South Carolina Canoeing & Backpacking - Intercept

This course is a combination 10-day canoeing and 8-day backpacking expedition in South Carolina for troubled teens. It is designed for teens exhibiting challenging behaviors whose parents are willing and interested in participating in the 3 day required parent guardian seminar at course end. It is not a therapeutic program and cannot accommodate students with certain psychiatric conditions, significant struggles with chemical dependency or those with a history of violent behavior. The semi-tropical rivers and beautiful ridges of South Carolina are a perfect backdrop for exploring wilderness challenge and bringing exceptional new perspective to struggling teens. Intercept Intercept is a special program of Outward Bound, one of the oldest wilderness adventure programs in the world. It is designed to serve teens and their families and help them address behaviors such as unhealthy risk-taking , low motivation, defiance, or poor school performance. Courses are presented as metaphors for the transition from childhood to adulthood and designed to help teens connect their desire for more freedom with the reality that they must take on additional responsibility. Courses are highly structured with explicit wilderness, communication and leadership skills progressions as well as time on course devoted to preparing for a parent guardian conference at course end. The conference is a conversation, facilitated by the instructor, in which parents and teens design a new plan for their household. The Outward Bound Difference All courses are “expedition-based,” which means that you will leave the Charleston base on the first day of your course and not return there until the end of your course. You will travel with all of the food and equipment you need to conduct your expedition: stoves, food, tents, etc. You will paddle or hike nearly every day, developing skills as you travel along your planned route. This means no showers, no bathrooms, no telephones, no television or any other modern luxuries that you may be accustomed to. You should come to your course physically and emotionally prepared for and excited about devoting all of your time and energy to your expedition, your group and your Outward Bound experience. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what’s in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound. Come travel with Outward Bound and reach some of the most beautiful terrain in the country. Course Description After you arrive, you will spend your first hours meeting your six to ten other crew mates and getting geared up for your expedition. Your two instructors play a very dynamic role during this early part of the course—the “Training Expedition”—as they teach you many new skills. In addition to showing you how to navigate and paddle, your instructors will be helping your group learn to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts and make decisions. Your instructors are neither counselors nor guides—they are teachers and mentors whose goal it is to teach you the skills you need to conduct your own expedition. Once you have begun to acquire basic expedition skills, your group will move into “Main Expedition,” where students begin to assume some of the leadership of the course. Your instructors will continue to coach you in expedition behavior and technical skills, but they will allow you and your crewmates to play larger leadership roles. They will still travel with you and be available as resources, but they will expect your group to experiment with its own leadership, conflict resolution and decision-making skills. About two-thirds of the way through your course, you will be provided with an opportunity for solitude: a period of rest and reflection. This will be in the form of a 3-day solo experience. You might be feeling nervous about solo right now, but rest assured that you will be quite ready for this unique time of solitude. Your instructors will explain more about solo during your course. If your group has mastered the necessary skills, “Final Expedition” follows solo. This is a student-led journey. Final Expedition is a chance for you and your crewmates to test the campcraft, technical, leadership, exploratory and expedition skills you have been learning throughout the course. Your instructors will intervene if safety or course quality is compromised, but otherwise they step back and watch your group run the show. NOTE: Virtually all airlines, except United and Southwest, REQUIRE that travelers, age 14 or younger, flying without a companion over the age of 18, pay for their Unaccompanied Minor service. This fee ranges anywhere from $40 to $75 each way. In most cases, the Unaccompanied Minor service is OPTIONAL for travelers between the ages of 15-17. To enroll in this course click the enroll button next to the course dates that work for you. To shop comparatively on line visit our Advanced Course Finder or better yet call one of our expert Admission Advisers at 866-467-7651. Course tuitions listed below do not include our Application Fee or Transportation Fee.

Activities: Canoeing, backpacking, solo, service, final expedition, parent guardian seminar

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Dates	Days	Age	Focus	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
08/05/08 to 09/01/08	28	14-17	Intercept/Troubled Teens	South Carolina	$6095.00	SDA865
09/14/08 to 10/07/08	24	18-20	Intercept/Troubled Teens	Charleston, South Carolina	$5395.00	SDA866