Get your gear here! Outward Bound Core Values
"The aim of education is to impel young people into value forming experiences."
- Kurt Hahn, Founder
While Outward Bound programs have evolved from those conceived by Kurt Hahn over 60 years ago, the six core values are still central to each and every program. These are:
Adventure and Challenge
Challenge is an action that requires special effort. Adventure is an exciting and remarkable experience that involves uncertain outcomes and acceptable risks.
Inclusion and Diversity
Welcoming and respecting differences strengthens the richness of ideas and perspectives brought to bear on challenge and learning. The transformational experience of Outward Bound is more powerful when it takes place in the company of others as diverse as the society in which we live.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
Social and environmental responsibility instills in students a sense of integrity, which results in choices and actions that have a positive effect on society and the environment.
Learning Through Experience
Learning through experience is a lifelong process based on action and reflection. Experiences are intentionally designed, presented and reflected upon to instill values and promote skill mastery for people at all stages in their life-span.
Character Development
Character development means developing capacities of mind, body, and spirit to better understand one’s responsibilities to self, others, and the community. Key areas of development are:- self-knowledge
- craftsmanship
- tenacity
- physical fitness
- teamwork
- leadership
- the ability to go beyond self-imposed limitations
- acceptance of responsibilities
- and self-reliance
Compassion and Service
Compassion is a heartfelt, caring connection to each other and the world around us. Service is an active expression of valuing our common humanity and the natural world.