Outward Bound's internationally recognized "core values" are Courage, Trust, Integrity, Compassion and Cooperation. These values shape our courses and the innovative manner in which instructors lead them. By focusing on creating a cooperative, trusting environment in which to learn, students leave course with not only a mastery of the activities and skills necessary to participate, but moreover a confidence in their own ability to work with a team to meet defined goals and to lead that team courageously and with integrity when called upon to do so.

Based on the philosophy set forth by our founder, Kurt Hahn, Outward Bound schools around the world endeavor to provide students with the following benefits of active participation in their courses:

Character Development
Courses are designed to take you out of your element and remove many of your comforts. You'll be asked to learn from your own mistakes and those of your teammates, to try things you may have thought were too difficult for you, and to take responsibility for the success of certain initiatives. Through all this, you'll develop capacities of mind, body and spirit to better understand one's responsibilities to self, others and community. Key areas of development are:

• Self-knowledge
• Craftsmanship
• Tenacity
• Physical fitness
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Self-Reliance
• Courage
• Acceptance of Responsibility
• Ability to transcend self-imposed limits

An Adventure and Challenge Accomplished
All Outward Bound courses include action that requires special effort. Whether for you it is more challenging to paddle a sea kayak in open waters or to speak openly about your personal challenges or fears, you'll be asked to make the choice to challenge yourself. These exciting and remarkable experiences that involve uncertain outcomes and acceptable risks, once accomplished, provide the courage for later challenges and appropriate risk-taking.

Lessons Learned through Experience
By using an educational process based on action and reflection, the lessons learned on an Outward Bound course will stay with you longer than those taught through lecture or reading. Experiences are intentionally designed, presented and reflected upon so as to instill values and promote skill mastery.

Compassion and Service Through this same educational process, you'll be asked to reflect on the value you place on our common humanity, our diversity and the natural world. You may explore how your relationships on course are metaphors for the greater heartfelt connections to others and to the world around us or see the impact of a service project to a local community. Outward Bound hopes you'll take the compassionate behaviors and a service ethic that encompass both giving and receiving into your own life and make a difference in your own relationships.

A Social and Environmental Responsibility On course you'll learn that your actions and choices impact both your team and the environment in which you travel. By instilling in you a sense of responsibility for these decisions, Outward Bound is cultivating your generation of compassionate and courageous leaders that will be the stewards of our society and environment.