Unique Course Design - November 16th, 2001

Throughout the past 35 years, North Carolina Outward Bound has developed six course components that enable our students to gain more from their time in the outdoors. These core components also make Outward Bound a unique and unforgettable experience.


SKILL BUILDING
On Outward Bound, students learn a variety of skills including the following:
-- safety skills for travel through rigorous terrain
-- environmental stewardship and Leave No Trace techniques
-- how to pack a backpack or load a raft, canoe or kayak
-- competence with map and compass
-- route selection and navigation
-- rope use and knot tying
-- basic first aid
-- rescue preparedness
-- staying warm, dry, clean and hydrated in the backcountry or on the water
-- campcraft, including low-impact camping, cooking, food selection and nutrition
-- water purification, hygiene and sanitation
-- care of equipment
-- techniques for storm and lightning safety
-- skills for chosen course activities (rock climbing, sea kayaking, etc.)

As goals are met and successes rewarded students also uncover additional skills and qualities such as:
-- communication
-- teamwork
-- leadership
-- compassion
-- self-reliance
-- the spirit of adventure
-- respect for the environment


EXPEDITION
Learning by doing -- that's the Outward Bound way. As students master the skills listed above, their instructors begin to step back and award increased responsibilities to the crew. On longer courses, the experience culminates in a "final expedition," where the crew, with little participation from the instructors, executes a two- to four-day expedition of their own.


ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
The wilderness is our classroom. That's why we think it is important to teach environmental stewardship – the idea that we are all personally responsible for maintaining the health of the natural environment. On course, students learn Leave No Trace camping and travel techniques like packing out trash, setting up camp in non-vegetated areas and sweeping away footprints.


SOLO
Solo is not a survival exercise, but rather an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences, relax and recharge. During solo, which may last up to three days depending on course length, each student is assigned an individual campsite, provided adequate food and water, given enough gear to have comfortable shelter and regularly checked on by an instructor.


SERVICE
An ethic of service pervades every Outward Bound course, and most Outward Bound courses incorporate at least one day of a formal service project such as rebuilding trails, restoring a camp site, cleaning a beach or planting trees.


PERSONAL CHALLENGE
Every Outward Bound course culminates in a personal challenge event – a run, paddle or bike ride of sufficient length for a student to test his or her newly developed endurance and fitness.


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