Our Student Services Department

Need to speak with your student services rep? Call: 800-878-5258

Need to speak with our medical screener? Call: 800-709-6098

Not enrolled yet, but have questions? Call: 866-282-6262 x 1

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Our Team

Director of Student Services  Lynda Bracket

Lynda has been with NCOB since 1982, which was also the year she was a student on an NCOB course. Lynda's husband and daughter have both completed NCOB courses.

Medical Screener  Donna Allison   

Donna has been with NCOBS as medical screener since 1995. Donna was a student on an 8-day backpacking and rock climbing course and both her children have completed NCOB courses.

Senior Student Services Representative Erin Karasik 

Erin began as a student on a 28-day Backpacking, Rock Climbing and Whitewater Canoeing course in 2000 while also working part time for NCOB while still a student at Warren Wilson College. She came to work full time in student services in January 2001 after graduating from college.

Student Services Representative & Veterans & Service Member Program Manager  Matthew Rosky  

Matt began as a student on a 28-day Backpacking, Rock Climbing and Whitewater Canoeing course in 2001 before working for NCOB's Table Rock Basecamp in logistics. About a year and a half later, he came to work in student services.

Student Services Representative  Whitney Setser  

Whitney began at NCOB in 2004 as the admissions advisor less than two weeks after graduating from college at UNC Asheville and went on an 8-day Outer Banks Sea Kayaking course in 2005. She has worked with student services full time since 2011.

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How to Send Paperwork

1). The fastest and most efficient way to get paperwork back to us is via e-mail. Please send PDF files attached (no larger than 10 MB) to studentservices@ncobs.org. 

2). Or you can send via fax to us at 828-298-8660.

3).You may also mail to us at:

Preparation

You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to complete an Outward Bound course. In fact, most of our courses are designed for the average person who is looking for a physical, mental and social challenge. Still, your level of physical and mental readiness will directly affect your experience. Below are some of our suggestions for getting started with your preparation. Of course, there are many other ways to become prepared. Choose the ones that fit you best. In our course participation forms, there are suggestions for an eight-week fitness training program that you can use to prepare yourself for your course.  You recieve these forms once you have enrolled and paid to secure your spot on course.

Remember: you CAN do this, even if you aren't the fastest, the strongest or most athletic.

If you have more questions about preparation, please call our Admissions Advisor at 1-888-75-NCOBS (1-888-756-2627) or e-mail us at info@ncobs.org. 

Attitude and Mental Preparation

Remember to have fun and enjoy the adventure of your preparation while training for your course! This is an excellent opportunity for you to get outside, get fit and explore your neighborhood's parks and recreation areas. Your ability to interact well with a group is key to being successful in completing your course. Evaluate your abilities as a group participant by thinking about past group experiences and talking with family and friends.

Plan to be patient, to persevere, to expand your limits and to have a positive and memorable adventure! Your attitude of commitment and willingness to try new things are two of the most important contributions you can bring to your course. Prepare yourself to take on new challenges and try new activities.

Fitness and Training

Many people, novice and experienced alike, commonly complain of tired and aching bodies; the result of believing that the harder the body is pushed the faster it will improve. In fact, the opposite is true: the more moderately you go, as long as youare approximating your Target Heart Rate, the more quickly you will improve.

• The most common mistake people make is going too fast, too soon—quickly joining the ranks of the stiff, tired and discouraged. Make sure you take at least one day off a week.
• Exercise is not the same as work. A person may work quite hard all day, finish the afternoon exhausted, and still not be gettingenough exercise to be fit. Daily stop-start routines are demanding but, if they don’t allow for an increase in oxygen consumption for more than a few minutes at a time, they will not contribute to basic fitness.
• Your experience will be greatly affected by the state of your physical readiness. Our courses are designed to be rigorous and will challenge you physically, mentally and socially.
• You do not have to be an athlete or highly-trained to come on an Outward Bound course.
• You do have to be physically capable and active. Our courses are demanding. You will use your muscles in new and challenging ways.
• It takes strength and fitness to paddle a boat for six or eight hours in a day, carry a 50+ pound pack for five miles or climb a rock wall. If you aren’t already involved in a fitness program, now is the time to start.

Every minute you put in will pay off in enjoyment, comfort and fun as your course progresses. We strongly suggest that applicants with any of the following conditions consult with their physician to establish an exercise program: high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, smoking (more than one pack a week) or a prolonged sedentary lifestyle.

The Best Exercise There Is
For most people, the best and most accessible exercise is jogging—a combination of walking and running compatible with your current level of fitness, ability and interest. Why jogging? It’s the simplest, cheapest, least encumbered, most available and most efficient way to use your large leg muscles—requiring the heart and circulatory system to pump large quantities of blood and oxygen.

The most important thing is to find an activity that you enjoy doing. While exercising three times a week for thirty minutes is the minimum, five times a week is optimum for a course. Build in another 15 – 30 minutes every other day for light weight training. Weight training builds strength, not aerobic fitness and by itself is not sufficient. Stretch your muscles and move the weights through full-ranges of motion. Stretching is imperative. Stretching maintains flexibility.

Courses with Rock Climbing
Climbing indoors at your local rock climbing gym is the best way to prepare for climbing outdoors. If climbing at a gym is
not available, substitute pull-ups, sit-ups and strength training with weights. On course, you will practice knots, climbing and belay techniques and safety procedures.

Courses with Backpacking
Hike with a weighted backpack. Start with 20-30 lbs., then build to 50+ lbs. If you do not own a backpack, you may be able to borrow one from a friend, family member or rent one from an outdoor sporting goods store. If none of these options are available, try a smaller "book bag" style backpack with approximately 15 lbs. in it. Start out hiking just a couple of miles on hilly terrain or stairs and increase your intensity and mileage as you gain strength and endurance. On course, you can expect to carry a backpack that weighs approximately 40 to 55 lbs., and you may be hiking for distances of five to 15 miles per day.

Courses with a Water Component
Endurance train at least three times a week on a rowing machine. If a rowing machine is not available, supplement with strength training three times a week including sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups or weight training that concentrates on your shoulders, stomach and back.

Outward Bound Logo Gear

Visit our online store and shop for high quality North Carolina Outward Bound logo gear including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, mugs, and more.

A large portion of your purchase of logo merchandise goes back into North Carolina Outward Bound programs. Your support allows us to continue to deliever exceptional courses to our students through scholarships, program innovation, and student safety.  View more gear, colors, and styles online!