Taking an Outward Bound semester course might be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do—and you’ll probably want to do it again…and again. Making bold decisions to shake things up, like enrolling in 80 days of expeditionary adventures, can be incredibly life-affirming.
Whether you’ve already signed up for a semester expedition, or you’re interested in one, here are a few things you can expect to walk away with as you prepare to embark on a journey of a lifetime. Trust us, you won’t regret it!
1. Find Perspective and Learn to Live Intentionally
Many individuals sign up for a HIOBS semester course because they are figuring out their next steps in life, they want to learn more about themselves or gain new skills, or they want to explore their interests and the world around them. These expeditions offer a much-needed opportunity to pause, reflect, and discover exactly who you are without the distractions and busyness of day-to-day life, family, friends, school/jobs, or your phone. By taking a break from the mainstream grind, you are presented with the opportunity to think about how to live a more intentional life.
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is incredibly validating and creates a very supportive environment. One thing people don’t always expect though is the strong connection with their instructors and feeling inspired by them as well. Many HIOBS field staff have taken unconventional paths in life, and this is often encouraging to students, showing them options they may not have thought of and inspiring them to look at things differently, follow their passions, and sometimes do the exact same thing. After course, students may pursue their own paths while keeping these skills and experiences in their back pockets, while others may choose to apply them towards pursuing a career in adventure-based experiential education.
“I feel a responsibility now to carry all of the invaluable lessons Outward Bound has taught me. How can I leave and go out into the world unchanged after learning so much? I will return a new man. With more humility, kindness, strength, and confidence.”
–Matthew, age 21
2. Gain New Skills and Knowledge
On course, students build a base of experience and knowledge and learn all of the skills necessary to eventually travel independently from their instructors, gaining the ability to practice leading through their own decision-making and expertise. Semesters offer the ability to practice learning new skills (such as navigation, problem-solving, Wilderness First Aid Certification, cooking in the backcountry, participating in service projects for local communities, etc.) at a pace that allows each of them to become completely confident in their abilities. Don’t know how to sail or navigate in a sea kayak yet? No worries—we’ve got you covered!
“The five new skillsets; sailing surfing, whitewater, scuba, and sea kayaking have made me well rounded and capable of tackling new challenges as well as introduced me to new passions.” –Cade, age 22
3. Find Community—Make Memories and Friends that Will Last a Lifetime
When it comes to an Outward Bound course, your crew is everything; it’s a foundational aspect of your time on an expedition. The activities you’ll do along the way are simply the medium through which community is built and experienced. Learning through experience is the name of the game, and that is shared with your crew; personal growth is inseparable from the crew experiencing it alongside you. At the end of the day, you’ll not only learn about the world and yourself in a new way, but you’ll walk away with friendships that last a lifetime and memories you’ll carry with you long after the course ends.
“Over the course of this past semester I have grown so much as a person, and I have become much kinder and much less selfish. I have learned and practiced leadership and how to trust, support, and be supported by those around me.” –Vivian, age 18
4. Learn to Say Yes, Try New Things, and Develop a ‘Just Do It’ Attitude
Despite the physical, mental, emotional, and social challenges that occur on a semester course, what matters most—through your successes and failures—is that you keep moving forward and continue to try again.
Eighty days is a long time to be in the backcountry, and there will definitely be times that you want to quit. Through it all, you will gain the ability to problem-solve, the willingness to try new things, and the resilience to face future challenges and move through them with greater ease and understanding.
Outward Bound was founded on the belief that there is more in all of us than we know. And as our founder Kurt Hahn noted, “If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.”
“I was so frightened of what taking a gap year looked like, but now I know I had some of the best moments of my life on this course. Being a leader is something I have always had trouble with. On the sailing section in Florida, I found my voice as a leader by calling “all hands” as the captain of the sailboat.” –Matthew, age 19
5. Have the Time of Your Life!
You may not shower often or get to sleep in while you’re on your expedition, but one thing we can guarantee is that you’re going to have A LOT of fun with your peers—learning, traveling, seeing wildlife, and eating foods you’ve never tried before in countries you never thought you’d visit.
Being away from the distractions of everyday life—and maybe most importantly, the internet—means that time is marked by intentional conversations, brewing tea and coffee in the morning, sunrises and sunsets, getting up on your surfboard for the first time, and reaching summits. It may be the only time in your life you can step away from it all for three months and focus solely on yourself, the people around you, and what is right in front of you. Don’t forget to take it all in and enjoy every minute!
“The experiences I had on this course were like no other in my life. Sailing on a 30ft. pulling boat in the Keys all the way to sea kayaking in Panama— I’ve never been happier.”
–Ryan, age 21
