WHY THE WORLD NEEDS OUTWARD BOUND - OUR GLOBAL RELEVANCE

photo courtesy of OB Romania

OUTWARD BOUND

started in 1941 during the darkest days of WW2 as an authentic, rigorous, and adventurous “training for life” program; an educational experience focused on effectively preparing young people for an unpredictable future that offered an alternative to traditional models of education.

Click to Play

Today, in the face of increasingly complex and ever-evolving social, economic and environmental challenges, Outward Bound programs are more relevant than ever. Developments of the last decade, and most critically in the last two years, have accelerated the urgency of the following issues:

Rising mental and physical health challenges in young people around the globe, particularly in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic;
The global climate and biodiversity crisis;
Increasing social isolation, fragmentation and polarization, a side-effect of technology’s increased role in our lives and society;
Employability challenges and the gap between skills needed for the future and those developed through "formal" education.

“Outward Bound transcends individual differences and kindles within each of us a sense of community. The wilderness environment allows one’s veneers to slip away, and each person can grow through daring to risk, to care, and to share with others. As an educational forum, Outward Bound offers true learning, involving heart, mind and body, in a way that will last a lifetime.”

Kurt Hahn, Co-founder of Outward Bound

All of these forces have been identified by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as amongst the most significant risks facing humanity. In what should be a time of great opportunity, people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe are increasingly disconnected – disconnected from themselves, from others and from the natural environment. Far too many suffer from a lack of confidence; a lack of physical activity and time in nature, and a lack of foundational “life skills” that lead to employability, to the development of positive well-being, and the ability to achieve one’s full potential.

Outward Bound Trust in the UK

Outward Bound is uniquely positioned to address these pressing needs given our long history, global scope, and capacity to engage at multiple levels – local, regional and global.

Outward Bound's innovative "outdoor learning" approach directly addresses the global risks identified by the WEF through the offer of "a broader space for learning.” Our empowering educational programs allow participants to spend immersive time in nature in order to establish greater connections to themselves, to others, and to the natural world, and to build their personal and social resilience.

Now, more than ever, the world needs Outward Bound.

Our Global Relevance…

OBI's “Building Back” Report on Mental Health

Outward Bound International's “Building Back” Report

Reveals the detrimental impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the mental health of an entire generation of young people. Young people around the globe have been disproportionately affected socially and economically by the pandemic and they will likely continue to feel the impacts of this ‘crisis of a generation’ well into their adult life.

Building Back - Click to View and Download

OUTWARD BOUND’S ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER

At Outward Bound International we take environmental sustainability seriously. The Outward Bound Environmental Charter outlines our commitment to making Outward Bound's global operations more sustainable. The Charter contains a set of principles relating to environmental management systems and activities.

This is one of the most important responsibilities we hold as an organization.

Outward Bound Finland

Within the international network of OB Schools and wider social, cultural and ecological communities in which they operate, we recognise the natural world and future generations as key stakeholders. As such we are committed to:

(Re) connecting students to nature, to themselves, to each other, and to places; developing ecological awareness and understanding; and fostering environmental stewardship and empowerment
Improving our environmental performance; reducing our energy use and carbon emissions across our operations
Integrating environmental education across our operations, teaching and instructional practice
Action and education for the climate crisis

We will reduce our impact through careful measurement and analysis, behavioural change, and innovative practice in the following areas:

Education: Strengthen participants’ understanding of and connection to themselves, each other, and the natural world. Empower students towards positive behavioural change.
Field operations: Evolve our “tread lightly” principles to ensure our field operations are environmentally and culturally sustainable
Carbon: Reduce and where possible offset carbon emissions.
Energy: Explore opportunities for energy efficiency and reduce overall consumption across operations.
Waste: Reduce, re-use and re-cycle as much waste material as possible across our operations. Look to integrate circular economy principles where possible.
Water: Conserve water and adopt geographically-appropriate/ responsible methods of waste water discharge.
Supply chains: Work with our partners and suppliers to help us achieve the above goals, and to promote sustainable practice in relation to their operations.

Outward Bound International. Enabling students to survive, thrive, and contribute positively to a challenging and rapidly changing world

Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound - OB USA

Outward Bound Finland