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Young Adults

Boundary Waters – Pathfinder – Dog Sled & Cross Country Ski

This extraordinary learning adventure is designed to help you build self-awareness, set goals, make decisions, and practice perseverance. This is your moment to gain leadership skills, define your values, and—most importantly—discover what you are capable of.

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Boundary Waters, MN

CB20 Course Overview

About This Course

Activity

  • The image shows a stylized, possibly hand-drawn, representation of a pair of skis crossed in an 'X' shape, with a single ski pole standing vertically to the right. The skis and pole are depicted in blue against a solid black background. The style is simple and somewhat abstract, giving the impression of a logo or icon. Cross Country Skiing
  • The image shows a blue, stylized drawing of a dog against a black background. The dog is in a standing position, depicted with simple lines that outline its body, head, and tail. The style is reminiscent of a sketch or an icon, with a minimalist approach to detail. The dog's posture is alert, with its tail slightly raised, suggesting a sense of watchfulness or readiness. Dog Sledding
  • The image shows a stylized, blue-outlined graphic against a black background. Two hands are cupped together, as if holding or presenting something delicate. Above the hands, there are three leaf-like shapes, suggesting a plant or nature. The overall impression is one of care, growth, or environmental stewardship. The simplicity of the design and the use of a single color give it a clean and modern look. Service Projects
  • The image shows a blue line drawing of a tent, possibly indicating a campsite. The tent is surrounded by stylized trees, suggesting an outdoor or wilderness setting. The drawing is set against a black background, which makes the blue lines stand out. The style is simple and illustrative, resembling a logo or icon. Winter Camping

Setting & Location

  • The image shows a simple, hand-drawn style illustration of three evergreen trees, possibly pine or fir trees. They are depicted in a solid blue color against a white background. The trees are stylized with jagged edges to represent the needles and branches, giving them a whimsical and slightly abstract appearance. The trunks are simple vertical lines. Forest
  • The image shows a blue silhouette of a landscape against a black background. The landscape includes trees, mountains, and water, possibly a lake or river. The style is simple and graphic, resembling a logo or emblem. The scene evokes a sense of nature and tranquility, with the dark background emphasizing the blue elements of the natural landscape. Lake
  • airplane Course Start Location: Duluth, MN
  • airplane Course End Location: Duluth, MN

Students Can Earn

  • College Credit

Session Details

1 session are available for this course

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What You'll Learn

Welcome to Pathfinder; here’s your reset button. As in the field, so in life: challenge yourself to dream big, then identify your steps to get there and start moving. We’ll put the map in your hands. You chart your path.

What You'll Do

Come travel the frozen north country with a team of human and furry friends. Learn to survive and thrive in the winter wilderness. Sleep outside, ski, build fires, and take care of your crew. Explore new terrain– inside and out.

Where You'll Be

Blazing sunsets, borealis nights, bracing cold, warm embers, soul-filling silence. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a winter wonderland. With more water than land, snow and ice transform the BWCAW into a land of clarifying extremes– perfect for adventure.

Why It Matters

Sometimes you need to disrupt your routine to find your path to success. Discover your unique strengths while navigating new landscapes and new relationships. Communication skills and teamwork provide lessons that reach far beyond your Outward Bound course, and time away offers clarity for what you want to do next.

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Pathfinder Expeditions

What if this is where your path unfolds?

Educational Approach

A balanced experience.

This course balances adventure with time to reflect, skill building with setting goals for what’s ahead. You have so much potential; we’ll help you uncover it!

A new chapter.

We get it, launching into a new life stage can be exciting, confusing, fun, and a little scary at times. And we know you have a lot of options to help you navigate that; join us for the backcountry option: grab a map and compass and navigate stunning landscapes, new connections, and the awesome realization that there is more in you than you know.

An experience just for you.

Pathfinder expeditions meet you where you are to focus on increasing self-knowledge, strengthening decision-making skills and processes, and setting goals – all life skills to help you chart a path forward with passion and confidence.

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Sample Itinerary

Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.

Swipe on table below to view more.

30-Day Course

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Day 1 Course start, meet group, organize gear, and camp under the stars
Day 2-5 Intro to winter camping/cross-country ski training trip
Day 6-7 Dog sled intro, food, and gear packing
Day 8-20 Dog sled expedition and Solo in the Boundary Waters
Day 21-26 Independent travel: ski expedition in the Boundary Waters
Day 27-28 Arrive at base camp, sauna, gear clean. Service project: around the Outward Bound base camp or within the local community
Day 29 Family phone conference, course-end ceremonies
Day 30 Depart for the airport and travel home
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It takes extremes like sleeping under the stars next to a thermometer reading somewhere below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, watching snow blow across the Kawishiwi River after a long, hard day of travel, sitting around a stove in a canvas tent with a group of real, close friends, laughing and telling stories, and living simply in challenge and triumph, to learn some things about yourself, and without this experience, I would may have have never known them.

Alison

Voyageur Outward Bound School Alumni

It was being in a close-knit team that pushed me to discover inner strengths I didn’t know were there. I came to Outward Bound seeking physical challenges and tests of endurance, but I was challenged in ways beyond simply braving the cold, sometimes 40 degrees below zero cold.

Learning how to not just survive but thrive in subzero weather was its own reward. My perspective has been broadened and my life has been irrevocably changed by these six people.

Peter

Pathfinder Alum

This course has given more to me than I ever thought I’d get out of an outdoor expedition.

My Outward Bound experience was nothing short of utterly life-changing! I developed a keen self-awareness and a worldly view I never thought I’d be fortunate enough to have. My previously lackluster set of morals and beliefs has been solidified into something I am truly proud to call my own, and my ability to communicate my thoughts and feelings is remarkable.

Mac

Voyageur Outward Bound School Alum

CB17 FAQs

FAQs

Is prior experience necessary?

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No prior experience is necessary to participate on an Outward Bound expedition! Our talented instructing staff will start the course by going over the basic skills needed for backcountry travel. All we ask is that students come prepared for and open to new experiences. We’ll handle the rest!

How can I be physically prepared to attend the course?

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Students do not need to be in peak physical condition to complete the course successfully. However, it’s always a good idea to physically prepare for the course ahead of time to increase comfort, especially at the start of your journey. Check out how to physically prepare for course through our Preparing for Course page.

How will I know what to bring?

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Outward Bound will provide the activity-specific and camping equipment for the course, including tents, tarps, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and cookware etc. You will receive a packing list of items to bring, consisting mainly of clothing*, footwear, personal items, and toiletries, after applying. If you’d like to see a packing list for a specific expedition ahead of time, reach out to our Customer Success Team at 866-467-7651 or [email protected]. A Customer Success Specialist will be happy to provide this information!

*Pro tip: Not everything on your pack list needs to be brand new! See what items you can thrift or find at a second-hand gear store

Where is the meeting location for my course?

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The meeting location is typically the nearest airport to the course area. Whether driving or flying, students will meet there on Day 1 by a designated time and get transported as a crew to their course start location. Students will be dropped off at the same location at the end of the course. If you’d like to see travel requirements for a specific expedition, please reach out to our Customer Success Team at 866-467-7651 or [email protected]. A Customer Success Specialist will be happy to provide this information!

CB31 Media Gallery

Life on Course

With a team of expert Instructors and lovable sled dogs, students develop skills in dog mushing, cross-country skiing, ice reading, winter camping, and sled dog care.

Students learn to navigate over frozen lakes and the overland portage trails between them. Group members take turns mushing the dogsleds and skiing throughout the course. Take part in a beautiful winter choreography as skiers serve as advanced “scouts”—navigating, checking for safe ice conditions, and tracking out a trail while mushers work with the dogs to help guide the dog sleds to follow. Once at camp, Instructors teach students techniques for harvesting water from beneath the ice, collecting firewood, cooking over an open fire, and setting up shelters and cozy winter sleeping systems. This epic adventure is sure to help you develop more confidence and tenacity!

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THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE.
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