Summer is just around the corner, and we want you to have a great one. Instead of spending the season on the couch, try some things on this checklist to help you have the best summer ever.
Learn How to Cook
Don’t be afraid to learn how to cook in the backcountry. Learn a few trusted tips and you’ll eat well on all of your expeditions!
For those of us who love food, there’s really nothing worse than being hungry in the wilderness. It can even be a barrier for some getting out on the trail. Check out these tips from the Colorado Outward Bound School’s Columbine Cookbook, which was published in the 70s, on how to be a gourmand in the backcountry and while on a course with Outward Bound.
- Make an effort to simplify the number of ingredients, and your dishes will be more palatable.
- When cooking, remember the basic principle of democracy, which is to maximize people’s freedom. Let others salt and pepper their individual portions.
- Take responsibility for the food you prepare. Have only one or two people working on a dish. (“Too many cooks…”)
- In the mountains it is easy not to cook food long enough. Have patience. It will taste better when cooked the proper amount of time.
- Be creative. Use the spice kit, try unusual combinations, build from scratch. Go for it!
- Use a lid on the cooking pot. Food will cook faster, conserving both fuel and your patience.
- Always be willing to cook! If you want to have a good course, you need to eat well. Practicing your cooking in the backcountry will serve you well as you go on more expeditions.
- Two things cannot be cured: burnt food and over-spiced food. So, cook over low flames and add spices gradually.
You can also try these yummy recipes featured in past blogs:
Make New Friends
An Outward Bound course offers you the experience to get to know many different types of people. Often those that are strangers at first become life-long friends!
Getting out of your comfort zone and working with a team in the wilderness is a great way to connect with other people and build friendships. But you don’t have to take it from us; here are some things Outward Bound alumni have had to say about the friendships they made on course.
“Everything that I do today is because I went on an Outward Bound expedition. I learned what it was like to have grit, gained more confidence in myself and made lifelong friendships with the people I spent those 50 days with. I have never laughed so hard with strangers who would become my best friends.” – Lily, Outward Bound Student
“Hiking in the canyons, setting up camp, cooking meals and having evening conversations brought our group close together. I made some great friends that are very difficult to find in the civilian world. These are people that I hope will be in my life for years to come.” – Jason, Outward Bound for Veterans Student
“I have learned the depths of strength and trust that are present in me and my fellow man. I shall try to remember that any of my neighbors or fellow workers could have belayed the climbing rope for me or given me his hand when I was slipping off a steep slope. I may forget, but I will try to remember.” – Outward Bound Student
Get In Shape
Exercising has many physical and mental benefits. Getting in shape is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Exercising can be thought of as our secret weapon. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that exercising can improve mood and boost energy. It promotes better sleep and combats health issues. The more you move, the more you’ll feel good. Here’s an example of an eight-week workout plan to help get students in shape for course. If you start now, you’ll be in shape and feeling great by the time summer starts!
Disclaimer – We recommend to always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.
WEEK ONE
Day 1, 3, 5: 30-45 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 10 minutes of stretching and 10 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK TWO
Day 1, 3, 5: 30-45 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 10 minutes of stretching and 15 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK THREE
Day 1, 3, 5: 30-45 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 10 minutes of stretching and 20 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK FOUR
Day 1, 3, 5: 30-45 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 10 minutes of stretching and 20 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK FIVE
Day 1, 3, 5: 30-45 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 15 minutes of stretching and 20 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK SIX
Day 1, 3, 5: 30-45 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 15 minutes of stretching and 25 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK SEVEN
Day 1, 3, 5: 45-60 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 15 minutes of stretching and 30 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
WEEK EIGHT
Day 1, 3, 5: 30 minutes of aerobic fitness training
Day 2, 4, 6: 10 minutes of stretching and 10 minutes of light weights
Day 7: Rest
Go Somewhere New
Go someplace new this summer! Experiencing new places and getting out of your comfort zone helps you grow and can make you more creative.
Leaving home and getting out of your comfort zone can build confidence, increase perspective and can make you smarter. Consider signing up for a course in one of these Outward Bound course areas to help make your summer unforgettable!
- Delaware Water Gap
- Maine Appalachian Mountain Range
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, MN
- West Virginia Dolly Sods
Learn a New Skill
Use your time wisely this summer and spend it learning a new skill!
Learning new things enables you to relate to more people and improves your cognitive skills. In fact, the more you learn, the easier it is to learn new things. Whether it’s backpacking or canoeing, rock climbing or rafting, there are tons of things to learn with Outward Bound. Check out these blogs to help beginners get outdoors.
Beginner’s Guide to the Backcountry
Do Some Good
Lending your time and skills and helping those in need will not only make you feel good, it will make a lasting positive impact in your community.
Did you know that helping others can make you a happier person? It’s true. Helping others boosts your self-esteem, builds your sense of community, makes you more thankful and can even make you feel more peaceful!
Service activities are a cornerstone for many Outward Bound experiences. Projects may include trail work, river cleanup, organizing food for the local pantry or other projects.
Unplug
Disconnecting from technology can be the best way to re-gain perspective and connect to priorities in your life.
We might be a little biased, but we think nature is best for refreshing your perspective. As it turns out, science backs us up! In the past decade, there have been studies showing the benefits of disconnecting from technology and spending quality time outside. Here are just a few reasons to put your phone down and take a hike:
- It makes us more creative. One study showed that people who spent four days outside scored 50% higher on a creativity test.
- It decreases stress. A study in Japan found that people who walked through a forest were more relaxed and less stressed than people who walked through an urban area.
- It makes us more generous. One experiment using games designed to measure generosity and trust showed participants who were exposed to nature scenes were more generous than those shown in other scenes.
About the Author
Shelby Jumper is the Web Content Administrator for Outward Bound. Her hunger for adventure has taken her all over the world – from hiking in the Swiss Alps to exploring the South African Wild Coast to swimming with wild whale sharks in the Philippines. She’s passionate about getting people outside, the medicinal value of laughter and her dog, Scout. She writes from Golden, Colorado.
