftsmanship, self-reliance, physical fitness and compassion. Participants also create a solid foundation of skills that they can build upon once they return home.

Course Area

Everglades National Park, Florida

This course takes place off the west coast of southern Florida in Everglades National Park and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. As the largest sub-tropical wilderness in the United States and third-largest national park in the lower 48 states, The Everglades provides a variety of precious wildlife habitat. The aquatic preserve hosts more than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish and 40 species of mammals within its confines. Everglades National Park is one of only three locations in the world to show-up on lists of International Biosphere Reserves, Wetlands of an International Importance and World Heritage Sites. As a subtropical region, The Everglades have 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 have mild and pleasant temperatures from December through April, with low humidity and clear skies. Temperatures reach average highs of 88 degrees and lows of 54 degrees throughout. 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.

SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course start, review equipment, rescue skills, and boat packing techniques
DAY 2
Begin kayak expedition: learn paddle strokes and boat control techniques
DAY 3
Paddling: learn navigation skills, reading tidal charts and flow, and using a weather radio
DAY 4
Paddling: Everglades natural history lesson; beach campfire
DAY 5
Final expedition paddle; course end ceremony
DAY 6
Course end; transportation to the airport

Testimonial

“In fielding a lot of questions along the lines of, ‘Why on Earth would you want to do something like that?’ I was able to answer easily…’for the experience. While the brain craves order and finds comfort in patterns, it’s critical and healthy to throw ourselves for a loop every now and again, lest we find ourselves in a rut.’ I once read that the only difference between a rut and a grave is its depth. A rather ominous warning, don’t you think? These kinds of experiences provide time and space to see what’s working, what might need some tweaking and what needs eliminating. It is most excellent time spent getting to ‘know thyself.’” – Cathia Friou

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Getting Started

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. 

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