“In the three months that I was on course, I was challenged and pushed harder than ever before in my young adult life. Through paddling for 24 hours straight in Florida, to rock climbing and whitewater canoeing in the mountains of North Carolina, I was pushed out of my comfort zone every day. I became close with my 10 crewmates, and every Instructor I had on course. Now as I’m adjusting back into life not living in the woods, I notice changes within myself on a daily basis, from the way I approach conflict, to the way I think about myself. I have a lot to thank Outward bound for, but in particular, I dedicate my newfound work ethic, confidence and ability to deal with difficult situations to Outward Bound and will never forget the endless memories I made while on course.” – Sierra F., Alumna
Embark for the adventure of a lifetime on this 65-day, multi-region course.
Journey by canoe and kayak through the waterways and coastal regions of Florida. There you’ll be greeted by barrier islands, canopied trees and exotic wildlife. Once you’ve completed the first phase of your course, head north and climb some of the premier rock climbing routes in the southeast and paddle thrilling whitewater rapids in the colorful autumn mountains of North Carolina. This expedition offers the chance to challenge yourself, practice leadership skills, and strengthen your sense of personal development. While living and traveling in the classroom of the great outdoors, you will gain a clear sense of your abilities, build strong bonds with your group and walk away with a greater understanding of the wilderness, the world and yourself.
Although semester programs are not traditional academic programs, many colleges recognize the value of going on gap year and semester courses and grant college credit for them. This course also offers a Wilderness First Aid certification, Swift-water Rescue training, solo and a service project component.
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
This course is closed for the season.
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.
Most College Savings Plans, including the 529 College Savings Plan, may be used to attend an Outward Bound expedition, thanks to a partnership with Western Colorado University. Anyone can register – you do not have to be a current Western Colorado University student. Registration is easy! Click here to learn more.
Semester Courses
Break away from traditional education and make the world your classroom on an Outward Bound Semester expedition. Experience life adventures and expand your skills as you interact with new environments and diverse cultures. Form lasting relationships with outdoor experts and crewmates who are sharing the same successes, failures and discoveries. Strengthen your commitment to community as you participate in service projects that support local needs.
Build skills, form connections: Amidst rugged natural landscapes, learn to lead and to follow; to give and receive feedback; and to trust in your own capabilities as you expand your technical and personal knowledge base. 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, exercise your independence as you gain life experience and learn how to let compassion in to everyday life by pushing your own limits and supporting your crew as you tackle obstacles together, big and small.
Demonstrate mastery: As you gain confidence in new skills and a better understanding of the natural world around you, take on more decision-making responsibilities. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both as independent individuals and as a group.
What you’ll learn: Examine your personal values and discover more about your true self. Hone your technical abilities as you become a master at ropes courses or swiftwater rescue techniques and Wilderness First Aid. Numerous certificates are available depending on the course, and up to 18 credit hours can be earned along the way.
Exploring new environments and building new connections will put your tenacity to the test. You’ll return with broader understanding of the natural world around you, deeper appreciation for small kindnesses and greater confidence in yourself and others that will serve you well long after you return.
Outward Bound is accredited with the American Gap Association and is the longest running program in this elite group dedicated to providing safe, meaningful and high-caliber educational experiences to students.
Photo courtesy
of James Mixon
Photo courtesy
of James Mixon
Photo courtesy
of James Mixon
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.
Outcomes
Outward Bound courses vary in length from four (4) to 85 days. On shorter courses, participants will receive an introduction to leadership skills, strength of character and a desire to serve while activities fill most of the time and the pace is quick. With longer courses, the same outcomes and benefits are achieved with the opportunity to reach a more profound level of mastery as there are more chances to develop technical skills, receive and implement feedback and further personal development. However many days the expedition lasts, the strength and impact of the experience lasts a lifetime.
Rock climbing, canoeing and wilderness navigation techniques are great practice for the essential skills and habits that help prepare for new challenges at school, work, home and in the community. Outward Bound expeditions encourage students:
to remain engaged and present, giving every challenge the best effort, even when the goal seems beyond reach.
to form a team and focus on the team effort.
to share responsibilities, communicate and lead. Leadership roles are shared within the group, and responsibilities rotate each day.
to 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.
Photo courtesy
of Radha Vyas
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 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.
These regions are the ancestral lands of the Calusa, Miccosukee and Seminole nations.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course start in Florida, duffle shuffle, team building initiatives, safety management skills
DAY 2-8
Introduction to canoeing equipment and marine environment. Canoeing training expedition: navigation, tides, rescue and marine camping skills
DAY 9-10
Service project
DAY 11-16
Begin kayak expedition: learn paddle strokes and boat control techniques, learn navigation skills, reading tidal charts and flow, and using a weather radio
DAY 17-18
Solo. Beach exploration.
DAY 19-20
Continue kayaking expedition
DAY 21
Clean and de-issue gear
DAY 22
Town/Laundry day
DAY 23-24
Transportation to North Carolina
DAY 25-30
Backpacking training expedition: navigation and safety management skills
DAY 31-33
Wilderness First Aid certification + CPR
DAY 34-38
Rock climbing, belaying, rappelling and multi-pitch climbing
DAY 39-41
Climbing technique and advanced skill workshops
DAY 42
Hike and solo
DAY 43
Solo
DAY 44
Hike and solo
DAY 45
Town/Laundry day
DAY 46-49
Backpacking main expedition: advanced navigation and group decision-making
Service project: trail building or work with community service organization
DAY 58-59
Swift-water rescue training
DAY 60-63
Backpacking final expedition: leadership and independent student travel
DAY 64
Personal challenge event, clean and de-issue gear. Course-end ceremony.
DAY 65
Course end
Course Stories
“In the three months that I was on course, I was challenged and pushed harder than ever before in my young adult life. Through paddling for 24 hours straight in Florida, to rock climbing and whitewater canoeing in the mountains of North Carolina, I was pushed out of my comfort zone every day. I became close with my 10 crewmates, and every Instructor I had on course. Now as I’m adjusting back into life not living in the woods, I notice changes within myself on a daily basis, from the way I approach conflict, to the way I think about myself. I have a lot to thank Outward bound for, but in particular, I dedicate my newfound work ethic, confidence and ability to deal with difficult situations to Outward Bound and will never forget the endless memories I made while on course.” – Sierra F., Alumna
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.