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Northwest Outdoor Educator

Photograph (above) taken by Stu Montgomery

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LOCATION

Pacific Northwest

EXPEDITION TYPE

Kayaking

Mountaineering

Rock Climbing

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Alpine Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Service, Rock Climbing, Base Camp

PROGRAM

Outdoor Educator

LENGTH

55 Days

START LOCATION

SEA-TAC

END LOCATION

SEA-TAC

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

“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 positions as outdoor instructors, guides, or outdoor teachers, this course offers 55 days of in-depth skill development 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, participants are provided with opportunities to be both students and educators, drawing from their experiences to reinforce the wilderness educational concepts being explored. Previous course participants work in all facets of our industry — as guides, instructors, and classroom teachers — and have expressed that this course delivers invaluable experience, relevant skills and knowledge needed to help them become better educators.

NOTE: This course requires that students submit proof of "Up-to-Date" COVID-19 Vaccination status as defined by the CDC. For questions regarding this policy please see this page or call us at 866-467-7651.

UPCOMING COURSES

This course is closed for the season.

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 getting 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 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

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 80 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, CPR and epinephrine administration 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 in 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, and 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

San Juan Islands, Washington

Nestled between Vancouver Island and the North Cascades, the San Juan Islands are a unique coastal cruising ground with large expanses of sparkling water and mountain scenery. During their journey, students will encounter coastlines with a combination of sandy and rocky beaches, shallow and deep harbors, placid and reef-studded bays. Knotty, twisted Madrona trees grow along much of the shorelines while evergreen fir and pine forests cover large inland areas. Sightings of harbor seals, porpoise and eagles are common, as well as the rare glimpse of an Orca whale. The islands get less average rainfall than the surrounding area due to the rain-shadow effect of the Olympic Mountains. Summertime high temperatures are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit while lows could be in the 40s. These regions are theancestral lands of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi), Klallam, Samish, Tulalip, W̱SÁNEĆ, Lekwungen/Songhees and Coast Salish nations.

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