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Earn College Credit & Explore Incredible Locations in the U.S.

Outward Bound
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Outward Bound
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Video and Photos

Outward Bound in Joshua Tree
Outward Bound in Big Bend, Texas
Outward Bound in the American Southwest
Maine Coast Sailing
Rock Climbing with Outward Bound

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About

The Outward Bound Semester & Gap year program won the Top Gap Year Provider in Safety in 2018.

Our U.S. courses are designed for both goal-oriented college students and individuals who are seeking clarity on their next step in life.

Learn alongside the best Instructors in the industry as you backpack, climb, canoe, kayak, raft and sail in some of the most protected wilderness areas in the United States. Spanning from the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains and the North Cascades; the stunning canyons and rivers in the Southwest; the pristine lakes of the Boundary Waters; and the iconic Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

With a focus on leadership training and an unwavering commitment to excellence, our courses prepare students for future success.

Outward Bound is accredited with the American Gap Association and is the longest running program in this elite group dedicated to providing safe, meaningful and high-caliber educational experiences to students.

Highlights
  • Gain real-world experience, earn college credit and learn alongside the best Instructors in the industry.
  • Backpack, climb, canoe, kayak, raft and sail in some of the most protected wilderness areas in the United States.
  • Our courses prepare students for future success, whether that's in college, a career or working in the outdoor education industry.
  • You'll travel as a group in remote, rugged settings that will broaden your view on the world.
  • The Outward Bound Semester & Gap year program won the Top Gap Year Provider in Safety in 2018.

Questions & Answers

Reviews

100%
based on 4 reviews
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  • Housing 9.3
  • Support 9.5
  • Fun 8.8
  • Value 10
  • Safety 9.5
Showing 1 - 4 of 4
Shyana
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision I have Ever Made!

Jun 7, 2018

I would not be the person I am today if I had not chosen to go on Outward Bound. My trip was sailing on the Maine coastline, and it was incredible. I overcame my fear of heights and was able to rock climb. One of my favorite parts of the program was solo, because I got to write and reflect on who I was becoming and how I had to evolve. A great tip for solo was definitely to to ration your food, because it’s easy to eat it all in one go and be starving for the rest of the time. I split the bagel up and ate the chocolate first so it wouldn’t melt all over my other food. I would not be the woman I am today if it weren’t for Outward bound, and although I was homesick at the time, the experience gave me a whole new perspective on nature and how we can live within it rather than beside it.

Outward bound friends
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Cierra
Age:
33
Female
Atlanta, GA
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Voyage Out

Jun 1, 2018

My time with Outward Bound was invaluable. In the two weeks I spent sailing, I learned lessons I still carry with me today. Of all I learned, the most valuable knowledge was that even though we are small in this vast world, we all have the ability to impact our environments for better or worse. This was also my first time exploring the world on my own. Which led to a passion for travel and study abroad.

After the sailing final
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Jeffrey
Male
Chicago, IL
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision of My Life

May 31, 2018

My HIOBS Gap semester was truly one of the best experiences of my life. As a student at Northwestern University, I was looking for an opportunity to break from my rigorous academic schedule and seek out new, exciting experiences. Through Outward Bound, I made lifelong friends and learned just how far I could push myself. Returning to school after the trip, I possessed a completely new perspective on the opportunities in front of me! My favorite part of the trip was its emphasis on helping participants learn to live in the present. Being without a phone/laptop for several months was an incredibly refreshing experience and changed the way I interact with technology today.

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Sophie
Age:
23
Female
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

I Can't Speak Highly Enough of Outward Bound

May 31, 2018

I spent 72 days with a small group of peers and instructors sailing around coastal Maine, rock climbing, backpacking, doing service projects, and taking a wilderness first responder course. I was challenged physically, emotionally, and socially in important ways which aided my personal growth and development throughout course, and especially after it ended. Two years after the course I studied my group for my senior thesis in college and found that it positively impacted participants by increasing open-mindedness, appreciation for the outdoors, motivation, improving relationships, and teaching independence, confidence, and leadership skills. I have participated on several other shorter Outward Bound programs and I would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat. What you are willing to contribute to the experience and to the group, determines what you will get out of it. Be open to learn, grow, and have fun and Outward Bound will not disappoint.

HIOBS 2015

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Cierra Green

Program
Earn College Credit & Explore Incredible Locations in the U.S.

Cierra Green is an aspiring filmmaker with a BA in Journalism from Georgia State University and an MA in Film and Television studies from Dublin City University.

A lady gazes into the sea.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I had an avid interest in sailing and the sea for as long as I could remember. So when the opportunity to attend a sailing course through The Boys and Girls Club appeared, I jumped at it.

I knew it would allow me to develop sailing skills and explore the sea, which I had never done before. I knew it would also allow me to explore the world in a totally new way. Proximity was important as well, since I knew my parents would have to drive to the location. Baltimore, Maryland was relatively close to my home in New Jersey.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Once the course fees were paid, Outward Bound provided food, sunblock, and lodging in the form of a thirty-foot tugboat. You are given a list of items that must be purchased before you set sail. Those items include swim wear, bug spray, sunglasses, hats, etc. Personally, a pair of gloves to handle the oars might be a good idea as well.

As previously mentioned, I did have to drive to their basecamp, which is located in Baltimore, Maryland. From there, the course sailed along the Chesapeake Bay. All meals were prepared on the vessel, with cooking assignments and other crew tasks being assigned on a rotating basis – captain, cook, deckhand, etc.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

The advice I would give to anyone embarking on this program is to stay open to learning something new each day, and to meeting people from all walks of life whom you may not ordinarily come in contact with.

Leave your preconceived notions about life in general on the docks. This program has so much to offer if you are simply open to change.

I was a teenager at the time, and I had arrived at basecamp with my best friend. We expected to be on the same boat but the instructors separated us. At the time, I was very upset and considered going right back home. In the end, it turned out to be the best thing the instructors could have done for us because we grew so much in ways we likely would not have, had we had each other to lean on.

We made new friends and were able to come back at the end of the course and discuss all we had learned. Although there were many similarities, there were also many differences. We realized how much we had both changed and grown. Expect to be challenged and to be changed for the better.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

An average day at sea means waking up on oars you slept on the night before (which is much more comfortable than it sounds), preparing for the day starting with breakfast and putting the main mast back up. Sunblock is essential as there is nowhere to hide from the sun out on the water. Staying hydrated is incredibly important for the same reason.

Then you have a crew meeting to determine where your next destination will be. You then take turns rowing your way there. At the end of the day, you lower the masts and prepare dinner. Before bed, someone reads the Captain’s log of the day, which is full of the observations of the day’s events.

You will also have to determine a schedule for bow watch. Bow watch is when someone is awake at all times throughout the night to ensure no other vessels collide with our own. This process is generally done in shifts of one or two, which is also a wonderful time for quiet reflection in the silence of the dark.

Part of the course also includes visiting protected marshlands and helping habitats thrive via gardening, etc. It also includes a solo mission, which requires you to be separated from your boat mates and camp on your own for 48 hours. It is a great time to really think about your experiences throughout the course and also be further immersed in nature.

At the end of the course, you will have to undergo a course final, in which you use the skills you have learned to navigate on your own, without the input of your instructors. You will also be tasked with physical endurance tests.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going into the course was that I would not be able to keep up with everyone else. Luckily, I did not worry about this for long because I realized how much preparation our instructors were actually administering to us. They were there every step of the way, teaching and encouraging. There were some days where I got frustrated with myself but I still kept going. At the end, not only did I keep up, I thrived.

What is your advice to travelers?

An important bit of advice I have for prospective travelers is to be prepared to be a part of a support system and to develop relationships that last long after you leave the course. You have the opportunity to really step out of your comfort zone and learn things about yourself you never knew. Get comfortable with discomfort. Sometimes, it’s the only way to grow.

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...

  • Go Overseas Award

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