Outward Bound

“Looks like my boy is slowly driving his mother crazy. He hasn't really fallen afoul of the law, but he keeps doing STUPID stuff. We are looking at Outward Bound up in MN. Does anyone know about this center...apparently they deal with building charachter the old way. They don't take Juv. Delinq, drug users etc.
The cool thing is that after his month up there we have to go to a three or so day course to learn to work with him.”

“They don't take Juv. Delinq, drug users etc.

I'm pretty sure they still have programs for kids with those troubles too.

Never been directly involved with OB but from others I know who have been I have only heard positive things.”

“I keep telling my friends, the best way to build charachter is to give them a success to build on. I just want him to learn to see himself as part of a BIGGER thing. He does what he does when he wants to. When we backpack, he can push through truly horrible situations and I have seen him do stuff that would make other people quit. But it is driving us crazy with his present attitude.”

“I don’t know much about the Outward Bound program for kids, but I know that OB has been around a long time. In fact, the company started as a program for kids. After many decades of helping kids, they probably have their model well established by now.

I did the Outward Bound Life/Career Renewal course a few years ago in Colorado. This program is designed for adults. The experience truly had a positive impact on my life. But, like anything else, you have to be open to change and willing to accept help in order for a program like this to do any good. If your son already enjoys the outdoors, he may be open to the idea. In fact, the backpacking skills you have taught him might bring out the leader in him. He might find himself helping other kids and that would be a good thing.

I am not sure, but I think the Minnesota school is more geared toward canoeing, rather than backpacking. There is also a school in North Carolina and other places domestically and internationally. I am sure their website has all the information.

Good luck to you.

cindy”

“Voyager Outward Bound Schol, Ely, MN. Has summer and winter related programs, canoeing, backpacking, dogsledding, etc. I have limited experience through them, I took a winter camping course for college credit, a kayaking course for credit, and a high adventure course where we did rock climbing, ropes course, and low initiatives.

Outward bound is a great program and he will learn tons from there.

Another thing to look into is the YMCA camping program - as an alumni and current employee of the camping services I can tell you much more information about it than VOBS Two to look into are Menogyn or Widjiwagon, or Warren depending on what you're looking for. I spent 4 years at Menogyn and can tell you anything you want about their program, I went on 14 day, 30 day, and 49 day canoe trips, and a 21 days backpacking trip, and currently lead three - 8 day canoe trips every summer. Let me know if you have any questions or would like information.”

“Went on a couple of PCOBS Mountaineering trips out here in California. Adult courses. Worthwhile and challenging, but they were too short for a young one who might need full immersion for the most impact.

OB has semester courses you might consider. 72 days I think.

On my web site there are journal entries about my OB experiences. Might wanna have a look.

http://www.exavius.com/sierra/pcobs01/ob2001.htm
http://www.exavius.com/sierra/pcobs99/ob99.htm

FWIW”

“Outward Bound has a good track record for safety and success.

The kind of limit pushing you speak of during your BP trips is part of their program. A quality difference is ... they help integrate these strengths into other aspects of life.”

“Thanks....the biggest problem with ME doing the trips is there is a HUGE difference between a parent telling junior what to do and another person directing them.

I cannot tell you the number of Scouts I have seen change, but we had to realize that their parents (fine leaders in their own right) had to step back. It is not a case of dumping your problems, it is rather a case of the parent being too close to the situation to be objective.”