Outward Bound Hosts OEF/OIF Vets
Wilderness Program in High Demand
Outward Bound, an international non-profit outdoor education program, is offering fully funded
outdoor adventure excursions to all OEF/OIF veterans. Regardless of your military status (active,
inactive, discharged, retired) - you're eligible to attend as long as you deployed in support of
OEF/OIF combat operations while in the military. These five-day excursions offer adventure
activities such as backpacking, rock climbing, canyoneering, canoeing, and dog sledding in
beautiful wilderness areas in Maine, Texas, Colorado, California, and Minnesota.
All expedition costs for lodging, equipment, food, and instruction are completely funded by a
multi-million dollar Sierra Club grant, including the participants' round-trip transportation
between home and the wilderness site. The excursion is offered at no cost to the participant.
On July 8, 2008, Outward Bound began accepting applications from vets for the expeditions and
the first round of courses were completely filled by July 14. By July 21, Outward Bound had to post
that they were unable to accept any more applications for the round one courses. Joe Frisk, a
retired Judge Advocate, is in charge of the outreach program. He was thrilled by the positive
response. Says Mr. Frisk, "I just think it is a tremendous program. It's amazing what the
wilderness can do for veterans."
The excursions offer veterans a chance to decompress away from the combat zone. Veterans
participate with others who understand the combat experience and the difficulty of returning to
civilian life. Veterans can sign up on their own or members of a unit can sign up as a group. In
July, Brittany McKee, national military representative of the Sierra Club, told the Ft. Belvoir
Eagle that, "Outward Bound has the track record, resources and commitment of providing first-rate
wilderness adventures that are rewarding on many levels. They understand the healing power of
nature and we believe veterans who experience these courses will truly benefit."
Veterans who have taken the courses reflect on the restorative powers of the wilderness and
the new confidence they have in their ability to succeed. Says one participant, "I appreciate your
funding this course because it helps me to revive the basic values of life and freedom that gets
lost in the PTSD 'fog of war'." Many turn their new strength to helping build their communities and
their families.
The progressive German educator, Kurt Hahn, and Sir Lawrence Holt, a British shipping magnate
to provide young sailors with survival skills for the sea, founded Outward Bound in 1914. Later,
Josh Miner, a student of Hahn, brought the program that used experiential learning to the United
States. The mission of the organization is to inspire character development and self-discovery
through adventure and challenge.
The first round of classes included dog sledding, backpacking, canoeing and rock climbing.
These are filled but future course schedules will be available on the Outward Bound website at
www.outwardboundwilderness.org/veterans.html
later in the fall. To sign up for one of the prescheduled courses, please contact Doug Hayward at
1-866-669-2362, ext. 8387, or simply e-mail him at
obvets@outwardbound.org.
