Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking & Rock Climbing for Families
This specially designed Outward Bound course helps youth navigate the path from adolescence to adulthood with the support of their families.
Families come in all shapes and sizes, and we’ve designed this course to foster connection between a young person and a trusted adult in their life. Whether the pairing is parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, aunts, uncles, or otherwise, taking this four-day course together provides a unique opportunity for youth and an adult who cares for them to deepen their appreciation for one another and strengthen bonds. Through challenging backcountry activities like backpacking, orienteering, sleeping and eating in the backcountry and rock climbing in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the memories and metaphors of a shared adventure will carry on long into the future.
Please note, this course is built for youth-adult pairs to enroll together. Each participant must complete an application. We cannot accommodate individual enrollments or families of three or more. The cost is listed per participant.
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.
UPCOMING COURSES
What is this?
For detailed information on course availability statuses and what they mean, click here.
Course # NTFE-312
Age 12 and up
Days 4
Cost $1,580
Dates 6.11.23 - 6.14.23
Course # NTFE-313
Age 12 and up
Days 4
Cost $1,580
Dates 8.3.23 - 8.6.23
Course # NTFE-2411
Age 12 and up
Days 4
Cost $1,580
Dates 4.11.24 - 4.14.24
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.
The aspect of Outward Bound, called duo, is one of the most important personal events on the trip. For 24 uninterrupted hours, my teenage son and I talked about life, relationships, sports, anything that came to our minds. The duo brought each parent closer to their child than ever before. Years later, both Ryan and I still think back on that time.
During this course, parent-child pairs backpack up to three days in Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina where they will learn to travel in the backcountry, navigate varied terrain with a map and compass and how to do these activities responsibly using Leave No Trace principles. Equally important will be time spent learning conflict resolution skills, communication styles, how to lead and how to be a team player. After the crew has practiced these skills the Instructors will step back and let the group work together to navigate through the wilderness where they will be rewarded with stunning misty mountain vistas.
Students will spend a day climbing up a mountain, rappelling down it, or on a high ropes obstacle course. During these activities, parent-child duos will be pushed to step outside their comfort zones to communicate and trust one another. With a focus on safety, this course activity starts with the basics, such as working with ropes and learning to tie knots. These uniquely structured activities provide opportunities not only for self-reliance, but also for communication and collaboration as participants confront and work through their fears.
Course Stories
The aspect of Outward Bound, called duo, is one of the most important personal events on the trip. For 24 uninterrupted hours, my teenage son and I talked about life, relationships, sports, anything that came to our minds. The duo brought each parent closer to their child than ever before. Years later, both Ryan and I still think back on that time.
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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.