Our Story
Kurt Hahn, Founder
"I REGARD IT AS THE FOREMOST TASK OF EDUCATION TO INSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THESE QUALITIES: AN ENTERPRISING CURIOSITY, AN INDEFATIGABLE SPIRIT, TENACITY IN THE PURSUIT, READINESS FOR SENSIBLE SELF-DENIAL, AND ABOVE ALL, COMPASSION."
Our story
Outward Bound was founded during World War II in 1941 to provide young sailors with the experience, will and skills necessary to survive at sea.
Sir Lawrence Holt, British shipping magnate, believed that many deaths of young sailors during the war were preventable. Holt asked progressive German educator Kurt Hahn to design a program to give sailors the tools they needed. From this partnership, Outward Bound was established. The school was aptly named Outward Bound, which is the nautical term for a ship leaving the harbor on a sea journey.
Outward Bound has grown into what we know it as today with more than 1.5 million alumni in the United States and 38 schools worldwide, 11 of which are in the United States.
Outward Bound California Timeline
Outward Bound USA Timeline
Kurt Hahn believed education must encompass both the intellect and character of a person. In creating the first Outward Bound School, he expanded the concept of experiential learning to include real and powerful experiences to gain self-esteem, the discovery of innate abilities and a sense of responsibility toward others. The first courses were a month-long and included an expedition across three mountain ranges, rescue training and volunteer work in the local community.
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