History - Delivering Life Experience for Over 60 Years.

Outward Bound was founded in the tumultuous waters of the North Sea during World War II, to provide young sailors with the experiences and skills necessary to survive at sea. Named for the nautical term for a ship’s departure from the certainties of the harbor, Outward Bound was a joint effort between British shipping magnate Sir Lawrence Holt and progressive German educator Kurt Hahn. In 1941, the first Outward Bound school, located in Aberdovey, Wales, offered courses based on training, service, reflection, and team-building.

History of Outward Bound in the United States

Students on one of the first Outward Bound Wilderness courses in the United States

The history of Outward Bound in the United States began in the early 1950s when Josh Miner, an American who taught under Hahn at the Gordonstoun School in Scotland, was inspired by Hahn’s philosophy and teaching model. Over the ensuing decade, and with the support of other inspired individuals, Miner founded the Outward Bound movement in the United States based upon the principles of hands-on learning through outdoor adventure.

From the establishment of the Colorado Outward Bound School in 1961, Outward Bound gave rise to an entire outdoor education industry in the U.S. In 1964 the Voyageur Outward Bound School was founded (formerly know as the Minnesota Outward Bound School). In 1965 the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (Northeastern US) and the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School (Pacific Northwest) were founded. In 1966 the North Carolina Outward Bound School was founded. North Carolina Outward Bound remains an independent school and runs courses represented on this site in North Carolina, Florida, Bahamas and Patagonia. In 2003, the Colorado Outward Bound School and the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School merged to form one wilderness school called Outward Bound West. In the spring of 2005, Outward Bound West, Voyageur Outward Bound, and Hurricane Island Outward Bound merged to form Outward Bound Wilderness. As the wilderness portion of Outward Bound grew, new programs were also being developed. These programs were designed to serve special populations such as business professionals, urban youth, and at-risk or adjudicated youth. A program was also developed to influence school curriculum and bring Outward Bound philosophies into the classroom. Click here to learn more about these programs.

The Outward Bound Mission and Philosophy

Our expeditions, laced with the invaluable wisdoms of life experience, take you deep into remote and beautiful wilderness areas and deep into the core elements of life. From frustration to elation, and from apprehension to triumph, it's all there in real time. Most people know that while an Outward Bound Wilderness expedition may be hard, it will be something they will never regret or forget. Whether it is your first expedition or your fifth, you will reap the benefits of the challenges mastered at Outward Bound for the rest of your life.

All Outward Bound courses and programs are based on six core values: Adventure and Challenge, Learning by Doing, Compassion and Service, Social and Environmental Responsibility, Character Development, and Inclusion and Diversity.

Adventure & Challenge
The inherent adventure and challenge of an Outward Bound Wilderness expedition teaches you the skills that great leaders rely on. Explore your capabilities.

Learning by Doing
Every day you will be learning by doing, gaining skills and taking pride in your work and pushing yourself to reach your goals. Your growing competence will result in growing confidence.

Compassion & Service
A shared compassion will develop between you and your course mates as you encounter and overcome the challenges of wilderness living. Working together towards common goals builds life skills such as communication, tolerance, problem solving, the ability to embrace our differences and ultimately yields a true sense of teamwork.

Social and Environmental Responsibility
Experiencing social and environmental responsibility by practicing Leave No Trace and participating in community service makes your stake in the success of your own community abundantly clear.

Character Development
Character development stems from pushing yourself and testing your limits to be successful in the challenges presented while on course. You will be given time to reflect on these experiences while still in the wilderness - away from life's distractions. By revisiting your accomplishments, you will grow as an individual as you realize your true potential.