On the Outdoor Educator Course, students learn through training, practice, feedback and reflection and gain the teaching and technical skills necessary for working in the field of outdoor education. They will have opportunities to develop and implement lesson plans.

This course is geared toward students who want to learn from the experience, as well as about the craft of designing an expedition to create a meaningful experience.

Students will participate in several nationally recognized training programs, including:

• Wilderness First Responder
• Swiftwater Rescue
• Whitewater Canoeing

Students will learn & practice important Facilitation Skills:

• Giving and receiving feedback
• Active listening
• Group problem solving
• Levels of involvement in decision making
• Method and practice of lesson planning and delivery

The mountains of western Maine and northern New Hampshire comprise the northern end of the Appalachian mountain range. Within this region, the White Mountain National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, the Carter-Mahoosuc Range, the Hundred-Mile Wilderness, the Grafton Loop Trail, Bigelow Preserve, and the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness all offer classic backpacking terrain. These spruce-fir and hardwood forests are home to hundreds of species of birds as well as moose, deer, and black bear. Rushing waterfalls, clear twisting streams, and spectacular views from rocky summits reward backpackers ready for adventure.

Your course area along the coast of Maine, with its intricate and indented shoreline, is a unique segment of the North Atlantic seaboard. It is renowned among sailors for its picturesque beauty, iconic lighthouses, abundant bays and harbors, rocky islands, and quiet coves. Our cruising area covers nearly 200 miles of the Maine coast, with countless rivers, bays, and islands to explore. The rocky, spruce-covered islands are the summits of a prehistoric mountain range; many generations of inhabitants have made their livelihoods here. Evidence left behind on the islands reveals the historic presence of indigenous Abenaki camps, pre-colonial fishing communities, post-colonial timber and farming operations, and early 20th-century granite quarries. Cold, nutrient-rich waters flow from the Canadian Maritimes and make the Gulf of Maine home to a wide range of sea birds, seals, porpoises, and whales.

Rock climbing instruction will take place at one of the many cliffs you encounter along your expedition route. Most of this hiking terrain is protected from development and offers both pristine and established camping, rushing waterfalls, twisting streams, and spectacular views from rocky summits.

Your canoeing course area will be within the upper reaches of the Androscoggin, Penobscot, Kennebec, Allagash, and/or Upper Dead River watersheds, which are fed by Moosehead Lake, Flagstaff Lake, and the Rangeley Lakes. Indigenous Abenaki peoples used these waterways as both a means of transportation between winter habitats inland, summer living on the coast, and as a source of food. The great rivers of Maine were used to move logs to mills downstate during the logging boom of the nineteenth century. These days the lakes and rivers are used primarily by canoeists, fishermen, and other recreationalists. Some of the portage trails here, such as along the Rapid River, have been in use for centuries.

Course Progression

Section I: Immersion (14-­‐16 days) Sailing 

Your course will begin at Hurricane Island Outward Bound’s Sea Program basecamp located at Wheeler Bay in Spruce Head, Maine. Here you will meet your watch mates and begin your journey along the Maine Coast. Why start with sailing, you might ask, when many wilderness and adventure programs don’t have sailboats? We start with sailing because it’s the perfect place to start and a unique opportunity. In fact, it’s where Outward Bound and the wilderness education movement started. Our traditional 30-­‐foot sailboats encourage teamwork and leadership like no other classroom. On an open boat with no cabin and no engine, you will live closely together using only wind and oars as propulsion. As you rotate responsibilities during this expedition, you will learn the crafts of sailing, navigating, rowing and living aboard a small open boat. At night, you sleep on deck under a tarp, taking turns at anchor watch under brilliant night skies. 

As your group learns to operate as a cohesive crew, you will have many opportunities to explore the infinite facets of wilderness leadership, judgment and decision-­‐making. The last section of the sailing phase will provide you with your first opportunity to put these and your new technical skills to the test: your instructors will remove themselves from all routine decision making and you and your crew will take on the responsibilities of the expedition for yourselves. 

Section II: Skill Building and Risk Management (9-­‐11 days), Canoeing and White Water 

Living and traveling with just what you can carry on your back or in a canoe is a simple existence, in which small choices can make deceptively great differences. So it is with teaching and risk management. Wilderness canoe expedition skills are essential to the outdoor educator. Your wilderness classroom will be the Penobscot, Kennebec or Allagash watershed(s) in Maine’s Northwoods, the land that Thoreau immortalized in The Maine Woods. On the waterways of this five million acre forest, you will practice paddle strokes and precise maneuvering. You will also learn the skills of portaging (carrying the canoe on your shoulders), and lining (guiding your canoe down unrunnable 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. 

Section III: Wilderness First Responder (8-­‐9 days)

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification is recognized as the standard level of expertise in backcountry first aid. This nationally recognized program trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings. The 80-­‐hour curriculum includes standards for extended care situations. Half of your time will be spent completing practical skills, case studies and scenarios designed to challenge your decision-­‐making abilities. 

Section IV: Expedition Planning and Teaching - backpacking and rock climbing.

Backpacking is a great combination of team and individual elements. In the mountains, you will learn map reading, cooking, how to pack and adjust your pack, foot care, hydration, knots, and navigation on-­‐ and off-­‐ trail. The mountains of Maine and northern New Hampshire are rugged, wooded, at times muddy and steep, with bold granite summits and views that stretch to the horizon.

Rock climbing sessions take place at the many crags and cliffs that make northern New England a world renowned climbing destination. You will learn how to properly use harnesses, helmets, ropes, belay devices, slings, cams, and nuts. You will start with the basics of tying in to the rope and safely belaying each other, and practice efficient movement over rock using techniques of friction, edging and crack climbing. As you build experience and skill you will develop more advanced climbing techniques and practice setting up and managing a variety of sites. 

To live well in the backcountry, all group 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. 

Section V: Final Expedition/Assessment (4-­‐6 days)

In small groups, you will test your leadership and technical skills by taking on all of the challenges and rewards that are a part of planning and executing a successful final wilderness expedition. This will enable your instructors to fully evaluate your current level of achievement and work with you to create a customized development plan to further your personal and career goals.

The Hurricane Island Outward Bound School has a 50-­year history of innovative and life-­changing wilderness or adventure education. While all of our gap year and semester offerings provide unparalleled opportunities for skill building and personal growth, the Wilderness Educator Course is more specialized. You will learn from the experience of the expedition as well as learn the craft of designing an expedition to create a meaningful experience. You need not have previous teaching or leading experience; just a high level of fitness, a dedication to building an expeditionary community, a love of the outdoors and a strong interest in the outdoor classroom. 

Throughout the course you will share leadership and teaching opportunities. During moments when you are not in a leadership or teaching role, you will be in a follower/student role. For that reason, your full participation in every activity and every day is essential to the learning of the whole group. All Wilderness Educator Course students will:

• Engage fully in all aspects of the expedition, including formal lessons, group decisions, skills practice and wilderness living tasks.
• Be active drivers for their own learning as well as contributors to the learning of others
• Think and act so as to protect and enhance the physical and emotional safety of themselves and others

Sailing

The 30-foot open sailboat is your home and classroom. These seaworthy boats are rigged to take full advantage of the power of the Maine coastal winds, and when the winds do not cooperate, the boats can be rowed by two or four people pulling on oars. At night the boat can be configured as a sleeping platform and you and your watch mates will take turns at anchor watch under brilliant night skies. Underway, you will learn to set your sails properly for sailing at different angles to the wind, and to anticipate and respond to changes in weather. As you practice rowing, you will discover that by coordinating all of the rower’s movements so that the oars splash as one, you halve the effort it takes to travel on windless days. You will learn to navigate using a chart and compass across open water and among the bold granite islands, concentrating on the environment around you.

Canoeing

Your wilderness classroom will be the Penobscot, Kennebec or Allagash watershed(s) in Maine’s Northwoods, the land that Thoreau immortalized in The Maine Woods. On the waterways of this five million acre forest, you will practice paddle strokes and precise maneuvering. You will also learn the skills of portaging (carrying the canoe on your shoulders), and lining (guiding your canoe down un-runnable rapids) as you travel through some of the amazing waterways of Maine.

Backpacking and Rock Climbing

Your course focuses on wilderness expedition skills. In the mountains, you will learn map reading, cooking, how to pack 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 thorough 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. In the rock climbing section you will learn how to properly use harnesses, helmets, ropes, belay devices, slings, cams, and nuts. You will start with the basics of tying in to the rope and safely belaying each other, and practice efficient movement over rock using techniques of friction, edging and crack climbing. As you build experience and skill you will develop more advanced climbing techniques and practice setting up and managing a variety of sites. 

Backcountry Medicine 

The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course provides training for managing emergencies in a remote setting. The 80-hour curriculum combines classroom time with hands on practical scenarios, where students assess and deliver appropriate care for injuries and illnesses. A WFR certification is recognized as the standard level of expertise in backcountry first aid.

Solo

One-­ to three-‐night solos provide an important break from the rigors of the expedition. With sufficient food and equipment, you’ll spend time alone at an assigned campsite to rest, reflect, and practice the camp craft skills you have been learning throughout the course. We choose your solo site to offer as much solitude as possible, within hearing distance of other group members. You will not travel during this time and your instructors will check on you occasionally, but you will be mostly alone for the duration of your solo. Many students are initially nervous about solo, but most are ready for a rest and a break from the group when the time for solo arrives. Solo length is based on length of course, weather and instructor preference. Of the two solos on this course, one will be a multi-­‐day solo, and the other may just be a single day or a day and night.

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.

Final Expedition

As the course progresses, the instructors work to hand over responsibility for leadership of the expedition to you and your group members.Throughout the Outward Bound sections of this semester your group will have multiple opportunities to test your leadership and technical skills by taking on all of the challenges and rewards that are a part of planning and executing a successful expedition.

Final Challenge Event

We typically end our courses with a Final Challenge Event—an individual final physical push. This might take the form of a run, a swim or a triathlon-‐style challenge.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW ABOUT OUR SEMESTER PROGRAMS

Groupings

For much of the course you will function in a group of 6-12 people. This is the classic Outward Bound “crew” or "watch". It is generally co-ed and comprised of individuals from different geographic, ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. The age spread can be wide, with the average age being early to mid-twenties. Some components of the course will require different student groupings and student/staff ratios. You may be in a larger or smaller group for classes, activities and skills instruction.

Student Independence

There will be times on this course when instructors will not directly supervise you. This will include time around camp, cooking or setting up tents, sleeping, and solo. We have found that a degree of independence is an effective educational tool, and we expect that all students come to this course with a willingness to learn skills and effective expedition behavior, and practice them without instructor supervision, either alone or with other group members. 

Weather and a Typical Day

The short answer to the question of “what’s a typical day like?” is that there is no typical day on an Outward Bound course. Weather, wind, wave, and river conditions will determine whether or not we can sail, snorkel, and where we go each day. We assess the weather several times a day to help us make decisions about our expedition plans, and we frequently have to amend our plans to meet the changing conditions. For this reason, we need to maintain the flexibility to make the best safety and educational decisions for the changing environment.

Travel Within the Course

There will/can be a considerable amount of travel between the different sections of the course. Except for the mid-course flight, this will be done primarily in Outward Bound vans and buses. All ground transportation during the course is included in tuition and fees but flights are not. Please pay close attention to the clothing and equipment lists and bring only what you need. Storage space will be limited, particularly when we are traveling.

During Breaks

This course is demanding. In order to keep you motivated and energized, break times have been scheduled during the course. Breaks will be half a day to one day long and may allow time for you to contact home, do laundry, and possibly to explore a town. Outward Bound staff will maintain responsibility for student well-being during breaks, and will remain easily accessible during unstructured free time. During breaks, students are expected to obey all local laws and customs and exhibit appropriate behavior, defined as behaving in keeping with Outward Bound core values, and abstaining from drug and alcohol use. Course expulsion may result if laws are broken, or behavior endangers self, others, property, or the reputation of Outward Bound.

Mail

Throughout the course, you will be able to send out mail. Because it is a mobile course, it can be difficult to receive mail. Prior to your course, a course schedule and mailing address will be sent to you. During the domestic portions of our Semesters, you will be able to receive small items (must fit into a large envelope). LARGE PACKAGES SHOULD NOT BE SENT. Do not plan on having any mail sent to overseas destinations at all. If you have any questions about where to send mail, please check in with your Course Advisor.

Equipment & Personal Belongings

Read the equipment and clothing list thoroughly and carefully consider all that you bring. Some storage is available at the base camps, but you will have to bring all of your luggage with you when you go internationally. Rugged cameras, quality sunscreen, notebooks and pens are well worth bringing. Expensive jewelry, valuables and many changes of casual clothing are not.

Cameras

HOIBS will provide a camera for your group to use while on course. These pictures will be posted for you to access after the course. You can also bring a camera if you want to record the events of your course. However, because the course is rigorous and the climate is wet, you run the risk of losing or damaging your camera. A durable waterproof camera/case will help protect it from the elements. Keep in mind that access for recharging is extremely limited. Please do not bring large amounts of camera equipment. 

Vaccines and Medical Facilities

Each of our International locations have reliable medical facilities which we can access from our course areas within a day. All instructors are Wilderness First Responder certified. Our instructor/student ratio, as well as the skills of our instructors, ensures solid evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. We carry a wilderness first aid kit. Please bring only medications that are prescribed to you; do not bring any additional medications. Instructors will brief the group about treating drinking water, and other routine safety and health precautions while on course. Please contact your family doctor/physician or nearest travel clinic for the latest on medical travel updates on the area to which you are going to travel. Your doctor can help you decide which vaccines you should get prior to your course. For further information on recommended vaccines, see: CDC WEBSITE

Passports/Visas

If you are on an international Semester course, you must bring a valid passport with an expiration date of at least 6 months beyond the date of your return flight home. Every student should consult the following web site to ensure that they meet immigration requirements for passport and visa needs: https://www.state.gov/travel/

We also recommend that you make two copies of your passport, one to keep with you during the course in case you lose your original, and one to leave at home. If you do not currently have a passport, you should start the application process NOW. It can take many weeks for your paperwork to be processed and a passport issued. For passport information go to: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html

You Will Need Some Money

Money will be needed for meals during break days. In addition, there will be occasional laundry expenses, some new clothing, toiletry articles or souvenirs to be bought and lost or damaged Outward Bound equipment to pay for. You may also need cash to pay for medical expenses, should you become ill or injured. The course schedule and locations do not support banking hours, and travelers’ checks are often difficult to cash and sometimes are not accepted. Visa charge cards are accepted in most populated areas, and there are ATM machines for cash advances in some areas. We recommend a combination of cash and a debit or credit card. Semester students should bring $100. At the end of course, time permitting, students may be allowed to use that money to purchase souvenirs.

Drugs and Alcohol

Use of alcohol, tobacco or non-prescription drugs is absolutely forbidden on your semester course. These substances would not only detract from your performance on the course, but can create significant safety and health issues for all participants. Use of these substances while on course will result in your immediate expulsion from the course without a refund. Bring only drugs that are prescribed to you, in the original, labeled prescription vials.

Emergency Messages

You will, at times, be in remote areas without telephone contact. Emergency calls are defined as calls that can’t wait until regular business hours. Examples of emergency calls are that you are unable to make it to the course start on time or you have a family emergency while on course. Please call 855-802-0307, and follow the prompts for your base camp or course type.  This will forward you automatically to our on-call cell phone and you will receive a response in a timely fashion.

Academic Credit

College credits need to be arranged BEFORE you start the course, and cannot be set up once the course begins. To learn more contact your Course Advisor, or go to http://www.outwardbound.org/classic/academic-credit-outdoor-leadership-programs/. Up to 12 credits are offered through Western State College, and Northland College and you may also be able to get credits from your own college, depending on their requirements.  Hundreds of colleges have granted credit for Outward Bound courses in our 40+ years of operation. Again - you will need to check with your counselor or registrar BEFORE you take the course. Our semester course would most likely satisfy credit requirements for classes in Wilderness Expeditionary Skills, Wilderness Camping and Travel, Wilderness Skills Practicum in Sailing, Whitewater and Sea Kayaking, Map and Compass, Wilderness First Aid, Group Process and Leadership, and Environmental Science and Ethics.

Medical Insurance While on Course

If you are on an international Semester Program, we are please to announce that as part of our commitment to students participating in course-related foreign travel, Outward Bound has invested in global medical and security assistance through a group membership with On Call International (Outward Bound Group ID: 100109CPPD19). If you are on a non-international Semester Program, you will want to consider purchasing travel/trip cancellation insurance. 

Please take a few minutes to read the summary of services and benefits in the "On Call" Travel Services and Benefits section below, to ensure these are adequate for your individual needs. The Travel Insurance Plan includes a robust menu of benefits that are listed in the summary. This benefit package covers the majority of options one would find when purchasing travel insurance as an individual, but does not include trip cancellation coverage. If you desire coverage for trip cancellation, you should purchase this separately.

 Other Insurance Outward Bound is not liable, financially or otherwise, for loss of, or damage to, property. You should make sure that all personal belongings are covered by a homeowners or other insurance policy before the start of the program.

Partners/ Subcontractors

We occasionally choose to work with other reputable organizations and individuals to assist us in delivering our courses. We establish these relationships in part to improve the quality of course delivery, and to add additional resources and expertise otherwise unavailable to us. We work with Outward Bound Costa Rica, Outward Bound Brazil and The Island School/ Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas.

Please be aware that most trip cancellation policies will provide fee-based services that will be redundant to those included with your On Call membership. To avoid incurring additional expenses while on course, Outward Bound students should refer to the OB/On Call program for these services.

Outdoor Educator Courses

Outward Bound Outdoor Educator courses open doors in the outdoor education industry - we provide opportunities to learn specific outdoor activity skills and gain certifications, train students in wilderness expedition travel and living skills and ethics, and present the fundamentals and nuances of the Outward Bound learning approach.

Our Outward Bound instructors coach students to step outside their perceived limitations, to assess risks, and to work together on expedition to achieve more than they thought possible.  Guided by specialists in the field, Outdoor Educator students will learn, practice and refine the skills needed to jumpstart a wide range of careers in experiential education, wilderness education, wilderness guiding, place-based education and much more.

You need to be physically fit, and motivated to live, learn and work together within your expedition team. A high level of previous wilderness travel or camping experience is not necessary, although it is helpful —all travel and leadership skills are taught from the beginning, and each phase of the expedition builds on the previous one.