From packability and nutritional power to ease of consumption and deliciousness, outlined below are eight go-to hiking snacks for any length of trip. Sometimes the most satisfying moment on a hike isn’t stumbling upon a beautiful waterfall, or spotting a rare bird, or even making it to the vista just as the sun rises – sometimes the most exciting part of a hike is the moment you reach into your pack and pull out the perfect snack. You know the one… that snack you’ve been craving all day, the treat that’s going to save you from your afternoon energy crash, the one that appears just in time to s ..read more

I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Ginger Naylor, an incredibly warm, sincere, and straightforward individual, to talk about her new position as Outward Bound USA’s CEO. Throughout our conversation, it was plain to me that Ginger cares immensely about the purpose of our organization: to create opportunities for students to become more capable and confident versions of themselves. With an inspiring track record of long-lasting impacts made at the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School as their executive director, Ginger is more than ready to hit the ground running as the very first fema ..read more

So, you just found out you have to give up your phone while on your Outward Bound expedition. GASP. We know you are probably dealing with a lot of shock and maybe a tinge of resentment and anger. That’s okay because we know you will soon come to love this time without it.  We’re here to assure you that it will all be okay. You won’t miss out on any TikTok trends, your algorithm will not be messed up by a couple days, weeks, months of inactivity, and for all those followers you might be worried about losing, forget them, you’ll have a whole crew of people to replace them with when you retu ..read more

Signing up for an Outward Bound expedition is not easy. We know that no matter if you are a parent of a student or the one going on the expedition yourself, the process and days leading up to the experience can be filled with questions. From who will be with me to what should I pack or even where do we go? We hope to answer some of those questions in our four-part series: What to Expect on an Outward Bound Expedition. Fourth on the list of what to expect is the outcomes you’ll walk away with. Keep reading for an Instructor’s look into the learning outcomes and gro ..read more

Outward Bound did not come into Mike Stanley’s life as a 14-year-old middle school student or during a gap year in college. Mike found Outward Bound, and ultimately himself, as a 54-year-old.   It was 1987 and Mike knew he needed and wanted more. As a 29-year Wall Street veteran, Mike was leading a life commuting for an hour and a half to and from New York City every day. His weekends were his escape when he and his family would spend them whitewater canoeing, sailing, or skiing.   By 1988 he knew he needed a change. He enrolled on a cross-country skiing and dog sledding Outward ..read more

It’s a weird feeling, preparing to head out on an adventure with a group of complete strangers. You’ll soon know what these people look like first thing in the morning, what they’re afraid of and what motivates them, all without ever having seen their social media or passing them in a hallway. While flipping our usual way of getting to know each other on its head is nerve-wracking and strange, it can also be refreshing and lead to meeting people you might not otherwise have the chance to get to know. The Individuals that Make Up an Intercept Crew Intercept courses are for teens and young adul ..read more

Signing up for an Outward Bound expedition is not easy. We know that no matter if you are a parent of a student or the one going on the expedition yourself, the process and days leading up to the experience can be filled with questions. From who will be with me to what should I pack or even where do we go? We hope to answer some of those questions in our four-part series: What to Expect on an Outward Bound Expedition. Third on the list of what to expect is the educational journey. Keep reading for an Instructor’s look into the way students learn and grow through c ..read more

Before Outward Bound was the name of our organization, it was a sailing term referring to when a ship leaves the safety of a harbor. At Outward Bound, we talk a lot about courage, and for some students, just applying is the first sign of such courage.  That said, when a student finds themselves on the waiting list for a much-anticipated course, it can be disappointing. The good news is that being on the waitlist is more like being on standby; it comes with the expectation that the student will proceed with preparations, with the exception of travel, as if you’ve been accepted on ..read more

Signing up for an Outward Bound expedition is not easy. We know that no matter if you are a parent of a student or the one going on the expedition yourself, the process and days leading up to the experience can be filled with questions. From who will be with me to what should I pack or even where do we go? We hope to answer some of those questions in our four-part series: What to Expect on an Outward Bound Expedition. Second on the list of what to expect is the natural environment. Keep reading for an Instructor’s guide into exploring your course area’s natural environ ..read more

Going outside provides myriad health benefits. No matter what you struggle with, outdoor time is good for your mental health. The world we live in is increasingly complex and difficult to navigate. In the last couple of years alone, we have seen drastic changes all around us – and many experts believe that mental health challenges are “the next pandemic.” A study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information shows that there has been an increase in anxiety and depression over the last two years, regardless of age. The pandemic has taken a toll on us all and our mental hea ..read more