Outward Bound and
The Environment

Engaging with the natural environment

At Outward Bound, we consciously include strands of environmental learning into our programs. This complements our work to help participants understand more about themselves, how they work with others and fit into their wider environment. This explicit intent is supported by our approach to achieving our learning through authentic adventure where participants are immersed in the natural environment. Without contact with the environment we are not Outward Bound.

THIS STRAND OF OUR WORK IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE:

• Something special happens to participants when they spend prolonged time in the environment.
• It is our responsibility to facilitate and nurture the special experiences participants have in the environment when they are at Outward Bound.
• Participants are losing the opportunity to experience unstructured play in nature. By enabling this to happen we contribute not only to participant’s development, but to the good of the environment in general.

outward bound’s environmental charter

The Outward Bound Environmental Charter outlines our commitment to making Outward Bound’s global operations more sustainable.  The Charter contains a set of principles relating to environmental management systems; by adopting the Charter, Outward Bound International publicly declares its commitment to undertake its activities in accordance with these principles and we will work to deliver across the seven core areas of action:

Energy

Commit to measuring and reducing their total energy usage and will seek to do this by changing behaviour and exploring opportunities for energy efficiency.

Travel

Minimise our transport related environmental impact by reducing our annual travel and by utilising lower carbon modes of travel whenever possible.

Water

Minimise our use of water at Outward Bound International and encourage water saving behaviour in our staff and participants. We will minimise the effect that our waste-water discharge has on the environment.

Waste

Embed the principles of the waste hierarchy (avoid, reduce, reuse, recycle) in all that we do. We will work to phase out our use of single-use plastics.

Partners and Suppliers

Work with partners (including contractors, suppliers and vendors) to minimise climate and environmental change impacts and encourage them to act in a more sustainable manner.

Program Operation

Minimise our environmental impact and our impact on local communities in the areas in which we operate by implementing the Outward Bound International principles of “Tread Lightly”.

Environmental Stewardship

Train and encourage our staff and participants to better understand, conserve and protect the natural environment. We will make them more environmentally aware.