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Program Overview

Location
Mid Atlantic
Seasons
Summer
Start Location
Baltimore, MD
End Location
Baltimore, MD
Program
High School
Length
12 Days
Price
$4,000
Expeditions
Backpacking
Rock Climbing

Skills

Technical
  • Belaying a Climber
  • Campcraft
  • Food Preparation and Cooking
  • Knots
  • Map and Compass
  • Natural History
  • Navigation
  • Self Care
Interpersonal
  • Character
  • Communication
  • Empathy
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Positive Risk Taking
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
  • Responsibility
  • Self Awareness
  • Self Confidence
  • Service

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Appalachian Trail and Dolly Sods Wilderness Backpacking and Rock Climbing

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This classic extended wilderness expedition takes you deep into picturesque environments and teaches how to travel in the backcountry

This expedition begins on the historic Appalachian Trail (the AT) – a diverse and challenging trek that stretches over 2,200 miles from Maine to Georgia. You and your crew will pack the food and gear required to live on trail before leaving Outward Bound’s base in Baltimore. During your expedition, you’ll take turns sharing important roles for your crew such as cook, navigator and leader of the day. Your time on the AT includes two days of rock climbing and lessons in off-trail navigation before driving to the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia, where your crew’s backcountry and leadership skills will be tested by wild grassland and mountainous terrain, dramatically carved by wind and water.  After 12 exhilarating days, return home with renewed appreciation of your abilities and an adventure story of a lifetime. 

NOTE: Outward Bound strongly recommends that all students be vaccinated against COVID-19 and up to date as defined by the CDC prior to arriving to their course start. For all open enrollment courses beginning on or after April 15, 2023, Outward Bound will no longer require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For questions regarding this policy please see this page or call us at 866-467-7651. 

Program Overview

Location
Mid Atlantic
Seasons
Summer
Start Location
Baltimore, MD
End Location
Baltimore, MD
Program
High School
Length
12 Days
Price
$4,000
See More Details
Expeditions
Backpacking
Rock Climbing

Skills

Technical
  • Belaying a Climber
  • Campcraft
  • Food Preparation and Cooking
  • Knots
  • Map and Compass
  • Natural History
  • Navigation
  • Self Care
Interpersonal
  • Character
  • Communication
  • Empathy
  • Independence
  • Leadership
  • Positive Risk Taking
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
  • Responsibility
  • Self Awareness
  • Self Confidence
  • Service

UPCOMING COURSES

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For detailed information on course availability statuses and what they mean, click here.

Course # BBYE-331

Age 14 - 16

Days 12

Cost $4,000

Dates 6.17.23 - 6.28.23

JOIN WAITLIST
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Course # BBTE-331

Age 16 - 18

Days 12

Cost $4,000

Dates 6.27.23 - 7.8.23

JOIN WAITLIST
?

Course # BBYE-332

Age 14 - 16

Days 12

Cost $4,000

Dates 7.12.23 - 7.23.23

JOIN WAITLIST
?

Course # BBYE-333

Age 14 - 16

Days 12

Cost $4,000

Dates 8.5.23 - 8.16.23

APPLY NOW ALMOST FULL
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Thank you for your interest in Outward Bound! 

This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!

APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.

APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!

JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date. 

Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.

CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.

COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.

CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.

Sample Itinerary
DAY1
Meet your crew in Baltimore, pack expedition equipment, drive to Appalachian Trail
DAY2
Backpacking, introductory lessons in travel, navigation, camp craft
DAY3
Rock climbing 101, belaying, climbing technique
DAY4-5
Backpacking and off-trail navigation
DAY6
Rock climbing 201, resupply, drive to Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia
DAY7
Solo
DAY8-10
Backpacking final challenge
DAY11
Return to base, clean and de-issue gear, service project
DAY12
Personal challenge event, graduation, depart for the airport
Classic Courses

It’s time to make your own adventure. Outward Bound’s Classic expeditions for middle and high school students are built with you in mind. Make new friends, sleep under the stars, and learn skills like backcountry navigation and how to cook a delicious meal no matter where you are. You’ve got this! Whether you’re in a raft or on a mountainside, you’ll learn what you’re made of – and you’ll see first-hand how far teamwork can take you. Join us for an unforgettable challenge and discover a whole new way to get outside.  

  • Build skills, form connections:Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Find connections with your crewmates based on support and respect (and fun too!), and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
  • Value strengths and strengthen values: Uncover your unique character strengths, develop your leadership abilities and learn how to let compassion in to everyday life by pushing your own limits and working alongside your peers.
  • Demonstrate mastery:As you gain confidence in new skills, take on more decision-making responsibilities. Work together to achieve team goals, solve problems and succeed both as individuals and as a group. At the end of course, you and your crew will undergo a Final Challenge Event.
  • What you’ll learn: Your connections matter – working together to navigate challenges will quickly turn your crewmates into friends. Together, you’ll find opportunities to carry more weight (literally and figuratively) and make impactful decisions with accompanying consequences. It’s all about confidence, communication, and independence. 

After you come home, many of the character, leadership and service traits you uncovered on your expedition stay with you, helping you navigate your daily life with more resilience and success.

Backpacking
backpacking trip for teens in baltimore
Photo courtesy of Gavin Reed
outdoor leadership program for teens in baltimore
Photo courtesy of Zach Shenal
outdoor leadership school for teens in DC
Photo courtesy of Alex Gorosh
a student assembles a shelter on a backpacking trip for teens near DC
Photo courtesy of Dalton Johnson
outdoor leadership program for teens in DC
Photo courtesy of Zach Shenal
leadership course for teens near DC
Photo courtesy of Zach Shenal
a student gives a thumbs up sign on a wilderness program for teens in baltimore
Photo courtesy of Ben Worden
a student looks out over the horizon on an outdoor program for youth
teens develop character on outward bound trip
Photo courtesy of Randy Morton
teens develop life skills on outward bound course
Photo courtesy of Alex Gorosh
a campsite on an outward bound trip near DC

Students learn how to hike effectively and efficiently, as well as how to set up and manage trail campsites each night. As the team overcomes numerous expedition challenges, they develop a greater belief in themselves and trust in one another. Successful completion of this course requires more than the mastery of technical skills.

Rock Climbing
rock climbing trip for teens in DC
Photo courtesy of Ben Worden
climbing camp for teens in baltimore
Photo courtesy of Dalton Johnson
teens develop character on outward bound trip in baltimore
Photo courtesy of Dalton Johnson
rock climbing outdoor leadership course in DC
Photo courtesy of Ben Worden
outdoor adventure trip for teens in baltimore
Photo courtesy of Zach Shenal
a student gives a peace sign while rock climbing
a student waves from above while rock climbing near DC
a teen scales a rock wall on a rock climbing trip with outward bound
Photo courtesy of Dalton Johnson
a student in the foreground smiles up at the camera while a person belaying looks on from below
a student scales a rock wall on a rock climbing trip near DC
Photo courtesy of Dalton Johnson
a teen scales a rock wall on a rock climbing trip with outward bound
a student climbs a rock wall near DC on a trip with Outward Bound
Photo courtesy of Dalton Johnson

During the backpacking component of this expedition, students take a break from hiking and spend an afternoon rock climbing. This challenging activity pushes students out of their comfort zones and helps develop trust among course members. Students rely on one another for support and encouragement to reach the top of the cliff faces.

Solo

A little more than halfway through their expedition, students participate in a reflection period called Solo. Students are assigned individual campsites, within a designated area, and are provided with all necessary gear, food, water and skills to enjoy this time alone. Although secluded, Solo-sites are within hearing distance of other group members and Instructors for safety. Students are made aware of their Instructors’ Solo site should they need to contact them for any reason, and Instructors monitor students closely during this experience. Solo is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge and reflect on their experience.

Service

Service projects are often integrated into Outward Bound expeditions through coordination with land managers, conservation groups, government agencies or social service agencies. While on expedition, students are encouraged to practice service to the environment and their team by sharing responsibilities and following Recreate Responsibly ethics. Outward Bound expeditions are designed to cultivate a service-ethic and, thereby, inspire students to return home as agents of change in their communities.

Outcomes

Helping students and their families see positive development in character skills is a key component of Outward Bound courses. After completing the course, students will receive a written narrative from their instructor that highlights how the student engaged in the course, what strengths were observed, and any recommendations for further development.

Course Area
outdoor leadership program for teens
Photo courtesy of Alex Gorosh
teens develop character on outward bound trip
Photo courtesy of Zach Shenal

Appalachian Trail (MD / PA)

The Appalachian Trail in Maryland follows a 41-mile route along the backbone of South Mountain, a north-south ridge that extends from Pennsylvania to the Potomac River. The AT varies in elevation across the state from 230’ to 1860’ and extends to the north into Southern Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest where Outward Bound students in this area will rock climb at one of three sites: Annapolis Rocks, Shaffer Rocks or Pole Steeple in the nearby Pine Grove Furnace State Park. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Massawomeck and Piscataway nations.

Dolly Sods Wilderness (WV)

The 17,371 acre Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It is located in Grant, Randolph and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. The Dolly Sods Wilderness contains much of the Red Creek drainage and contains bog and heath eco-types, more commonly typical to southern Canada. Elevations range from 2,500 to over 4,700 feet. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Massawomeck nation.

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Getting Started

If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.

To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee. 

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