7 Things That I Will Learn From An Outward Bound Course

Take your outdoor experience from the wild into the classroom and adopt a growth mind-set. Once you have acquired a good knowledge of what growth mind-sets are, it can begin to form a central part of wrap-up and review sessions at the end of the task. For example, you have to take the initiative and choose your journey route during the course. You express doubt or anxiety (which these always happen) about the hiking route beforehand and then later achieve it --- reviewing the initial doubt helps you to realise you are capable of adopting a growth mind-set.

“I can neither sit on the dirty floor/field nor without having showers for over a day! I don’t want to wake up in a tent with my nostrils flaring and failing to locate fresh air and wonder why I smell so bad.” This sounds ridiculous to most of our instructors as most of the courses GET yourself really DIRTY! You will get used to the stinky smell when everyone around you smells like rotten eggs, after spending few days hiking through the mountains, and going without bathing ----a backpacking of life. Of course when we are far away from our plumbing-plentiful and shower-ready world, we can still try to stay clean without having a proper shower! There is always a way to get yourself freshen up, join our course and you will know more.

This is just one of the examples that you will learn to overcome your physical and emotional challenges in an Outward Bound course but these really help you to develop perseverance, resilience, and self-belief. So as well as gorge walking, camping out or water challenges, you are guided by your instructors to think hard and reflect on your own strengths and areas you need to work on and improve.

One of the best things to join Outward Bound courses is to forget the on-line lives for a week and switch on to the great outdoors as a perfect classroom or office, for adventure, learning, and fun! Kayaking and sailing is a very good facilitating tools to help you understand and “feel” the oceans. While you are enjoying the beauty of sea caves and landscapes on the sea, exploring and appreciating the ocean without interfering wildlife or removing rocks and coral, you are also noticing the importance of protecting the oceans. You do not want to paddle in water that is full of rubbish and you understand the pollution of oceans is really getting WORSE. After getting the water experience from the course, you will go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beaches clean-ups.

At some stages, you need to improve your talents and address the skills gaps facing in early employment. Besides the courses for students and local communities, we have unique and tailor made courses for the specific development needs of the cohort attending and the requirements of their employer. Your dedicated instructor will play a huge role throughout your journey, coaching you to success and sharing their skills, knowledge and expertise so that you know how to stand out of the crows in an ever competitive world.

Take on new experiences in an unknown and sometimes uncomfortable environment like rural areas in Sai Kung. We are helping you to strengthen your character and resilience. Well to start you will immediately immerse into the natural environment when you arrive, with a jump into a deep and freezing pond! From then on it will be non-stop action; rigging abseils to the top of cliffs, to rock climbing the heights of three story buildings, the challenges you face are by no means small.  

Another thing that you will really take away from the course is the increased level of empathy and trust amongst your group. This is particularly present during the Giant Ladder challenge, as you and your teammates have to depend on each other to help you reach the top and the team on the ground, to ensure you and your team are safe and secure. Through this challenge, it is really gratifying to know that you won’t be as cautious around each other now, as you know that you have faith in one and other and you can all support each other! It is thought that after an Outward Bound course, you will extend your compassion to regular life, always passing people in need but rather pausing to offer assistance.