When you ask an Outward Bound Instructor the difference between our 7-day courses and our 30 to 85-day courses, they light up. While all Outward Bound expeditions teach the core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, inclusion and diversity, students on longer courses have the opportunity to learn, gain and develop more. Instructors consistently report that students on longer courses achieve a more profound level of understanding of leadership skills, strength of character, and desire to serve.

Semesters are my favorite wilderness expeditions because they are long and difficult. Students are challenged in new and different ways, and as a result the rewards are greater than they ever imagined. When I talk with students, whether it’s on bow-watch in the Florida Keys or in a remote Panamanian village or through email years after we were on course together, I can see positive change and growth taking place and how the Outward Bound experience is making a difference in their lives. -Brian Ahearn, Semester Instructor, Maine

Why enroll on a multi-week Outward Bound expedition? It’s simple; you will explore more, do more, gain more, serve more and be prepared for more!

Explore More:

30 to 85-day Outward Bound expeditions give you the opportunity to explore multiple wilderness areas across the globe. These areas range from world-renowned national parks and trails such as Arches National Park and the Pacific Crest Trail, to wild rivers, unpolluted natural lakes, and backcountry areas.

• On the Southwest Leadership Semester, backpack the La Sal and Uinta mountains, journey through the infinite arches, towers and canyons of Canyon Country, UT, make your way through the towering Desolation Canyon by way of the Green River, and experience ancient archeological sites while rafting down the San Juan River.

Students rafting through canyons during the Southwest Leadership Semester.

• On the Washington Instructor Development semester, explore the inner coastal waters of the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound and experience the rugged beauty and glaciated peaks that make up the North Cascades.
• On the Canadian Border Leadership Semester, sea kayak on the largest freshwater lake in the world- Lake Superior, backpack from Minnesota to Canada in the Superior National Forest and along the Sawtooth Mountain range, and canoe hundreds of miles along the Canadian border through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
• On the Oregon Cascades & Idaho Salmon River Leadership Semester, visit the world-renowned climbing mecca Smith Rock State Park, raft through the second deepest river gorge in North America by way of the Salmon River- the last free flowing river in the United States, and explore volcanoes that dot the spine of the Cascade Mountains, rising 10,000 feet above the surrounding forests, lakes and rivers.
• On the Rockies to Alaska Instructor Development semester, travel from Colorado to Alaska through the iconic Rocky Mountains, explore the untamed corner of Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest in Vedauwoo, and experience the land of the midnight sun in Chugach, Alaska.

A student watches the sunset in Alaska on courses with Outward Bound. Photo by Zack McGill

Do More

When you embark on a longer Outward Bound course, a multitude of outdoor activities are at your fingertips. With more activities comes more time to practice and master technical skills, complete certifications and hone in on your passions.

• On the Rockies to Ecuador Leadership Semester, learn to ice climb in the Rocky Mountains, hone rock climbing skills in Joshua Tree National Park, practice the art of canyoneering in Canyon Country, UT and summit peaks in Ecuador with newfound mountaineering skills.

Students practice ice climbing and mountaineering skills while in Ecuador.

• On the Washington Instructor Development semester, develop your skills as an outdoor educator with in-depth learning in mountaineering, sea kayaking, first aid, wilderness activity management, experiential education theory and get certified as a Wilderness First Responder.
• On the Blue Ridge Mountains to Florida & Patagonia Leadership Semester, backpack, rock climb and whitewater canoe in the historic Blue Ridge Mountains, travel by canoe through the Florida Everglades, learn alpine trekking techniques in Patagonia to prepare for a Andean peak summit, and earn your Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications.

After completing a semester course, students have formed lifelong friendships, explored a broad range of educational topics, made lasting memories, mastered technical skills, and discovered their incredible potential as leaders and individuals. When students leave course, they have a deep connection to the landscapes they explored and more importantly, they have developed a sense of place in their own lives, as the directors of their actions and as the leaders in their communities.-Tarn Udall, Course Director and Semester Instructor, Utah

Gain More

Individuals who complete our longer expeditions report consistently high levels of satisfaction. They explain that there are simply more opportunities to acquire skills, experiences and expertise. With additional time in the wilderness, students are able to fully develop valuable, transferrable life skills such as:

• Practical field experience: Deep in the wilderness, students begin to see the real-life relevance of scientific principles, social theories and process-driven tasks, and are able to apply new skills and knowledge when they return home.

• Cross-cultural understanding: Outward Bound’s commitment to diversity and inclusion allows students to appreciate perspectives and cultures different from their own – a trait highly valued by future employers.

Outward Bound semester alum, Molly volunteering with children in Guatemala.

• Creative problem-solving: Outward Bound semester expeditions allow students to learn to solve problems on the fly, assess and manage for risk, and to make innovation a part of their everyday routine – all skills that will serve them well in careers and coursework.
• Leadership: As a semester expedition progresses, Outward Bound Instructors provide just the right balance of guidance and autonomy to give students the skills and independence needed to function as their own team. Students take on exponentially more responsibility and leadership roles with tasks such as managing route choices, risk management and group dynamics. Back home, this translates into increased ownership of their own life paths and future decisions.

A group of students learn to navigate through the Colorado Rockies while on course with Outward Bound. Photo by Lauren Kent.

• Positive Habits: On longer courses students are given more time to form positive habits that can practiced back home. In a study done by the University College of London, research showed that, “On average it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. How long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances…[and ranges] anywhere from 18 days to 254 days.” (James Clear via the European Journal of Social Psychology).

Gap year experiences invariably serve to develop some of the non-cognitive skills that current research are showing predict success better than IQ: motivation, optimism, grit, and conscientiousness.-American Gap Association

Serve More

Every Outward Bound expedition is designed to foster an ethic of service – which means we encourage students to actively engage in service to others, and also demonstrate social and environmental responsibility. On our longer expeditions, students have the ability to leave a lasting impact on local communities through multi-day service projects.

• On the Florida Keys to Brazil Leadership Semester, students build and repair homes in farming villages within Eastern Brazil using sustainably harvested eco-materials.
• On the Patagonia to Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains Leadership Semester, crews help local farmers build structures, harvest food and make fences for livestock.

Students help build fences in Patagonia during their leadership semester with Outward Bound

• On the Maine Service and Leadership Semester, students work with local land managers and social service agencies that contribute to building the communities within Maine’s coastal and rural towns.
• On the Pathfinder High Sierra Alpine Backpacking & Rock Climbing, students work with the National Park Service and National Forest agencies on projects such as trail maintenance and lakeshore restoration.

Students revitalize a trail in the High Sierras while on course with Outward Bound

Prepare More

Embarking on a longer course allows students to immerse themselves in Outward Bound’s educational framework and begin to think about how it all might apply to their lives in the future.

• According to the American Gap Association, “gap year programs have an impact on [students’] choice of academic major and career – either setting them on a different path than before a Gap Year or confirming their direction.”
• For students who have not yet entered their freshman year of college, a semester expedition might help them identify a college or university that is suited to their newfound interests, skills and values developed over the length of the course.
• Longer expeditions with Outward Bound allow for a longer Solo. This extended time alone in nature gives students time for deeper self-introspection, a chance to think about their goals and plan for the future.

Every Outward Bound course builds self confidence and teaches the skills you need to tackle any challenge, it’s on the longer courses that we have the time to not just learn these lessons but live them. When students come home from one of our longer courses they have real world challenges waiting for them like college, work, and being part of a family or community. Course is not a way to escape these things but a way to prepare for them.–John Wood, Semester Instructor, North Carolina

Regardless of length, every Outward Bound expedition helps craft a confident, compassionate leader with integrity, strength of character, and an indefatigable passion to serve. To learn more about Outward Bound, visit www.outwardbound.org or call 866.467.7651. With a rich selection of expeditions, a wide variety of age groups, stunning locations, and courses that run throughout the year, there’s an Outward Bound expedition for everyone.