WHY THE WORLD NEEDS OUTWARD BOUND
OUR GLOBAL RELEVANCE

photo courtesy of OB Oman

OUTWARD BOUND

Established in 1941 amidst the harrowing circumstances of World War II, Outward Bound was a trailblazer in offering an "authentic, rigorous, and adventurous 'training for life' program." This initiative stood out as a significant departure from the conventional educational models of the time, focusing on equipping young people with the skills and mindset to navigate an unpredictable future.

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Fast forward to the present day, and the relevance of Outward Bound's core principles has only intensified in the face of a myriad of complex, evolving social, economic, and environmental challenges. The last decade, especially the most recent 4 years, has seen an acceleration in the urgency of addressing several critical issues:

Rising Mental and Physical Health Challenges: Young people across the globe are increasingly grappling with mental and physical health issues, a situation exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic's unprecedented impact has highlighted the need for resilience and mental fortitude in facing such global crises.

Global Climate and Biodiversity Crisis: The escalating threat to our planet's climate and biodiversity underscores the necessity for environmental stewardship and awareness, aligning closely with Outward Bound's ethos of connecting with and respecting the natural world.

Social Isolation, Fragmentation, and Polarization: In an era where technology plays a dominant role in our lives, the resultant social isolation, fragmentation, and polarization are more pronounced than ever. This scenario stresses the importance of real-world connections and interpersonal skills, areas where Outward Bound programs excel.

Employability Challenges and Skill Gaps: There is a growing disconnect between the skills imparted by formal education and those required in the modern workforce. Outward Bound's focus on practical, life-based learning helps bridge this gap, emphasizing the development of skills crucial for employability and adaptability in a dynamic job market.

“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

These issues have been recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as among the most significant risks humanity faces. In a time that should be ripe with opportunities, people globally are increasingly finding themselves disconnected – from their inner selves, from others, and from the natural environment. Many suffer from low self-confidence, a lack of physical activity and nature exposure, and a deficiency in foundational “life skills” crucial for employability, positive well-being, and realizing their full potential.

Outward Bound, with its extensive history, global reach, and multi-level engagement capacity (local, regional, and global), is uniquely positioned to address these pressing needs. The organization’s pioneering "outdoor learning" approach directly tackles the global risks identified by the WEF by offering "a broader space for learning.” These empowering educational programs encourage participants to spend immersive time in nature. This immersion fosters deeper connections with themselves, with others, and with the natural world. It also builds personal and social resilience, crucial in addressing the aforementioned global challenges.

Outward Bound's programs are more than just outdoor adventures; they are a comprehensive approach to learning and personal development. By facilitating experiences that challenge and inspire, Outward Bound helps individuals to develop not just survival skills for the physical world, but also the mental and emotional resilience needed in today's complex society. This approach ensures that participants are not only prepared to face the world's current challenges but are also equipped to be proactive agents of positive change, capable of shaping a better future for themselves and their communities.

Now, more than ever, the world needs Outward Bound

OB India-Himalaya

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: Enabling students to survive, thrive, and contribute positively to a challenging and rapidly changing world

Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound - OB USA

Outward Bound Finland

OBI “Nature Bound” Guidance

Developed in 2023 by Rob Dunn, OBI Environmental Project Consultant, in consultation with the OB global network

The Nature Bound Field Guide provides guidelines to help instructional staff develop ecological awareness among students and staff, minimise environmental impact when “in the field”, and encourage respect and compassion towards places, the natural world, and other people.

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Outward Bound Brazil

The Nature Bound Education Guide aims to support instructors to improve environmental education through: (re) connecting students with themselves, others, with nature and place; developing ecological understanding; fostering a sense of empowerment to engage in environmental stewardship; and educating for the climate crisis.

Outward Bound immersed me in nature and helped me develop a deep connection with the environment. It sparked a sense of responsibility within me to protect and conserve our natural resources, and motivated me to make sustainable choices in my daily life.

OB Oman Participant

Outward Bound Oman

The Nature Bound Operations Guide aims to help Schools improve environmental performance across operations, help role model sustainable practice to students and stakeholders, and support Schools to take action for the climate crisis.

Outward Bound Australia

Our Global Relevance - Membership in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

In 2022, Outward Bound International was accepted as an official global member of the

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations and is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. As a membership Union, the IUCN brings together the world’s most influential organisations and top experts in a joint effort to conserve nature and accelerate the transition to sustainable development. Today, with the expertise and reach of its more than 1,300 Members – including States, government agencies, NGOs and Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations – and over 15,000 international experts, IUCN is the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network.

As an international NGO member, involvement in the IUCN will provide OBI, and the Schools in the Outward Bound network, access to the world’s largest community of environmental experts; helping us to advance our own work and deepen our impact in this area while adding to the collective strength in overcoming barriers to a sustainable future. Joining the IUCN will create networking opportunities that will help OBI and our member Schools identify common interests, new partners, and potential funding sources.