Oregon to India: A Gap Year Semester to Discover the World & Yourself

Name: Oregon to India: A Gap Year Semester to Discover the World & Yourself
Brand: Outward Bound
SKU: 150556
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

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Location

Multiple Locations +2

India
- Himalaya
United States of America

Length

4 - 12 weeks

Program Tags

Adventure Travel After College Hands-On Learning Post-High School Volunteer Abroad Wilderness

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Program Details

Activities

Backpacking Rafting Remote Exploring

Timeframe

Fall Summer

Housing

Host Family

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Pricing

Starting Price

5000

Price Details

Students wanting to attend Outward Bound with assistance from their 529 or most other College Savings Plan may do so. Thanks to Outward Bound's partnership with Western State Colorado University, we can accept 529 College Savings Plan through their Extended Studies program and anyone can register - you do not have to be a current Western State Colorado University student. Registration is easy and takes only a few days to process. And, as a result, you will earn academic credit for your Outward Bound outdoor education course. Learn more on our website.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Equipment Meals Park Fees Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare Wifi

Last Updated: Mar 17, 2021

Last Reviewed: Sep 12, 2017

Wish List

3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

This 45-day expedition takes you from Oregon to India. The expedition starts on the Deschutes River in Oregon, where you’ll build a strong group dynamic and learn the rafting skills you’ll need for an international river expedition. Next, head into the mountains of Oregon as you trek through diverse mountain and volcanic landscapes. Then, head straight to India! Trek the Kuari Pass, where you’ll immerse yourself in local mountain culture and take in Himalaya views. Then, head to the Alaknanda River, where you'll float to its confluence with the Bhagirathi River, and then raft the Ganga River. The course ends in New Delhi. From here, you can opt to stay in India and travel on your own, or head home.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Outward Bound for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

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Program Highlights

Learn the rafting skills you need for an international river expedition
Explore diverse mountain habitats among the volcanoes of the Central Cascade mountain range
Immerse yourself in local mountain culture in India and never forget the Himalaya views
The course ends in New Delhi, India, giving you the opportunity to extend your time in India and travel on your own.
Learn and practice interpersonal skills such as problem solving, group facilitation, leadership and service.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

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4 rating 0%
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1 rating 0%

Housing 5
Support 5
Fun 4
Value 5
Safety 5

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Rafting nearly 100 miles on the Deschutes river, North into the confluence with the Columbia is where our adventure began! Although Mother Nature decided to challenge us as we headed into Three Sisters Wilderness, the skills & camaraderie we gained from the Instructors fully prepared us for what was to come next. While making our way through the backcountry of Oregon we received the opportunity to see who we truly were, while being tested by the conditions that were thrown our way. Some days were more difficult than others, but you could always rely on a teammate to assist every step of the way.
I have been on countless backpacking adventures through Western North Carolina as well as throughout Colorado, many which have been breathtaking. Never did I believe I would see a beauty as pure & raw as the Himalayan mountain range. Outward Bound gave me the chance to travel abroad and leave the States for the first time in my life! I would've never even thought to travel to India on my own & Outward Bound aided in giving me to confidence to become a more worldly individual.
We met as a group of strangers on day 1 in Redmond Oregon, and before we knew it we were an unstoppable team atop the Kuari Pass in India, above 12,000 ft. in elevation. The memories we created on this course will be with me for the rest of my life, as well as the great people who were involved.
I have continued to use the technical skills needed for this course in my everyday life & even passed them on to others. Now it has almost been a year since I left for this 45 day excursion and not a day goes by where I don't think about the beautiful ride this course took me on. Learning to be mindful and using my own ability to remain present has truly impacted my life in a way I could not have imagined & I owe it all to Outward Bound.

What would you improve about this program?

The only area I could critique this course would be applying more advanced, technical skills that could further develop my future outdoor adventures!

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Kate from Outward Bound

I was studying abroad in Australia and my friends and I decided to plan a camping trip for a week in Tasmania. We flew into Hobart, rented a car, and started driving up the eastern coast. Our first night that we pitched our tents, we went for a gorgeous sunset hike and ate dinner around a fire.

My friends aren't the most experienced campers, and didn't know that keeping food in a tent was the best way to attract critters. And, Tasmania has a bunch of them - echidna, wallabies, and possums are the most widespread. It was about 3:00 AM and I woke to a loud thumping in the vestibule of our tent (which we accidentally left open). My friend unzipped the door to our tent to come face to face with a wallaby rummaging through her bag.

Turns out, wallabies cannot back up! And this one had no room to turn around. Luckily we were able to scare it out of our tent, only to realize that the wallaby had eaten my friend's granola bars and used her cell phone to dial her mom long distance.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Outward Bound is a company that is heavily invested into staff development. If an instructor sees a need for programming, he or she is encouraged to create it! I have become a more confident outdoor professional, a more well rounded teacher, and a pursuer of more dreams than I can count.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We are the leader in outdoor education and our programs have been continuously evolving and improving for over 50 years.

As instructors, we don't just teach the values of our company, but live by them.

We are all committed to excellence in our craft, and within our own lives as adventurers, explorers, and teachers.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

What makes us successful is the quality of our instructors. We love our jobs, we love going on adventures with each other, and we love the places we get to work and call home. Our staff retention is very high - making it easy for our staff to maintain quality working relationships and continuously grow into our strengths.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Outward Bound Rock and Yoga

I would either choose our week long Oregon Smith Rock Climbing and Yoga expedition or our 45 day Oregon to India Rafting and Trekking expedition. First off, if you are unsure if an adventure sport is right for you, trying out a week long program in a world class climbing area is the way to test the waters.

But, if you already know that you want the challenge of a longer program and multi-destination travel, then you can't beat Oregon to India. It combines two unique elements: mountain travel and river rafting. In my opinion, there are not many better places to be. Not only that, but you get to learn how to run a successful expedition in India - a country renowned for its trekking and majestic rivers.

You will have the opportunity for a real world application of leadership skills where it really matters. Who has that on their resume?

About Outward Bound

Here at Outward Bound, our motto is "learn by doing." Founded in 1962, Outward Bound has helped over 1 million students achieve their goals. Today, we equip students looking to pursue a gap year with self-confidence, tenacity and compassion. Outward Bound offers programs of all lengths in some of the most spectacular and inspiring settings in the...