Through experience, we learn. On course, students discover grit, confidence, resilience, and untapped reservoirs of compassion and leadership in a relatively short period of time. They overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges almost every day, far, far out from their comfort zones, and these experiences are transformative. This is experiential learning at its finest – immediate and lasting – the very best teacher.

Wilderness is our classroom. We learn through it, not just for it. It provides us with endless lessons. When students master the skills to negotiate such challenges as storms, bugs, or steep ascents, they are not only rewarded with a deep sense of accomplishment, they also gain food, shelter, and comfort. Learning is immediate. Students quickly discover that in this environment, Outward Bound’s Four Pillars of “self-reliance, fitness, craftsmanship, and above all, compassion” are essential to their success.

Diversity is the medium in which our methodology works best. When compassion, respect, and understanding are awakened among a diverse crew of individuals, we are all awed by the simple truth of our shared humanity. This shared experience surmounts all differences, whether of gender, race, politics, religion, or socioeconomics. Together we gain insight and build bridges that last far beyond the Outward Bound experience.

"Compassion and Diversity," Whitney Montgomery, NCOBS Executive Director, 2007

Our program landscapes are diverse. Their geography defines activities and provides context for our wilderness-based expeditions, urban challenge courses, and year-round programs. Though our School was founded in North Carolina with its first courses in the Blue Ridge Mountains, program sites have expanded to the Outer Banks, the Everglades, and Central Rivers of Florida, Metro Atlanta, and Patagonia.

The rich tapestry of stories about base camps, passed down by students and field staff throughout the years, speaks to the bonds that sustain us. Table Rock. Green Cove. Sunset Island. Canaanland. Cedar Rock. Patagonia. Scottsmoor. Key Largo. Our base camps not only nurture community, they also provide the exceptional logistical support that is key to high-quality programs.

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