By Alumna Sierra Farrell, Spring Semester Course, 2017 All I could think about was sitting down, and giving up. Every muscle in my body was screaming, telling me to stop pushing, to sit down, and quit. Every inch of me... READ MORE

By Alumna Jaime Burse, Libby Jones Scholarship Recipient, Blue Ridge Backpacking and Climbing, 2016 Today I opened a letter that started “I hope you’re showered with clean nails and deodorant on, but I also hope you remember how normal it felt... READ MORE

By Alumna Taylor Sinason, Instructor Development Course, 2016 After a long night of relentless rain, my crew mates and I lowered the bear-hang in the first morning light to share one last breakfast together. The presence of solo was looming... READ MORE

By Alumna and Prior Instructor, Deb Caughron, 1983 “There was nobody to talk to except myself and the creek.  The creek was constantly talking back so I could hardly get a word in.” —John G. Thomas, Jr., Crew Journal Entry,... READ MORE

By Alumnus Kyle Roncagli, 22-day Blue Ridge Backpacking Course, 2016 During the summer going into my Senior year of high school, I went on a 22-day backpacking course in the Pisgah National Forest with Outward Bound. I went into the... READ MORE

By Alumna Kathy Capron, Semester Course, 1989 In the fall of 1989 (26 years ago!), I was a student on a 90-day semester course with NC Outward Bound School. I chose the semester course because I wanted to be an Outward Bound... READ MORE

By Alumnus Henry Cox, American Explorers Program Hello, I’m Henry Cox, a sophomore at Charles R Drew Charter School, and I spent two weeks in the summer of 2015 backpacking with Outward Bound in North Carolina. I came to Outward Bound through... READ MORE

By Alumni Allan Bassler, 28-day Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking Course, 1987 It was with a strange mixture of sadness, pride and relief that I hugged my son in the airport. At age 18, he was shipping off to Navy boot camp.... READ MORE

By Alumni Allan Bassler, 28-day Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking Course, 1987 My Outward Bound experience happened in pre-GPS days, a 28-day course in the mid-1980s. They taught us wilderness navigation using paper maps and a compass. Our main experience was hiking. ... READ MORE

By Alumna Maddie Fenster, Parent-Child Course  The bright sun who smiles down at me. The care-free bird who chirps from a tree. The towering mountain that we have just conquered; the warm, sweaty hugs that my friends have to offer.... READ MORE