Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands – Coastal Canoeing & Kayaking

The Florida phase will begin with everyone utilizing tandem canoes, which means the crewmembers must work together in teams of two, communicating and navigating as one. However, as time goes on, the group will transition to the use of both single and tandem sea kayaks, which will give students the opportunity to practice self-reliance. Depending on the weather, the level of difficulty will vary each day. Crews will practice marine expedition risk assessment and management, route planning and navigation, paddle stroke techniques, canoe-and kayak-based rescues, equipment use and how to work with a paddling partner. Camping during this phase will vary from sleeping on the canoes, called ‘boarding up’, land sites, chickee’s (wooden structures on the water) or beaches.

Students can expect to spend a good deal of time each day in their watercraft as they go from campsite to campsite, moving through the unique ecosystems of Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands off the Gulf Coast.

Blue Ridge Mountains – Backpacking, Rock Climbing, Whitewater Canoeing

In this phase of the 65-day course, participants travel through the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina from its plunging valleys to its 6,000 foot summits. By working together to backpack through temperate rainforests, climb in and around the Pisgah National Forest and paddle some of the best whitewater in the southeast, students step outside their comfort zones and learn to communicate with and trust their new crewmates.

This course’s climbing phase is set amongst either the iconic granite domes of Southern Pisgah or the rugged quartzite cliffs of the Linville Gorge. Steeped in climbing history, these venues have long stood as some of the premier climbing destinations in North Carolina and arguably in the Eastern US. 

The rock climbing portion of this phase will be structured into two differing progressions; a five-day introductory segment and a three-day advanced segment. The five-day progression is designed to help students develop an intuition for climbing movement and introduce core concepts such as belaying and rappelling. Depending on group dynamics and weather, the goal is to achieve top-rope climbs and progress to a multi-pitch route led by a climbing specialist. The three-day progression will focus on rock site management in a recreational context. Students will learn about cliff access, anchor building, basic self-rescue, and safely operating a climbing site.

During the whitewater paddling portion of this phase participants will spend six days paddling some of the most storied rivers in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Crews will encounter a mixture of Class I to III whitewater while paddling in specialized tandem (two person) whitewater canoes. Starting from the basics, the river portion of the course will challenge participants to develop the techniques, knowledge, strategies, and communication skills they and their canoe partner will need to successfully descend numerous rapids.

The Swiftwater Rescue (SWR) encompasses a broad range of skills related to performing rescues and keeping one's self and others safe on whitewater rivers. Participants on this course will spend two days learning and practicing those skills. Topics will include whitewater swimming, use of throw ropes, technical rigging and rope-work, rescue strategies and philosophy, and more. This portion of course will be provided as a Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue training course by American Canoe Association, and at the end of the skills course, participants will be provided with a participation card.

Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certification

While in the Blue Ridge Mountains, participants will have the opportunity to prepare for the unexpected by earning a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification during the mountains phase of the course. This fast-paced, hands-on training is designed to teach skills to care for those who become ill or injured far from definitive medical care. Offered through a partnership with Landmark Learning, this certification will include classroom lectures and demonstrations, combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge participants to use what they've learned.

Solo

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.

Service

Outside of learning technical outdoor skills, longer courses also allow enough time to conduct a service project. Students should expect a service project during both phases of the course. Whether maintaining trails, partnering with nonprofits or helping at local farms and gardens, stewardship has long been a part of the mission and values of an Outward Bound program. These projects help students discover the true meaning of giving back to their community, the value of compassion and their ability to lead.

Course Area

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 themselves formed over 250 million years ago, some of the rocks that underlie the region are over a billion years old.

The long geologic and evolutionary history of the Southern Appalachians has created one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America; 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 different kinds of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 different types of birds and over 50 species of amphibians. The huge numbers of tree and plant life is actually what gives 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.

The Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands

The Everglades are the largest sub-tropical wilderness in the United States and third-largest national park in the lower 48 states. The aquatic preserve is home to an array of wild creatures and exotic plant life. More than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals and 50 reptile species live within it. Because of this it is one of only three locations in the world to show-up on the following lists, an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and World Heritage Site. 

This course area is in a subtropical region, with 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 are mild and pleasant from December through April, with low humidity and clear skies. Temperatures reach average highs of 88 degrees and lows of 54 degrees. Strong cold fronts may occasionally create near freezing conditions, but such events are rare in this subtropical climate.