Outward Bound USA (OBUSA) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

providing

experiential education Experiential education is a philosophy of education that describes the process that occurs between a teacher and student that infuses direct experience with the learning environment and content. The term is not interchangeable with experientia ...

in the United States through a network of regional schools, especially in wilderness settings. Outward Bound counts among its desired outcomes the development of self-awareness, self-confidence, leadership skills, environmental and social responsibility.

History

Like other Outward Bound International member organizations, Outward Bound USA's course offerings are derived from the work of German educator

Kurt Hahn Kurt Matthias Robert Martin Hahn (5 June 1886, Berlin – 14 December 1974, Hermannsberg) was a German educator. He was decisive in founding, among other organizations and initiatives, Stiftung Louisenlund, Schule Schloss Salem, Gordonsto ...

and his Outward Bound schools co-founded with Lawrence Holt in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

in 1941. The first course in the United States was run in 1961 for the

Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John F ...

, which it helped to shape.Outward Bound International (2004).
Birth of Outward Bound
''. Retrieved December 9, 2007.

Outward Bound schools

* Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School * Colorado Outward Bound School * Hurricane Island Outward Bound School * North Carolina Outward Bound School * Northwest Outward Bound School * Outward Bound California * Philadelphia Outward Bound School * Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center * Voyageur Outward Bound School * New York City Outward Bound Schools * Omaha Outward Bound

Outward Bound courses

OBUSA offers a range of courses targeted at different ages and interests. Students are required to work together to complete outdoor education activities including rock climbing,

backpacking Backpacking may refer to: * Backpacking (travel), low-cost, independent, international travel * Backpacking (hiking), trekking and camping overnight in the wilderness * Ultralight backpacking, a style of wilderness backpacking with an emphasis on ...

navigation Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.Bowditch, 2003:799. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land navigation, ...

, canoeing, mountaineering, and

sailing Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (land yacht) over a chosen cou ...

. * Classic: expeditions in the wilderness, usually lasting 15 days, separated by age groups (middle school, high school, and adult) * Classic family: expeditions for family groups * Semester: lasting 30 to 85 days, these expeditions are intended for students of college age * Outdoor educator: for training and certification of wilderness education instructors * Intercept: for teens having difficulties at home or in school and their families * Veterans: offered at no cost to returned service members, lasting five to seven days * Professional: of varying length, these combine outdoor and indoor education for organizations, companies, and non-profits * Grieving teens: places young people who have experienced loss in a wilderness setting with others who have had similar experiences * Group: customized courses for high school and college groups, or groups such as cancer survivors * Educator: provide teachers with ways to integrate the Outward Bound approach into their work with students

Diversity training

In the United States, Outward Bound schools have employed "diversity training" for their staff in order to prepare instructors to lead courses with a diverse group of participants. Diversity training is intended to provide an arena where staff can be challenged in the same ways participants are challenged to step out of their comfort zone. Outward Bound programs continue to focus on enriching the lives of students from all walks of life, and strive to empower their staff to be aware of issues that could arise in diverse groups.

TV series

A television series aired on

Discovery Kids Discovery Kids (stylized as Discovery K!ds) is a brand name owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Starting as a television segment within the Discovery Channel, the brand expanded as a separate television channel. Most of its worldwide channels were e ...

from 1999 to 2003. In each location, the show followed a group of eight young adults as they learned to work together and help each other survive in the wilderness. Under the guidance of instructors from the Outward Bound school, the group members struggled to cope with nature and each other, with success and failure, with physical and mental challenges, and ultimately bonded together as a result of the experience.

EL Education and Outward Bound

A non-profit comprehensive school reform organization which is no longer a part of Outward Bound USA, EL Education works with over 150 urban and rural schools across the United States including Puerto Rico.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Outward Bound Putnam County, New York Discovery Kids original programming 1990s American children's television series 2000s American children's television series 1990s American documentary television series 2000s American documentary television series 1999 American television series debuts 2003 American television series endings American children's education television series English-language television shows Non-profit organizations based in New York (state)