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Mid-Atlantic Appalachians Backpacking & Environmental Service Leaders

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LOCATION
Mid Atlantic
EXPEDITION TYPE
Backpacking
Leadership Intensive
Service Intensive
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Ropes Course, Service
PRICE
$4,425
PROGRAM
High School
AGES
16-18
LENGTH
14 Days
SEASON(S)
Summer
CERTIFICATIONS
Leave No Trace
SKILLS

TECHNICAL

  • Basic First Aid
  • Basic Paddle Strokes
  • Campcraft
  • Food Preparation and Cooking
  • Leave No Trace Methods & Ethics
  • Map and Compass
  • Natural History
  • Navigation
  • Wilderness Medicine

INTERPERSONAL

  • Character
  • Empathy
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Positive Risk Taking
  • Problem Solving
  • Responsibility
  • Self Awareness
  • Self Confidence
  • Sense of Social Connection
  • Service
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Testimonial

“When put to the test, my son realized he had very strong leadership skills.” –  Parent Testimonial

Combine interest and love for the environment with backpacking in the picturesque Penn’s Woods forests of Pennsylvania.

On this expedition blend your love of the environment with the curiosity of your inner explorer by backpacking through some of the richest natural resources the Mid-Atlantic has to offer. As a crew, you’ll explore the picturesque forests of Pennsylvania, the rocky trails of the Appalachian Mountains and the historic city parks of Philadelphia. Test your personal limits, explore your interest in environmental service and tackle new and exciting challenges with your crew as you inspire and support one another through Outward Bound's renowned leadership and experiential program. During your adventure, engage in hands-on conservation and environmental service projects and social stewardship while earning 20 documented service hours. With careful instruction, you will learn skills for backpacking and wilderness travel, environmental and community-based service, teamwork and leadership development, and earn Leave No Trace and Basic First Aid certification. Throughout your travel you will discuss the role of service to the environment and reflect upon the impact it has on communities and the world at large.

NOTE: This course requires that students submit proof of "Up-to-Date" COVID-19 Vaccination status as defined by the CDC. For questions regarding this policy please see this page or call us at 866-467-7651.

UPCOMING COURSES

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For detailed information on course availability statuses and what they mean, click here.

COURSE # DATES DAYS AGE COST
PPTW-241 7.25.22 - 8.7.22 14 16 - 18 $ 4,425 JOIN WAITLIST

Thank you for your interest in Outward Bound! 

This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!

APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.

APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!

JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date. 

Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.

CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.

COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.

CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.

Classic Courses

Are you ready to take a journey that will change your life? You won’t look at day-to-day drama the same way after you’ve conquered a high mountain ridge, made a boat obey your command in windswept waves or slept under the stars watching bats swoop overhead. Joining an Outward Bound expedition changes you. Your crew, your Instructor, your route and your adventures will have a profound and lasting impact on you as you rise to meet exhilarating natural challenges in some of the country’s wildest places.

  • Build skills, form connections: Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Find connections with your crewmates based on support and respect (and fun too!), and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
  • Value strengths and strengthen values: Uncover your unique character strengths, develop your leadership abilities and learn how to let compassion in to everyday life by pushing your own limits and working alongside your peers.
  • Demonstrate mastery: As you gain confidence in new skills, take on more decision-making responsibilities. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both as individuals and as a group.
  • What you’ll learn: For High School students, the opportunities to carry more weight (literally and figuratively) and make impactful decisions with accompanying consequences fills the expedition as you go through numerous trials and triumphs. It’s all about independence.

After you come home, many of the character, leadership and service traits you uncovered on your expedition stay with you, helping you navigate your daily life with more resilience and success.

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Backpacking

During the backpacking course, students will learn the necessary skills for safe wilderness travel including navigation, appropriate packing techniques, wilderness hygiene, backcountry cooking, Leave No Trace principles, group hiking and tarp sleeping systems and safety protocols and procedures – just to name a few. Students will be physically and emotionally challenged as they work as a team to accomplish goals and put learned skills to practice. Students will acquire the technical skills needed to be successful on this expedition, as well as the interpersonal skills needed to thrive in their daily lives back at home and in school. Students do not need prior backpacking experience for this course, but should bring an open mind and willingness to learn new skills!

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Service

This course is designed to build the next generation of environmental leaders. Students may work side by side with Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, Park Rangers, farmers, environmentalists, or local non-profit leaders in order to expand their knowledge of the natural world and explore different “green career” pathways.  Service opportunities may include remote trail maintenance, invasive species removal, native tree and community garden plantings, garden and food source maintenance, food bank packing and distribution.  Students will gain skills and knowledge in Leave No Trace principles and Basic First Aid while accruing 20 service hours.

Solo

Students will engage in Solo, a period of solitude, as a way to take a break from the physical nature of the expedition and experience time for quiet self-reflection and introspection. Instructors set the tone for the Solo experience and help students prepare for this unique opportunity to spend time away from their crew and process their experiences on a more personal level. While on Solo, students will have food, drinking water, appropriate clothes, a tarp for shelter, sleeping bag, journal, as well as a whistle with which they may alert their instructors in the unlikely event of an emergency. Instructors also conduct periodic check-ins with each student. For many students, Solo is the highlight of their expedition. It allows students to take a deeper dive into their thoughts and consider how they may apply the lessons from course to their daily lives.

Outcomes

Pennsylvania remains one of the most forested states in the nation.  It includes some of the most intact and bountiful hardwood forest lands in the temperate world as well as being second only to Alaska in navigable waterways in the United States. The Appalachians, which includes the Alleghany, Blue, Blue Ridge, and Pocono Mountains, are some of the oldest mountains in the world. The range is mostly located in the United States, but extends into southeastern Canada as well.  This course takes place in the south central region of Pennsylvania, passing through multiple state forest and park lands including Michaux State forest and Pine Grove State Park. The City of Philadelphia is rich in history, culture, and green space hosting the largest maintained city park in the country (over 10,000 acres). Students and their crew will have a chance to experience some of Philadelphia’s most beautiful places and meet some of its greatest people.

Course Area

The Appalachians, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania remains one of the most forested states in the nation. It includes some of the most intact and bountiful hardwood forest lands in the temperate world as well as being second only to Alaska in navigable waterways in the United States. The Appalachians, which includes the Alleghany, Blue, Blue Ridge, and Pocono Mountains, are some of the oldest mountains in the world. The range is mostly located in the United States, but extends into southeastern Canada as well. This course takes place in the south central region of Pennsylvania passing through multiple state forest and park lands including Michaux State Forest and Pine Grove State Park. The City of Philadelphia is rich in history, culture, and green space hosting the largest maintained city park in the country (over 10,000 acres).  Students and their crew will have a chance to experience some of Philadelphia’s most beautiful places and meet some of its greatest people.

These regions are the ancestral lands of the Lənape Haki-nk (Lenni-Lenape), Munsee Lenape and Susquehannock nations.

SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course start
DAY 2
Backpacking and introduction of first aid lessons, Leave No Trace and backpacking lessons (navigation, group travel, campcraft)
DAY 3
Backpacking and first aid lessons (wound management) and Leave No Trace principles
DAY 4
Backpacking, service project with Caledonia State Park*, Leave No Trace lessons and first aid lessons (EpiPen usage and injuries from extreme heat and severe cold)
DAY 5
Backpacking and service project at Long Pine Reservoir*
DAY 6-8
Backpacking
DAY 9
Backpacking and Solo
DAY 10
Backpacking and service project at Pine Grove Furnace State Park*
DAY 11
Transport day back to Philadelphia, service project with urban community garden*
DAY 12
High ropes course, service project and team challenge initiative in city of Philadelphia*
DAY 13
Service project in Fairmount Park*
DAY 14
Course end graduation celebration and BBQ
*Service projects vary based on expedition plan, availability and student interest.

Testimonial

“When put to the test, my son realized he had very strong leadership skills.” –  Parent Testimonial

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Getting Started

If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.

To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee. 

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