I first learned about COBS through my dad who came home one
day and asked me if I had ever heard of Outward Bound. I was
like yeah, you mean the Movie. He said no the adventures course
and he told me what it was. I thought it sounded really cool
and I got a catalog and decided what course I wanted.
I am a 15 year old girl who lives in Jeff City, Mo. I went
on course CMV886. This was a 14 day backpacking course in
the mountains with three days of rockclimbing and one day
of white water rafting. This was such and awesome course.
I was put in a group with three girls, six guys, and two very
cool instructors. The kids in my group were from all over
the country and I learned a lot from them. I learned a lot
from my course. It is so amazing to me how much the course
has changed my thoughts and my actions. My instructors taught
me to look upon challenges in a positive way and to tell myself
and convince myself that I can accomplish anything. One thing
my patrol did on our course was had to climb four mountain
peaks in day. This was part of C24. We climbed them in about
six hours. After accomplishing this, it told me that I could
accomplish anything.
We went 14 days with no deodorant and no shower. It really
wasn't very bad though because we all smelled so bad, you
really couldn't tell. So if you can survive through this,
anything is possible.
It was just so cool to sleep outside underneath a tarp for
14 days and carry your home on your back in pack. I got so
attached to everything about the outdoors. Right now the thing
I miss so much is sleeping outside. It got so cold and I had
to wear my ski hat to bed. I am so used to wearing it to bed
that I sometimes wear it now to bed even though it doesn't
get below 50 degrees in my house. I also miss not having to
take a shower and not worrying about how I looked or smelled
or having to change my clothes. I wore the same pair of clothes
for 14 days. Now, some people will think that is gross and
that they would never do that, but I think of it as a good
experience. I thought it was cool being dirty all of the time.
It just made our shower at the end of the trip so much more
enjoyable because I got to clean myself. The girls in my trip
and I had an awesome time taking a shower because we got to
feel clean. We also got to look in a mirror for the first
time in 14 days. Being out in the mountains just teaches you
not to care about what you look like, it teaches you what
you think is really important to you. After taking us away
from all of life distractions, it lets us think about what
we want in life and who and what we really care about.
I would strongly recommend Outward Bound to anyone who has
a chance to go. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
It has taught me life lessons and I had such a good time.
I met 10 wonderful people that I still keep in touch with
today. I am going up to Detroit from Missouri to visit one
of my patrol members over Christmas.
I will always remember my trip. There isn't one day that
goes by that I don't think of Outward Bound. I am constantly
using things that I learned from Outward Bound. I had such
a great time and I would like to thank Outward Bound for this.
Thank you so much for giving me a chance to go. This is such
a good organization and I encourage everyone to try out a
course. You will have the time of your life.
