What was the most challenging part of this 50-day course?
“The most challenging aspect of the Outdoor Educator course for me was learning how to speak up and assert my ideas when I felt they were valid. Our Instructors did a phenomenal job asking us as individuals to step outside of stereotypical gender roles and intentionally make space for each other to speak. As one of the quieter and timid members of the group, it took a lot of patience and encouragement from my peers, but eventually I found my voice and recognized that one need not be loud in volume to be a good facilitator. What weighs much more heavily is confidence in your words.” – Miah, Outward Bound Instructor
As the oldest and leading provider of wilderness education in the world, Outward Bound provides comprehensive training on the fundamentals needed to become effective outdoor educators. On course, you and your crew will practice technical outdoor expedition skills, how to cook and setup camp in the backcountry, orienteering, rock climbing and rappelling and navigating Class I- Class III rapids. By learning ‘hands-on,’ you will gain a better understanding of both the technical and teaching skills needed for a career in outdoor education.
This course includes three phases: Immersion, Skill Development, and Wilderness First Responder. It also provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit, their Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification and to complete a service project.
COURSE # | DATES | DAYS | AGE | COST | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NTQL-071 | 3.9.20 - 4.27.20 | 50 | 18 and up | $7,250 | APPLY NOW |
This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!
Most College Savings Plans, including the 529 College Savings Plan, may be used to attend an Outward Bound expedition, thanks to a partnership with Western Colorado University. Anyone can register – you do not have to be a current Western Colorado University student. Registration is easy! Click here to learn more.
Are you motivated by the never-ending discovery in the adventure of the outdoors? Are you passionate about sharing knowledge and helping future generations become comfortable and confident appreciators of the natural world? Working as an outdoor educator requires deep technical expertise in outdoor skills alongside hands-on training in the science behind experiential learning and how to create lasting impact for students. Outward Bound leads the outdoor education industry in both areas, providing a coveted foundation to jump-start an outdoor-involved career.
Outdoor Educator courses allow you to work in and through the widest variety of wilderness environments and develop high level skills in each. Beyond preparing you for career opportunities in the outdoor industry, you may also earn academic credit in the field of Recreation and Outdoor Education.
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.
Students begin their course with a wilderness-based immersion expedition. Immersion is structured like a typical 8-to-10-day Outward Bound backpacking course so that participants learn what it is like to be a student of the program. Learnings include on-and off-trail navigation, training in Leave No Trace minimum-impact camping techniques, cooking and nutrition, introductory lessons on leadership, decision-making and much more.
Participants are taught how to both give and receive the feedback necessary between teacher and student in outdoor education while also developing essential judgment and risk management skills. This section of the course includes:
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification is recognized as the standard level of expertise in backcountry first aid. This nationally recognized 80-hour program trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings. Participants spend time completing practical skills, case studies and scenarios designed to improve decision-making abilities in high-stress situations.
Students develop patient assessment skills, knowledge of body systems, equipment improvisation, trauma response, environmental medicine, toxins knowledge, wilderness protocols, backcountry medicine and wilderness rescue techniques. The WFR certification is offered through a partnership with Landmark Learning, an accredited organization. After successful completion of the WFR and CPR certification, students are eligible to apply for academic credit.
A little more than halfway through course, students will participate in a reflection period called Solo. During this time, Instructors assign students their own individual spaces within a designated area. These sites are both secluded and within hearing distance of other group members and Instructors for safety. Students will be given all the necessary gear, food, water and skills to enjoy this time alone. Solo is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge and reflect on their course after having long days of strenuous group activities. They also know the location of their Instructors should they need to contact them for any reason. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this experience.
Outside of learning technical outdoor skills, longer courses also allow enough time to conduct a service project. Whether maintaining trails, partnering with nonprofits or helping at local farms and gardens, stewardship has long been a part of the mission and values of an Outward Bound program. These projects help students discover the true meaning of giving back to their community, the value of compassion and their ability to lead.
Outdoor Educator Course students will receive in-depth training in technical, interpersonal and educational skills that apply to being an outdoor educator. With a progression of teaching and leadership skills where Instructors and peers will provide feedback in an organized setting, students will be prepared to step into the roll of an Instructor for a short outdoor education experience. Much like other courses, students will be challenged to try new things, step outside their comfort zones, and do things they never before thought they could do. As a team, each group will work together to complete difficult tasks necessary for backcountry travel, expedition living and outdoor leadership.
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains, or Southern Appalachians, is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. While the mountains themselves formed over 250 million years ago, some of the rocks that underlie the region are over a billion years old.
The long geologic and evolutionary history of the Southern Appalachians has created one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America; some even say it is “rainforest-like.” This region is home to beautiful rushing rivers, hundreds of waterfalls and some of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States—including Mt. Mitchell (elevation 6,684 feet), the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Its diverse landscapes have been featured in many motion pictures including The Hunger Games and The Last of the Mohicans.
Outward Bound students can expect to share the wilderness with over 700 different kinds of trees, more than 50 types of mammals, 150 different types of birds and over 50 species of amphibians. The huge numbers of tree and plant life is actually what gives these mountains their namesake. Trees put the ‘blue’ in the Blue Ridge Mountains from the organic chemicals they release into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the distinctive color of these mountains.
Temperatures in this area range from 50 to 85 degrees in the summer, 30 to 65 degrees in the spring and fall, and 10 to 50 degrees in the winter.
What was the most challenging part of this 50-day course?
“The most challenging aspect of the Outdoor Educator course for me was learning how to speak up and assert my ideas when I felt they were valid. Our Instructors did a phenomenal job asking us as individuals to step outside of stereotypical gender roles and intentionally make space for each other to speak. As one of the quieter and timid members of the group, it took a lot of patience and encouragement from my peers, but eventually I found my voice and recognized that one need not be loud in volume to be a good facilitator. What weighs much more heavily is confidence in your words.” – Miah, Outward Bound Instructor
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.