Course Information
WELCOME TO VOYAGEUR OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL (VOBS)!
Congratulations! You're going Outward Bound!
You will join a crew of peers from your organization for a year-long leadership adventure.
See program dates here, and then scroll down to sign up and find more information about activities, what to bring.
| Day in Series | Program Date |
|
1 |
October 3 |
| 2 | November 14 |
| 3 | November 21 |
| 4 | February 6 |
| 5 | March 20 |
| 6 | April 10 |
*Program activities include: team building, canoeing, wilderness skills, winter skills, cross country skiing, rock climbing. Activities may happen in a different order, or change due to weather. We'll email you to let you know what to expect the Friday before each program day. You can read more about the activities below!
Here's what alumni of our program have said about their experience:
"Learning life skills like trust and teamwork through our outdoor activities is something I will value forever!" - Maddie, 2024
"10/10 would do this program again" - Alexa, 2024
"Outward Bound has been super fun and it let us bond with people we don't usually talk to, and do fun things that we wouldn't usually do. We did lots of fun team building things and games and the instructors were soooo funny and nice. I literally learned and did so much in Outward Bound." - Indra, 2024
"At first I was iffy about it, but as the activities went on, I got more into it and it was a blast!" - Alex, 2024
VOBS / Insight Mounds View 2024-25
Course Number
TCINS25MV
Date
November 25, 2024 - November 25, 2024
Make sure you register using the link above or in the Course Paperwork Tab.
Then, utilize the blue tabs and drop down topics to learn more about what you'll be doing in Insight this year, what you should bring to each day, and how you'll get to and from your Insight days.
The Insight Series
Together, you will explore your strengths and build your skills with single-day adventures during the school year. Why? You are a leader, and we want to help you grow your leadership skills for life.
We’ll help you discover belonging, strength and purpose so you can:
- find connection
- build confidence
- pursue your hopes and dreams
Each Insight Day will get you out to a near wilderness or urban location for a special adventure in the outdoors. No experience necessary! Just bring your curiosity and sense of adventure.
VOBS Instructors are friendly, fun and knowledgeable. They will invite you to try new things, and practice leadership, in a safe learning space.
Outward Bound is a national leadership organization. We’ve been in America since 1963. There are 11 Outward Bound schools across the country. Your school is the Minnesota school-- Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS). Thousands of students go Outward Bound with VOBS every year.
VOBS isn’t a “school” in the traditional sense. Our classroom is nature. We teach leadership skills to people ages 12 and up. We specialize in working with young adults like you, to grow belonging, strength and purpose, so you can succeed at home, school and life. Outward Bound creates the conditions for learning and thriving.
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Outward Bound Leadership Learning & You
Learning > Leadership > Responsibility
Each Outward Bound student activates peer and personal leadership through challenge, adventure, teamwork, trust and vulnerability. At Outward Bound, you and your crew develop character and community together-- more resilient and compassionate people, for a more resilient and compassionate world.
Outward Bound students practice and grow key social-emotional skills across four "Domains of Thriving," leading to vital character outcomes for success at home, in school, career and life. Outward Bound promotes belonging, strength and purpose for developing leaders like you through fun hands-on skill development with friends-- in your community, and in the wilderness.
Domains of Thriving
Belonging, Courage, Physical Engagement & Reflection
Great outcomes for your leadership:
- Teamwork
- Self-Awareness
- Social Responsibility
- Assertiveness
- Perseverance
- Physical Confidence
- Self-Regulation
Discover more about Outward Bound:
Canoeing
Team Building Day
The Team Building Day will kick off your Outward Bound experience for the year. Our Instructors will meet you at a local park to get to know you and your classmates, facilitate some fun games and challenges for you, and help you get excited for the year ahead. This is your chance to get to know Outward Bound, your Instructors, and your teammates who will join you on Insight days for the rest of the school year. You won't want to miss this day of fun. If you aren't sure what to think of Outward Bound, this is the day to learn more and see what it's all about!
Outdoor or Indoor Rock Climbing
Today, you’ll climb in one of Minnesota’s most beautiful places-- Taylor’s Falls on the St Croix River. The rocks you climb are 3.5 billion years old-- some of the oldest on earth. You’ll climb in a sweet spot just above the T-Falls gorge, which is a gorgeous spot for scenery and wildlife. Today, you’ll bring ALL the skills to your climb-- confidence, compassion, voice and choice. Today is your day to lead with and for your crew. If the weather isn't great, you'll be climbing indoors at a facility in St. Paul or Minneapolis. Indoor climbing offers an array of challenges and fun, and is an equally great opportunity to build your skills and try something new!
Wilderness Skills
What if you were heading somewhere new and your phone stopped working? What would you do? How would you get where you need to go, and who or what would you enlist for help? During your Wilderness skills day you'll learn skills to help you get outside with confidence. The day will be full of twists and turns as you navigate wilderness scavenger hunts, learn to build fires, and how to set up tents. You’ll learn surprising things about yourself and others. Expect to be outside for up to 5 hours and dress for the weather-- don’t be cool if it’s cold-- think warmth over style. We’ll bring some extra layers along to keep you toasty. We’ll probably put on a few miles over the course of the day, so wear comfortable shoes. These skills will be useful in subsequent Insight days, and if you decide to come on an expedition with us in the future.
Winter skills and Snowshoeing
Minnesota = winter. And winter means snow here in MN. Learn to snowshoe and learn to love winter. This super traditional mode of travel has been used around the world for centuries. We’ll spend the day at a nearby park, learning to survive and thrive in winter. Think you hate winter? Think again. Learn the art of fire-building, and winter cooking. Think you can’t spend the whole day outside? You can! And, trust us, it WILL be fun. Your winter adventure marks the midpoint of your VOBS leadership journey. We’ll reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself and others so far, how your community has grown, and talk about your leadership opportunities and goals. Don’t worry, VOBS will help you dress for winter success and supply extra gear to keep you cozy and comfortable.
Skiing
You’ll have a second winter adventure to deepen our leadership learning. This Insight day introduces you to another favorite snowy skill-- skiing. “Nordic” or “cross country” skiing is something people have been doing in snowy climates since they could chop down trees and make skis. Did you know that some skis used to be made out of bone, or covered with fish skin or animal hide? Now you do! This is flat land skiing (not “downhill”), and the adventure is just right for challenge and discovery. Even if you’ve skied before, this time around you’re doing it with a crew of people you care about. Give yourself permission to slip, slide, fall and laugh-- it’s all going to happen, and it’s more than okay. This is a great bonding activity, and it is usually a crowd favorite for young leaders. As always, no experience necessary, and VOBS will provide all the gear you need. VOBS staff will support you, and keep you safe, but you choose your level of challenge. You’ll debrief the day, and look for leadership lessons to carry forward into your next adventure
Meet at school like you would for a normal school day. It's very important that you are on time!
Travel via school bus to your Insight Day location around the Twin Cities
Meet your instructors, make sure you have everything you need for the day, and then start your activity! Each activity is outlined in the schedule above.
Spend the morning working with your classmates to do something new and fun together. We will be outside the whole time.
Lunch
Spend the afternoon continuing to build your skills in the day's activity and gather for a final debrief and reflection on the day
Travel back to school via bus. You will arrive back to school before the end of the school day so you can take your normal transportation home or to after-school activities.
To participate in Outward Bound, each applicant must register using the link below. You only need to register ONCE for the year. If you can't make it to every Insight day, that is OK. We would love to have you for as many as you can participate in. If you are registering after the first Insight day is over, registrations are due a week before any following Insight day in the series.
Please also read our Essential Eligibility Criteria and our Behavior Guidelines and Expectations
If you have questions, please contact your admissions representative, Megan Sisson:
Email: megan.sisson@vobs.org
Phone number: (218) 491-6790
Check out the drop down list below for what to bring for an Insight Day.
Close-toed, close-heeled shoes are necessary for participation, and students should come prepared to be outdoors for every program day.
If you don't have items on this list, don't sweat it. VOBS can help you gear up for success. Bring what you have, and we'll supply you with the rest to make sure you are safe and comfortable for the days activities.
Insight Day Packing Lists
Please bring these things in a backpack or bag for each Insight day
General Packing List (Needed for Every Season):
- Lunch
- Active closed-toe shoes that can get dirty (Don't bring your brand new favorite shoes!)
- Layers appropriate for weather
- Water bottle
Fall Packing Recommendations:
- 1 hat
- Layered clothing for cool mornings, and warm afternoons
- Sweatshirt/Fleece, t-shirt, long pants
- Closed-toe active shoes
Winter Packing Recommendations:
- 1 hat
- Neck warmer or scarf
- Winter jacket
- Fleece jacket/pants
- Warm under layers (long underwear top and bottom)
- Warm socks
- Warm boots
- Mittens or gloves
Spring Packing Recommendations:
- Hat
- Layered clothing for cool mornings and warm afternoons
- Sweatshirt/fleece, t-shirt, long pants
- Closed-toe active shoes
Summer Packing Recommendations:
- Sunscreen
- Hat to shield from the sun
- Comfortable lightweight clothing that you can be active in
- T-shirt, shorts or long pants
- Closed-toe active shoes that can get wet
- Dry shoes to change into
- No flip-flops
Transportation to and from the event is provided by your school. Go to school like you would for a normal school day, meet your group, and then get picked up for your Insight Day.
At the end of the day, you will get back to school before the end of the school day so you can take your regular transport home or to after school activities.
It is very important that you arrive on time to school, and have all the things you need for the day (see the packing list tab if you are unsure). Your teammates are counting on you to be there with them for the day!
If a student’s family experiences an emergency and needs to inform the student while the program is running, the family should contact the On-Call number at 651-728-1143. Please know that communication with our staff and students in the field is not instantaneous. It may take several hours up to an entire day to establish two-way contact.
VOBS regularly evaluates its programming. Students may be asked to complete 1-2 surveys at the end of their course to assist us in this evaluation. These surveys may include:
1. We ask all participants to complete an anonymous survey at the end of programming. Participants are asked to answer the survey items and to indicate their race/ethnicity, gender, and birth year. Completing the survey is optional. No identifying information is included as part of the survey or in any reporting. We also ask participants to provide a reflection of their course and other feedback. This information is used by the organization for reporting on program outcomes and for program improvement purposes.
2. Outward Bound is partnering with The PEAR Institute (Partnerships in Education and Resilience) on a research project to promote our students’ positive social-emotional development. As part of this effort, Outward Bound staff may invite you/your child to complete a brief survey at the end of your/their Outward Bound course. The survey includes PEAR’s Holistic Student Assessment (HSA) plus several additional questions about the student’s social-emotional development and experience while on the course. You/your child’s responses will be kept confidential, results will be reported as a group, and names will never be used in any reports related to this research. Data from this survey will be used for research and educational work and only designated Outward Bound staff and Outward Bound’s research partners will have access to the results.
For more information, including the opportunity to opt-out of the survey, click on the following link/s to download the English Language, English-Spanish Language, or English-CapeVerdeCreole Language versions of the consent form opt-out and return a signed copy to your Course Advisor.
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