Please review this website with your child so that they are aware of what will be expected of them before and during their expedition. You are making an investment in the growth and development of your child as well as giving them an amazing experience. While Outward Bound is a non-profit organization, our courses are not inexpensive. On every Outward Bound course participants are expected to give their full effort, treat their teammates and instructors with respect, and follow the guidelines set by Outward Bound. We expect there to be varying levels of motivation. We expect there to be homesickness, doubt or even a desire to quit and our instructors will help them work through these challenges. Our purpose is to help our students push past doubt and successfully complete their course, but if a student is determined to leave we simply cannot and will not make them stay. A student who is not willing to fully participate can compromise their safety and the quality of the course. In these cases a parent/guardian will be notified and asked to make arrangements for their child to come home. There are no refunds for motivational early departures. See the Payment, Cancellation & Admission Policies for more details.

At Outward Bound we teach students leadership, responsibility and compassion by exposing them to challenge and adventure. Our course activities and environments, from city parks to the most remote wild spaces, present opportunities for students to develop their judgment, push boundaries to uncover new potential, and build self-confidence by successfully navigating challenges. These activities and environments also present inherent risks—risks that we accept as fundamental to the learning process. While we work hard to manage and reduce the risk, the possibility of harm and even death can never be eliminated. Safety remains a top priority at Outward Bound, and we incorporate risk management as an essential element in our programs. You can read more about Safety & Risk Management on the national Outward Bound website.

Outward Bound courses are demanding. It can literally take every waking moment to get from Point A to Point B. Travel may be on or off trails over rugged, steep terrain, through forests, snow, boulder fields or rushing rivers. Travel will require perseverance and understanding of the environment. Route finding, navigating and dealing with bad weather are all serious challenges to be expected in backcountry travel. We rarely take rest days even due to inclement weather, so be prepared to push on even in rain, snow, and sleet.

Outward Bound may be the hardest thing you have ever done. Your course will challenge you mentally, physically, and socially. Outward Bound philosophy maintains that by facing the challenges the course offers you, you will emerge physically and mentally stronger, with an increased mastery of expedition skills as well as a better understanding of your own capabilities and how to make a difference in the world. You learn how to work as a team and become a leader. We think that the payoff is well worth the work, but you should be aware of what you are getting into and excited about tackling the challenges. Please review OBCA’s Essential Eligibility Criteria for specific requirements.

Successful completion of your course demands trust, mastery of skills, a high level of physical fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities and the discovery of what’s in you is the purpose of Outward Bound. Previous experience with course activities is not a requirement.

A typical day usually involves getting up early, making breakfast, packing up camp, mapping the route, and then hitting the trail. You will travel all day—taking breaks to rest, snack, or enjoy a view but you will generally be covering lots of ground. Once you reach camp, group members will divide to get food cooked and camp set up. After dinner, instructors often facilitate some sort of evening ritual. At the end of the day you can crawl into your sleeping bag to journal, chat, and get a well-deserved rest.

Throughout the course you will practice low-impact camping and learn basic outdoor living and camp-craft as well as natural history. As you become more proficient and fit, your group will be able to travel greater distances and take on more of a leadership role. Your group will operate as a team of mutually supportive explorers. You will no doubt surprise yourself with what you are capable of!

Your attention will be focused both on the backcountry living and working as a team. Instructors will help on both counts, teaching practical skills and helping you work together; navigating with maps and compasses as you make your way. At night you will have check-ins with your group to discuss personal and group challenges and difficulties encountered in the day’s activities. Topics may include leadership, decision-making, and responsibility.

Living and working with a small group is an opportunity to make long-lasting friendships and enjoy memories that will last a lifetime. It can also be a source of friction and challenge. As you and your group attempt to meet your goals and make decisions big and small you may feel frustrated or annoyed with your teammates at times. Students will arrive at the course with varying levels of motivation, fitness, fear, and doubt. Once the trip starts, even the most eager students may struggle to take a certain risk or stay committed. Investing in working through differences in your group, sharing insights from your challenges, and laughing your heads off over the most delicious backcountry dinner you ever tasted (hunger is the best spice!) are all part of why students walk away from their Outward Bound course with a deeper understanding of life, themselves and each other. All participants are expected to adhere to OBCA’s Course Culture and Behavioral Standards.

Outward Bound is not a summer camp, and it’s not a guided trip. All group members will pitch in to do camp chores, including cooking, cleaning dishes, setting up tents, navigating, etc. You will find that as the expedition progresses, your mastery of these camp craft skills will enable you to operate more efficiently and effectively around camp. Most groups also contribute by helping clean their gear at the end of course so it is ready for the next group of students to use.

Showering and washing hair are not possible in the backcountry. Your instructors will tell you about any available bathing options and explain more about backcountry hygiene when you arrive. Every course environment has different techniques and environmentally appropriate practices for going to the bathroom. You will learn how to dispose of human waste in cat holes or other area specific methods. Groups carry soap and hand sanitizer for hand washing. Students will have the opportunity to clean up and wash hair before going home. You can find answers to frequently asked questions in our Personal Care/Hygiene document.

You and the other members of your group will learn to cook tasty and nutritious meals over portable gas stoves. Our meals are mainly vegetarian and consist of grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and light-weight, dehydrated foods. A typical breakfast might be granola or oatmeal; lunch might include tortillas, cheese, salami, tuna or peanut butter and jam on crackers; dinners include macaroni and cheese, burritos, or stir-fry. During the day there will be access to snacks like trail mix which includes nuts, and dried fruit. The food we eat on course will likely have more fat and protein than you are accustomed to. To prepare, we suggest that you cut down on soda, caffeine, and junk food. And drink lots of water!

We can accommodate many dietary needs (such as lactose intolerance or vegan diets) and food allergies, but only if we know well in advance. We may ask you to bring some of your own specialty foods. Certain food allergies cannot be accommodated safely in a remote backcountry setting. We review applicants with food allergies on a case by case basis and will follow up with families as needed.

Supervision is based on the premise that, once aware of the necessary skills for backcountry living and travel, students will cooperate, respect their leaders, and follow safety instructions with or without direct instructor supervision. We maintain high staff to student ratios (approximately 1:5) but due to the nature of living and camping together there will be occasions on your course when students are not directly supervised by your instructors. Those situations may include: Final Expedition or other travel, time around camp, cooking, setting up tarps, sleeping and the solo.

Our staff do not sleep in the same shelters as students. Staff will design sleeping arrangements that best support each student’s emotional and physical safety. Sometimes that will mean separating students into groups according to their stated gender identity, but the composition of the group and/or the nature of the course environment may require another arrangement.

A core component of Outward Bound learning is for students to put into practice the skills they have learned. Longer courses (14 days or more) may culminate in a Final Expedition that will include Independent Student Travel. We vary the level of Independent Student Travel allowed based on course length, time spent in an activity, environment, age, and staff assessment of the group’s competence. On courses with a minimum age of 12 or 14, students will always be within sight or sound of instructors. On some courses for students 16 to 18 years old that include 10 or more days of travel in one activity, and who are assessed to be competent and functioning well as a team, staff travel near students but can be as far as 30 minutes away. In these cases, staff will check in with students at least once a day. Students will be issued Field Communication Technology and instructed in how to contact staff. In the case of possible hazards, such as extreme weather, staff will maintain sight and/or sound supervision.

While you do not have to be an athlete or a leader in your community to attend an Outward Bound course, you must be both physically and mentally prepared to take on the challenges you will encounter on your course.

Most people find that Outward Bound presents them with challenges that they are not sure they can accomplish. There are two kinds of strength necessary to complete your course: physical and mental. Your body needs to be strong, but you must also come with an open mind, willing spirit, and positive mindset. Whether you carry a 50+ pound pack for 10 miles, climb a 14,000-foot peak, scale a rock wall or work your way up and over a high mountain pass, it will push you and reward you on many levels. 

Whether you are someone who regularly asks for help or regularly offers it, you may find yourself in moments on this course where you need to dig deep to support or be supported by your teammates. Putting the team first and holding an expedition mindset may be harder than expected, and can also offer a powerful respite to a world that sometimes over-emphasizes the individual. 

Regardless of the activities, every course is unique due to varying personalities, different instructors, and ever-changing weather. No matter how much you read the materials we provide and no matter how many questions you ask of your Course Advisor, the reality is that you will not know exactly what the course will be like until you get there. How will you prepare for the unknown?

While we cannot offer you a mental training regimen like we do for physical prep, there are things to think about that will help you arrive mentally ready for your expedition: 

Teamwork: Be ready to be part of a team. Think about other team experiences you have had in the past whether they are sports teams, school projects, or business meetings. Come up with a few observations about what has made your teams successful in the past and plan on being a positive contributor during your course. It is important to remember that in such a small group setting, your attitude and actions affect everyone. 

Living with Less: Look around your home, school, or workplace and think about what you have and what you need. Things you currently take for granted like hot running water, upholstered furniture and sidewalks will not be part of your experience. When you get into the rhythm of backcountry living, you will see that despite the complexity of your everyday life, life on the trail and life at home are both ultimately about food, clothing, shelter and each other.

Leaving Your Comfort Zone: Leaving your comfort zone is a core part of the Outward Bound experience. You’ll be far from home navigating physical and mental challenges amongst a group of new people in an unfamiliar environment. At times, it might feel like you don’t have control and things might seem overwhelming. This is normal and is part of the learning experience. Learning how to handle these challenges will help you significantly when you return home. Prior to course, consider in what ways you will be out of your comfort zone and think about how you might manage that discomfort in the field. On course, use your instructors and teammates as resources as they are there to support you in this process.

Compassion: Compassion is one of Outward Bound’s core values. Be prepared to offer it and expect it from your teammates. You will travel with and rely on a group of strangers, who each have different reasons for attending Outward Bound and who have different identities, perspectives and physical and mental abilities. You may find that you will need to make compromises in your own expectations to support other members of your team. 
Group Discussion: Outward Bound delivers learning, in large part, by discussing course experiences. By considering the experience through group discussion before and after your course, you will be better able to hold onto the value of each experience and take it home with you. Be prepared to engage in vulnerable conversations, share your perspective and gain insight from others on your expedition.

If you are not currently active, adopting a daily exercise routine can be challenging. It can be hard to find the motivation to commit to a routine, but every minute you put in prior to your course will pay off once you get to your course. If you do not already engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three times a week, we recommend putting in the time to train prior to your course. In high altitude locations like the High Sierra, the need for aerobic fitness is even greater!

Please read the Physical Preparation guide for OBCA’s recommended training plan, and ask your Course Advisor if you have any questions.

Don’t overdo it. Many people, novice and experienced alike, commonly complain of tired and aching bodies; the result of believing that the harder the body is pushed, the faster it will improve. In fact, the opposite is true. The more moderately you train (as long as you are increasing your heart rate adequately), the more quickly you will improve. The most common mistake people make is going too fast, too soon—quickly joining the ranks of the stiff, tired and discouraged.

A great way to prepare physically is to adopt healthy eating habits and stay hydrated. This is especially true if your course takes place in higher altitudes where you may need a few days to adjust. The following tips are helpful to all, but especially to participants attending our High Sierra or Yosemite courses, which are at altitude:

1. Arrive at your course start well-rested.
2. In the weeks prior to course, reduce consumption of fatty foods, excessive alcohol and caffeine as these substances require a lot of water and oxygen to metabolize. Increase the amount of vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins in your diet.
3. Drink more water. Aim for between 1-4 liters of water per day depending on your activity level.
4. Stop using tobacco products at least one month prior to your course. If you smoke or vape, please discuss this with your Course Advisor.

Step 1: Apply online through the Expedition Finder.

Step 2: Your Course Advisor at OBCA will send you a Welcome Email with more information and a link to your Applicant Portal. You’ll also receive your tuition invoice at this time, unless you are applying for a scholarship.

Step 3: Read all linked preparation materials. Complete your application forms and pay your tuition balance by the due dates.

Step 4: Your Course Advisor will review your materials. We will contact you to follow up as needed, either by phone or email. You are welcome to reach out with any questions along the way! 

Note: Your participation on course is not guaranteed until you have received medical clearance.

Step 5: Receive your Medical Clearance Email from your Course Advisor. If you are cleared early in the season and OBCA has not yet confirmed your course, please also wait for a Course Confirmation email before making any non-refundable travel plans.

Note: To confirm a course, OBCA needs to have cleared 6 people and confirmed staffing. 

Step 6: Make travel arrangements, purchase and break in your hiking boots, obtain packing list items, get physically and mentally prepared.

OBCA will send periodic emails as we get closer to the course start date. Please be sure to check your email regularly so you don’t miss important information and notifications from us!