Alpine Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Service, Rock Climbing, Base Camp
PROGRAM
Outdoor Educator
LENGTH
55 Days
CERTIFICATIONS
Wilderness First Responder
SKILLS
TECHNICAL
Belaying a Climber
Campcraft
Food Preparation and Cooking
Leave No Trace Methods & Ethics
Map and Compass
Navigation
Outdoor Emergencies
Safety and Risk Management
Snow Travel
Wilderness Medicine
INTERPERSONAL
Character
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Leadership
Positive Risk Taking
Problem Solving
Resilience
Responsibility
Self Awareness
Self Confidence
Service
SHARE
Course Stories
“Now I can say without hesitation: Outward Bound changed my life. It humbled me, yes. But in doing so it ultimately empowered me. It filtered out distraction and the hum of routine life so I could focus on what really matters. Maybe it was when we hiked a boulder field in a foot of snow. Or when we huddled under a tarp in a downpour. But at some point I reconnected with myself. And I took a long, hard look at what’s important to me. So much of that journey had to do with my course mates. I was the oldest by far. But in getting to know these young, dynamic people, I opened myself to a collective bonding like nothing I’d experienced before. It’s a camaraderie one remembers long after Outward Bound is over. One where you take care of each other and wish for each other’s well-being a much as your own. In the snow. In the rain. In the wilderness with all comforts stripped away.” – Jenny
This course combines the beautiful and challenging environments of the Washington wilderness with intensive educational curriculum and activities, giving priority to the skills needed to work in the fields of outdoor and adventure education.
The Northwest Outdoor Educator course is a comprehensive expedition program that combines the beautiful and challenging environments of the Washington wilderness with intensive educational curriculum and activities. Designed specifically for individuals interested in pursuing outdoor instructing, guiding, or outdoor teaching positions, this course offers 50 days of in-depth learning in mountaineering, sea kayaking and first aid while simultaneously exploring group dynamics, experiential education theory and methods, and wilderness activity management. Within a supportive community of like-minded adventurers, you’re provided with opportunities to act as both a student and an educator, drawing from your experience to reinforce the wilderness educational concepts being explored. Previous course participants are working in all facets of the outdoor industry—as guides, instructors and classroom teachers. They have, along with course Instructors, expressed that this course delivers invaluable experience, relevant skills and knowledge needed to help students become better educators.
NOTE: For details on current COVID-19 policies, including vaccination, please contact an Admissions Advisor at the National Admissions Office at 866-467-7651.
UPCOMING COURSES
This course is closed for the season.
2023 courses coming soon.
APPLY NOW This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist spots will become available. In the event a spot becomes available, those on the waitlist may have an opportunity to secure the available spot. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. Upon completion of your application, a $500 deposit is required to reserve the waitlist spot. If you choose to remove your application from the waitlist, or if a spot does not become available, you will be refunded the $500 deposit. If a spot becomes available and you elect not to take it, Outward Bound will keep $150 of the deposit.
Waitlist spots are prioritized in the order of returned paperwork, not in the order applications are received, so be sure to return the initial paperwork as soon as possible! Please be aware that waitlist spots may become available up to two weeks before the course starts. While cancellations do occur, we cannot guarantee a spot will become available. Applicants may only be listed on one waitlist. If there is another course that still has availability and is also of interest to you, we recommend applying for that course instead. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
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.
Outcomes
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 provide feedback in an organized setting, students will gain a strong foundation to begin or continue working as an outdoor educator. 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.
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Photo courtesy
of Stu Montgomery
Photo courtesy
of Joel Reid
Photo courtesy
of Stu Montgomery
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Photo courtesy
of Stu Montgomery
Photo courtesy
of Anna Sand
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Sea Kayaking
The course starts with almost two weeks of sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands, exploring Washington’s inner coastal waters that make this area a renowned cruising ground for paddlers. Students traverse the waterways in single and double kayaks, seeking out island beach campsites to sleep under the stars, and get acquainted with the fascinating natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest coast. Becoming a competent sea kayaker involves learning how to read a chart, perform self and assisted rescues, paddle efficiently, and assess sea conditions appropriate to each student and the group’s abilities. Students gain skills in reading currents and tides, kayak rescue techniques, marine navigation and assessing the weather. Team building and learning about marine environments will be emphasized during this section.
Photo courtesy
of Joel Reid
Photo courtesy
of David Moskowitz
Photo courtesy
of David Moskowitz
Photo courtesy
of Joel Reid
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Photo courtesy
of Ari Kosal
Photo courtesy
of Ari Kosal
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Photo courtesy
of Stu Montgomery
Photo courtesy
of Stu Montgomery
Mountaineering and Rock Climbing
The rock and mountain section focuses on mountaineering skills, including institutional top-rope climbing management. Students learn skills such as knot tying, climbing and belaying technique, anchor building, and climbing site management. Each day presents a different focus, with ample time for experiential learning. The Instructor-to-student ratio is never more than 1:5, which allows for personal coaching on the physical techniques of climbing and mountaineering, and also enables Instructors to cater curriculum to the specific interests and aptitudes of individual course participants. During the mountaineering section, Instructors focus curriculum on educational philosophy and group dynamics.
Photo courtesy
of Teddi Hamel
Photo courtesy
of Teddi Hamel
Photo courtesy
of Teddi Hamel
Photo courtesy
of Teddi Hamel
Photo courtesy
of Teddi Hamel
Wilderness First Responder
Nine days of the course will be spent completing 72 hours of advanced backcountry first aid and evacuation techniques. Mornings are devoted to lectures and exams with afternoons devoted to practical hands-on sessions and rescue simulations. Expect many rescue simulations with made-up victims and stage blood that will be recorded for enhanced learning. Evenings are reserved for study and assignments. Successful completion of this section involves full participation in the field simulations and written exams that make up the assessment process. Students receive WFR and CPR certification cards from Wilderness Medicine Training Center upon successful completion of the course. These are the industry-standard medical certifications that are required for professionals in the outdoor industry.
Final Expedition
Outward Bound believes that an appropriate amount of independence is a powerful educational tool. During the travel sections of this course, Outward Bound Instructors purposefully and gradually transfer certain leadership responsibilities to the students culminating with our “Final Expedition.” Near the end of course—if the group has demonstrated the necessary leadership, team problem solving and wilderness living skills—students may have the opportunity to travel without Instructors immediately present. Many of our students feel this phase of the course is the most rewarding, as the group learns to work as a team, problem solve, and accomplish a goal independently, while utilizing all the skills they have acquired.
Educational Practicum
Toward the end of the course students will have the opportunity to practice the educational skills used to lead groups in a wilderness environment by facilitating a 3-day outdoor education overnight program for local students. The program may include hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, initiatives, games and a service project. Many students consider this the highlight of the course, because it allows for the use of many of the skills that have been learned the previous six weeks. Two days of intensive training and practice led by the Outward Bound staff prepares students to fill the instructional role with confidence and competence. Afterwards students will receive direct, constructive feedback from Outward Bound staff about their performance.
Personal Challenge Event
Courses typically end with a Personal Challenge Event—an individual, final physical push. This might take the form of a run or a triathlon-style challenge
Photo courtesy
of Alice Burgess
Photo courtesy
of Jack Copland
Photo courtesy
of Jack Copland
Photo courtesy
of Alice Burgess
Photo courtesy
of Jack Copland
Service
Service to others and to our environment is a core value of Outward Bound and is integrated into each course. Groups follow Leave No Trace ethics as they engage in acts of service while leading and supporting fellow participants. Students see the impact of their actions firsthand, develop an appreciation of service and transfer this desire to serve their communities back home.
Solo
In order for profound learning to take place, students spend time reflecting on their experience, and Solo is that opportunity. The Solo experience provides an important break from the rigors of the expedition and gives students the opportunity to reflect on their Outward Bound experience. With sufficient food and equipment, students will set up camp at sites of their own, using the wilderness skills learned during the first portions of the course. The amount of time students spend on Solo is based on course length, weather, student condition, age, and Instructor preference. Solo campsites are chosen to offer as much solitude as possible (yet be within emergency whistle-signaling distance of other group members). Most students spend their Solo time journaling, drawing, reflecting, thinking and resting as they process lessons of the course to focus on their goals for the future. Instructors check on each participant at regular intervals, as safety is always a top priority.
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Photo courtesy
of Ari Kosal
Photo courtesy
of David Moskowitz
Photo courtesy
of Luke O'Neill
Course Area
The North Cascades, Washington
The North Cascades are called the “American Alps” for their rugged beauty and glaciated peaks; they remain some of the wildest and least traveled wilderness in the United States. The North Cascades host the greatest concentration of glaciers in the “Lower 48” and are full of high mountain meadows peppered with wild flowers. The mountain sections operate in the Sawtooth, Pasayten, and Glacier Peak Wilderness areas, as well as North Cascades National Park. All lie on the east side of the North Cascades and receive significantly less rainfall than the western coast of Washington. Temperatures typically range from freezing to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Syilx tmixʷ (Okanagan), Yakama, Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka'pamux), Methow, np̓əšqʷáw̓səxʷ (Wenatchi), Coast Salish, Skagit, Tulalip, Entiat, Chelan, Skykomish and Nuxwsa'7aq (Nooksack) nations.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course Start and transport to the San Juan Islands
DAY 2-15
Sea Kayak Section
DAY 16-24
Wilderness First Responder
DAY 25-41
Mountain Section and Solo
DAY 42-48
Final Expedition
DAY 49-50
Practicum Prep
DAY 51-53
Practicum
DAY 54
Final Challenge Event & Service Project
DAY 55
Course End
Course Stories
“Now I can say without hesitation: Outward Bound changed my life. It humbled me, yes. But in doing so it ultimately empowered me. It filtered out distraction and the hum of routine life so I could focus on what really matters. Maybe it was when we hiked a boulder field in a foot of snow. Or when we huddled under a tarp in a downpour. But at some point I reconnected with myself. And I took a long, hard look at what’s important to me. So much of that journey had to do with my course mates. I was the oldest by far. But in getting to know these young, dynamic people, I opened myself to a collective bonding like nothing I’d experienced before. It’s a camaraderie one remembers long after Outward Bound is over. One where you take care of each other and wish for each other’s well-being a much as your own. In the snow. In the rain. In the wilderness with all comforts stripped away.” – Jenny
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.