Outward Bound' is an educational concept, i.e. idea, that has
developed over the last 60
years. Thousands of people in many 1
countries around the world know about it. Outward Bound consists of
many educational organisations in different parts of the world. These
organisations use nature as classrooms.
Outward Bound courses consist of a series of carefully planned but
difficult physical activities. The purpose of the activities is to create
confident students who are prepared to deal with danger, uncomfortable 2
situations, stress, frustration, and challenge. Increasing a student's
confidence helps him to obtain the feeling of independence and gain the
ability to deal with complex everyday life situations more easily.
The standard Outward Bound course lasts three to four weeks.
During that time, the students live in the wilderness— an area of wild,
rough land where no people live - and perform physical activities whose
difficulty increases every day. The first few days are spent on physical
exercises. In addition, the students are taught basic skills such as first
aid (how to help people when an accident occurs), map reading (how to
find the right way), compass reading (how to find the correct direction)
and other similar activities. During the second part of the course, 3
students learn how to climb rocks and mountains, how to use boats and
canoes in rough rivers, and in some schools how to sail, ski and hike
long-distances. The first two parts of the course are done in groups.
Members work together and help each other. In the third part of the
course, students are sent out alone for three days to test their ability to
live in the wilderness with only a few necessities like a box of matches,
some pots and pans, a knife, a sleeping bag, a little water and very little
to eat.
Who are the students of Outward Bound? They are both young
people and adults, both men and women. The minimum age is 16
years. There is no maximum age. About 2000 of the 6000 people who 4
complete the course each year are women. Housewives, university
students, professors, doctors, and lawyers are also among those who
have taken part in the course.
In recent years, special courses for the busy businessmen have
become increasingly popular. These courses last from five to ten days 5
rather than the usual three to four weeks of the normal course.
Not all students complete the Outward Bound course. Sometimes the
physical challenges cause a lot of stress. Organisers of an Outward 6
Bound course tell their students before they start that they shouldn't
make a mistake because Outward Bound is not for everybody, and that 6
the courses aren't easy at all.
Most students who finish the course share a common experience.
They are surprised that they have finished the course and experience a 7
great feeling of success because they have been able to do the
impossible! The Outward Bound experience makes them feel that they
are better than they thought!
