Applicant Packet - Adult

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In signing up for an Outward Bound course you have applied to an experience of discovery. The rewards are real, as are the challenges. Students from all walks of life may be successful on Outward Bound courses when they are ready for the challenges of adapting to the social and physical environment, learning new skills, and the work of living and traveling outdoors. The following questionnaire asks you to consider your physical, mental and emotional readiness to experience a productive level of challenge on course and your capacity to be an active participant in your own and your group's growth and safety.

Outward Bound Courses....
  • Require students to adapt to new settings without access to phones or technology and work together to solve problems or travel distances they wouldn't think are possible. No outdoor or camping experience is required.
  • Are not "boot camps" or vacations. Students need to have good physical fitness, but do not need to be hardcore athletes. Although expeditions are physically rigorous at times, the intent of the campcraft skills we teach is to increase comfort, not hardship. The goal of the group dynamics is to support and encourage, not exclude or demean.
The Instructors...
  • Teach course skills, model expected behaviors, coach participants to reach beyond self-imposed limits, and facilitate the groups progression.
  • Teach risk management through participatory assessment of hazards and mitigation of risk.
Course Activities and Environments...
  • May include one or more expeditions or adventure activities such as canoeing, backpacking, sailing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, challenge course, community service project, solo, and more.
  • May take place in one or more outdoor settings, including forests, oceans, rivers and mountains, often in remote wilderness up to 24 hours from emergency care.
Expectations and Eligibility Criteria for Students
All students must begin the course with:
  • Sufficient fitness and physical capacity for all the functions required on the expedition.
  • Ability to follow instructions, make safe choices, and readiness to learn to be self-reliant in self-care in their new environment.
  • Able to engage positively and respectfully with a diverse peer group, and tolerate periods of frustration, failure, and discomfort (cold, wet, hot, buggy, hungry, muddy) and long hours of mental and physical effort.
All students must be able to learn:
  • Proficiency with course skills and travel, to share in the work of the group and to reliably meet behavioral expectations.
  • To cope effectively with stress, behave inclusively  and equitably toward others, and confront fears such as heights, water, trusting others and solitude.

Questionnaire


We are asking for sizing information from you to ensure that we have appropriately sized gear and course end shirts for everybody. This also aids in a smooth course start as instructors can gather what is needed ahead of time.













Someone You Know Request
A couple of things to note about attending Outward Bound with someone you know:
  • An Outward Bound course is meant as a place to stretch oneself, break free of preconceived ideas, and discover new strengths and talents. We have found that when participants have exclusive relationships on course (especially with an existing friend or relative) it can negatively affect both the course culture and the individuals' growth.
  • Each applicant is regarded as an individual applicant, so if one of you withdraws or is medically screened off of the course, the other applicant is expected to attend. There are no revisions to our cancellation and refund policies for a friend/relative situation.
  • An Outward Bound course is about both individual and group processes. We ask all participants to be open to building positive relationships with all team members. If any relationship (including one with a friend or family member) becomes exclusive and negatively impacts the crew experience, your instructors will create a plan with you to be more inclusive.






Each of the following questions presents a capacity that are expectations of all students. Your responses will help us understand your readiness to participate and thrive on your Outward Bound course.

Please read each statement and select the option that best describes your own thoughts about your readiness for your course:

















This will help us make sure we don't forget what you were curious about when we get to the call.

Tuition Policy Acknowledgement
With the financial investment you are making in this course, it is important to understand ALL of the policies surrounding your course tuition. Please make sure to read through the Admissions Handbook (linked on our Applicant Portal) for course information and policy. The tuition and payment policies are also detailed on the Payment Information page of the website.
Trip Insurance Acknowledgment
We all know that the unexpected can happen. Sudden illness, injury or family emergencies are all things you cannot predict, but they can stop you from attending or completing a HIOBS course.

The best way to protect yourself from financial loss is to purchase a trip insurance policy that will reimburse you for unrecoverable expenses (e.g. course tuition, airfare, and/or emergency evacuation) or an event that forces you to cancel, transfer, or leave a course early. We strongly recommend that all students purchase a trip insurance plan through a third party. Outward Bound offers an option for insuring these costs from the third-party provider InsureMyTrip through its Academic Explorer Program.  This program has coverage options that include your travel costs and the non-refundable tuition costs. 

Whether you shop for your own coverage or buy it through an agent, make sure that you know what is covered and what is excluded. For instance, not all plans will cover an injury that is a pre-existing condition. Most plans will not cover a student who is choosing not to attend. Also, some trip insurance policies require you to sign up within a certain number day (often 30 days or less) of placing your deposit, so prompt action is recommended. 

Behavior Agreements and Cause for Dismissal

An Outward Bound course is an opportunity to learn and grow through taking on physical and emotional challenges with a supportive group of peers and the guidance of skilled instructors. Each participant must arrive ready to positively participate in their own and the whole group's safety and learning. 
Non-Negotiable Expectations
For all participants to have a positive learning experience, Outward Bound requires everyone to always follow the non-negotiable Behavior Agreements. All students are expected to:
  • Follow Outward Bound safety procedures and directions given by the instructors.
  • Be able to learn new and unfamiliar ways of doing things, be flexible in meeting personal needs and able to use healthy coping strategies when under stress.
  • Adapt their self-care skills to the new environment to take care of their own physical needs, such as drinking enough water, eating enough food, using sunscreen, insect repellent, clothing and equipment, and applying hygiene practices and other techniques as explained by instructors.
  • Alert the instructors if they see something wrong or unsafe, or if they are experiencing any physical or mental health problems. 
  • Contribute to an inclusive and safe learning environment and refrain from any behavior that harasses, bullies, intimidates or harms others, and manage conflict without physical or verbal aggression. 
  • Manage frustration and impatience without destructive outbursts and without being derogatory or harmful to others.
  • Not bring, possess, or use nicotine, alcohol, others substances, or any prescription or non-prescription drugs not approved by Outward Bound for their use on course.
  • Not engage in sexual activity or romantic relationships.
Participation Expectations
To realize the learning potential of the Outward Bound experience, students are also expected to strive to do the following:
  • Bring a positive mindset to new experiences and to sharing and learning from different perspectives.
  • Engage each day as a full participant and try to achieve individual goals and support the whole crew.
  • Be open to making connections with all group members and refrain from exclusive behavior.
  • Behave respectfully toward all of the various identities of others and not discriminate based on any aspect of their identity such as: race, ethnicity, citizenship, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and social or political affiliations.
  • Support the crew's goals by sometimes delaying personal needs or taking on new responsibilities.
  • Learn to listen to and voice opposing perspectives respectfully and manage conflict constructively.
  • Treat the environment and the gear with care and respect.
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