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Course Number
HNTF-153
Dates
July 07, 2021 - July 28, 2021
Backpacking
Your course focuses on wilderness expedition skills. In the mountains, you will learn map reading, cooking, how to load and adjust your pack, foot care, hydration, knots and, most importantly, leadership and teamwork. Backpacking is a great combination of team and individual elements. The mountains of Maine are rugged, wooded, and will at times be muddy and steep, making it necessary to “spot” and coach each other through difficult terrain. At times you will travel on wilderness footpaths, at others, you will navigate off-trail. From mountain peaks, if the weather cooperates, you will be rewarded with spectacular views. Living and traveling with just what you can carry on your back is a simple existence, in which small choices can make deceptively great differences. To live well in the outdoors, all crew members must share the chores that turn a camp into a home, including setting up tents and tarps, making a kitchen area, taking a turn fetching water, and cooking satisfying meals.
Canoeing
Part, or most, of your course will be focused on learning wilderness canoe expedition skills. You will canoe on lakes and rivers, learning paddle strokes such as the draw, pry, and J-stroke. You may also learn about lining (guiding your canoe down un-runnable rapids) as you travel through some of the amazing waterways of Maine. In learning to work and communicate well with your paddling partner each day you will discover the power of two people truly working together.
Whitewater Canoeing
If your expedition route and water levels allow, you may get the opportunity to learn to run white water stretches of river up to class II. You will learn self-rescue, reading the river, picking out the line you will run, and maneuvering the canoe in moving water and waves. This will give you the chance to work with your canoe partner and putting together your paddle skills to run the rapid.
Portaging
To travel between lakes, your group will work together as a team to carry packs and canoes over trails. Portage trails are rugged and often rocky or hilly. They vary in length from a few hundred yards to a few miles. The group will work to come up with a portaging plan that sensibly and safely distributes all of the responsibilities.
Rock Climbing
During your course you may have the opportunity to do some rock climbing on one of this area’s many granite cliffs or on our ropes course at the Outward Bound basecamp. You will learn to use climbing equipment, tie knots, climb and belay each other, while instructors provide overall supervision of the site. Climbing gives you a chance to practice your balance, coordination, and flexibility as well as the group’s ability to trust and encourage each other.
It is important to keep in mind that being able to climb is dependent on a variety of factors such as weather, course route/length, and staffing availability. We intend to have this be an element of your course, but it is not guaranteed.
Service
Service projects are often incorporated into Outward Bound courses through coordination with local land managers, conservation groups, government agencies or social service agencies. While in the wilderness, students are encouraged to practice service to the environment and their team by sharing responsibilities and following Recreate Responsibly ethics throughout the expedition.
Solo
The solo experience is a standard element of Outward Bound courses. With sufficient food and equipment, you will set up camp at a site on your own. The solo will last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the length of your course. Your solo site is chosen to offer as much solitude as possible, yet be within hearing distance of other group members. You will not travel during this time alone, and your instructors will check on you occasionally. The solitude and break from the fast pace of your expedition allows for rest and personal reflection, which is necessary to make the most of your experience.
Personal Challenge Event
Our courses end with a Personal Challenge Event, an individual final physical push. These events typically take the form of a running and/or swimming activity, though may include another element that you learned during your course. This event is a chance to finish your Outward Bound Experience with a true personal challenge where you can own all of your decisions and efforts in contrast to the time you have spent operating within an expedition team.
Backpacking
- Proper fit and loading of packs
- Moving efficiently over rugged terrain
- River crossings
- Distributing group gear fairly amongst the group
- Group travel
- Route Planning
- Weather signs and forecasting
Canoeing Skills
- Care of canoes and paddles
- Paddle strokes and maneuvering
- Weather signs and forecasting
- Paddling in convoy
Rock Climbing (dependent on various factors)
- Belaying and rope handling
- System safety
- Climbing technique
- Rappelling
Expedition Skills
- Emergency preparedness
- Safety management and basic first aid
- Campsite selection & Route finding
- Shelter construction
- Outdoor cooking
- Conservation practices
- Ropes and knots
- Stove use and maintenance
- Recreate Responsibly wilderness ethics
- Nutrition and ration planning
- Navigation using map/chart & compass
Group Dynamics
- Leadership and decision making
- Followership and expedition behavior
- Communication and Conflict Resolution
- Individual and group goal setting
- Independence and Interdependence
- Community Building and Empathy
The essential goal of any Outward Bound course is for the students to learn autonomy. Our expedition curriculum supports this happening in a progressive way.
During the first third of a course (a phase called “training expedition”), the instructors are very present in the group. They teach outdoor skills, the technical aspects of the activities and guide the students as they form a team.
In the middle third of the course (what we call the “main expedition”), the instructors take a step back so students may step forward. Students begin to teach what they’ve already learned to each other, and experiment with applying basic skills to bigger challenges. The instructors continue to coach and support as the students practice leadership roles. When the group meets a particular situation, environment or activity they haven’t learned about before, the instructors jump back in and teach. Each time this happens, the group reaches competency more quickly.
By the last third of the course (the “final expedition”), students are the stars of the show. They are applying what they know, leading each other, setting goals, and solving problems collaboratively. The instructors are close by and ready to step back in to prevent a safety issue from occurring but will let students find their own resiliency when they make mistakes, and ensure they feel the full spotlight of success when they meet their goals.
Please bring all Required Clothing & Gear
You are welcome to bring extras of the items marked with a plus (+) sign. Where a range of quantities is indicated, e.g., “1-2” bring the smaller quantity if you are on a one-week course, and the larger quantity if your course is 10 days or longer. There are multiple brand name options available at varying prices. The clothing and equipment on this list is widely available in many places. Specialty outdoor stores like L.L.Bean, REI, Campmorand Eastern Mountain Sportswill have a range of appropriate items to choose from. Discount retailers, like Sierra Trading Postand the REI Garage often have good prices on name-brand gear and clothing. You may also locate many first- quality clothing and equipment items at military surplus stores and area consignment stores and thrift stores, such as Goodwilland The Salvation Army.
The HIOBS website has some great items. A complete collection of HIOBS-recommended-for-course items can be found HERE. Please contact your course advisor for suggestions.
Sizing & Layering
Packing several light layers rather than fewer heavier layers allows you more flexibility as the weather and workloads change. Inner layers should fit closely, middle layers should fit loosely and outer layers should be just a little bit baggy. When shopping or packing, it is a good idea to try on your layers together.
Packing
Before your expedition, your instructors will check your gear; they will assess your clothing with the actual route and the anticipated weather in mind. Items you don’t take on expedition will be stored safely at base. We suggest leaving the tags on any items you purchase in case you don’t actually pack them for expedition, but please note that you should check with each store to see what their return policies are. If there are items that you would like to bring but which are not mentioned on this list, feel free to call and ask your course advisor at 855-802-0307.
Tick- and Mosquito-Borne (Arboviral) Diseases
Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases are an increasing risk of traveling in the wild regions of the Americas, including our course areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Florida, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica. Fortunately, there are prevention steps that are very effective and, in most cases, treatment is relatively simple and recovery complete, so long as the diagnosis is made early. Students and their families should educate themselves on the risks, prevention measures, and signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses.
Since prevention is always better than treatment, we STRONGLY recommend pre-treating your footwear, long pants, long-sleeve shirts, jackets and hats with a chemical barrier containing permethrin, at least two days before traveling to your course. Applied correctly and allowed to dry before wearing, the treatment remains effective for up to a month. For even longer-lasting protection, you can either purchase clothing with permethrin embedded within it, or send your clothes to Insect Shield®, who will treat them and ship them back to you, ready for your course. Use the Coupon Code “HIOBS” to receive a 15% discount on both clothing and treatment services at this website (please note that you need to use the coupon separately for products/ service).
Permethrin spray is readily available at many retailers, including Dick's Sporting Goods, Campmor, and Walgreen's.
For more information, please download our Vector-Borne Disease General Fact Sheet.
Summer in Maine is often warm and sunny, but cold fronts are common and these bring wind and rain. Out on the water, the air stays cool and moist so warm, quick drying clothing is essential. The sun can be intense making sun protection (sun screen & clothing) very important. Temperatures at night can drop to the 40s and even lower in May and September. Daytime temperatures range from the 50s to the 80s.
Cooler Month Items (May, June, September)
- 1 Fleece Vest or Long-Sleeved Shirt: Mid-weight- can be Polartec® fleece, wool, or the equivalent weight shirt or 100- or 200-weight Polartec® vest.
- 1 Medium Weight Pants: Mid-weight: 100- or 200-weight Polartec® or the equivalent
- 1 pair Mittens or Warm Gloves: Can be wool or fleece.
- 1 Balaclava: A hood-shaped hat that covers your head and neck. You could also bring a neck gaiter and a second hat.
Overview
Our course areas are rugged and require boots that are appropriate to the demands of the terrain and carrying an expedition backpack. For most students, boots are a significant investment. Good boots that fit your feet will make your course safer and more enjoyable, and last you for many years. Follow these guidelines to ensure a good fit and help simplify your shopping. At the bottom are some examples of makes and models. Please call your Course Advisor if you have any questions, or to ask about a specific model.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are purchasing new boots for your course, make sure to get them well ahead of your course start! You will want to wear them around several times to break them in and ensure they are comfortable prior to arriving at your course. Leather could require a longer breaking in period.
Fitting
It's best to do your boot shopping in the afternoon because feet typically swell in the afternoon, and this will affect the fit. You should start with at least two or three possible boot options in order to find a good fit. Put your first choice on one foot and the second on the other. Lace the boots up fully with the socks that you plan to wear - one pair of lightweight liner socks under heavy outer socks (see general clothing list for more detail).
Start by standing on a downward slanting incline and try to jam your toes to the front of the boot. Next, take a walk around the store.
- Your toes should never bump up against the front of your boot.
- Your heel may slip a little in the back of the boot usually 1/8" to 1/4". Any more than¼" is too much.
- Your boots should feel comfortable with plenty of room to wiggle your toes at the front of the boot.
- There should be no obvious pressure points.
Though your boots should feel comfortable, heavy and medium weight backpacking boots will feel much stiffer than you are used to. If you are not sure you've found a good fit, ask the salesperson if you can wear them around the house (not outside) for a few hours and bring them back if there is a problem.
Features To Look For
Backpacking boots are usually in the category described as "medium-weight" hiking boots, backpacking boots or mountaineering boots. These boots have:
- soft, yet supportive, synthetic or leather uppers
- shock-absorbing composite rubber soles (must be VIBRAM OR SIMILAR SOLE)
- innovative injection molded mid sole/shanks/plates
NO JUNGLE/WORK BOOTS - they are simply not suited to the rigors of course.
Most are relatively lightweight, comfortable, supportive, and weatherproof and require only a moderate break-in period. Medium-weight boots are offered in a wide variety of brands.
Please note that Outward Bound provides all other equipment, including (but not limited to):
- Sleeping Bags & Pads
- Backpacks or Sea Duffels
- Shelter (tents or tarps)
- Cookware
- Food (3 meals/day + snacks)
- PFD (Personal Flotation Device) as needed
- Foul Weather Gear (for Sailing courses)
Please review the times and locations for Course Start and Course End as you plan your travel to and from course.
Do not purchase any travel tickets until your Course Advisor has given the "go-ahead" to book travel for your course. This message will be in either your Cleared to Participate email or a separate message confirming the course is cleared to book travel.
Travel details (flights and drop-offs) are due to your Course Advisor 10 days before your course start date. This helps our airport shuttle teams get organized and ensures we have enough seats available for all students needing a ride. You will receive a Travel Form link from your course advisor. Please complete this form, even if you are being dropped off by car.
Students flying without an adult/guardian may need to bring an ID when traveling to and/or from course. If you need to obtain a non-driver ID card, please see your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. For more information, go to www.dmv.org/id-cards.php.
COURSE END
San Jose
Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría (SJO), SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Your course ends at 10:00 AM at the international airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to make a flight before 12:00 noon. Please book your return flight after 12:00 noon.
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS FLYING TO COURSE
*If you are purchasing Unaccompanied Minor service for your child, we ask that their return flight depart by 4pm if possible. We can accommodate later departures, but would prefer flights leave earlier rather than later.
PARENTS of students ages 13-16 who will be flying unaccompanied—please read carefully:
Recently, the airline industry has adopted stricter guidelines for children ages 16 and under flying unaccompanied by an adult. Each carrier has different rules about who must fly with Unaccompanied Minor (UM) status, depending on the minor’s age, the flight route and stops. This UM status will require an additional fee of $100-$150+, and may require additional forms. If your child is under 16 and is traveling without an adult, you MUST check to see if the airline you have chosen will designate them as an Unaccompanied Minor, and inform us of his/her status. This allows us to ensure we have sufficient staff at the airport to meet your child upon arrival, and/or accompany them until they board their flight after Course End. We cannot ensure this level of staff support without advance notice.
Your airline will ask for a contact name and phone number as the pickup person. Please ask your Course Advisor for the details of this person.
NOTE: The airline may not apply this status when you originally book the travel, but may choose to do so at a later date. They may require you to upgrade to UM status (and pay the additional fee) when your child checks in with the airlines to fly to Course Start. WE STILL NEED TO KNOW – please call us if this happens. Some airlines may require students 13-15 years old to be designated as Unaccompanied Minors when they check in at the airport for departure at Course End – even if they weren’t designated as an UM on the originating flight, so please make sure to ask your airline about their policies at the time of booking.
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