strengthening character through outdoor experiential learning
In 2026, Outward Bound International (OBI), in collaboration with Penn State University, the University of Utah, and Clemson University, and supported by the John Templeton Foundation, completed a multi-year global research initiative to better understand how outdoor experiential learning influences character development.
The Outward Bound Global Character Project explored how character is cultivated across the Outward Bound network and how program practices adapt to different cultural and environmental contexts. Working closely with Schools around the world, the research identified five key “levers”—the core mechanisms in program design and delivery that shape character development. While each School applies these levers in ways unique to its setting, the study found that they are most powerful when intentionally aligned, offering a clear framework for strengthening character outcomes through coherent strategy and practice.
Through in-depth case studies across 11 countries, the project explored how Schools translated these common principles into practice. The resulting Case Study Handbook brought together effective practices, local adaptations, and practical examples from across the network. It provided Schools, partners, educators, and researchers with an accessible resource for understanding how Outward Bound’s educational philosophy came to life through authentic adventure, intentional instruction, service, and reflection.
The project also highlighted an important feature of Outward Bound’s global model: there was no single way to cultivate character. Core principles could remain consistent while their application evolved to reflect different cultures, landscapes, communities, and participant needs. This balance between a shared educational foundation and local adaptation emerged as a defining strength of the Outward Bound approach.
Importantly, the Global Character Project has contributed to the broader field of character education and experiential learning. It demonstrated how outdoor, experiential education could create conditions for the development of qualities such as resilience, self-confidence, compassion, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility. It also showed how character education could move beyond the classroom, embedding learning in real-world experiences where participants made decisions, navigated challenges, worked with others, cared for their surroundings, and reflected on who they were becoming.
By bringing together evidence and practice from across a diverse global network, the project provided a deeper understanding of how character was cultivated through Outward Bound and practical guidance for strengthening educational practice. It contributed to a growing body of research showing how meaningful experiences, strong relationships, purposeful challenge, and connection to nature could help equip people with the character and capabilities needed to flourish in a complex and changing world.
