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Middle School

Water Gap – Backpack & Rock Climb

Challenge yourself on the Appalachian Trail by hiking, climbing, and leading your crew through a transformative backcountry adventure.

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Philadelphia

CB20 Course Overview

About This Course

Activity

  • The image shows a blue outline of a hiking backpack against a black background. The backpack is fully packed, with a sleeping bag or similar item strapped to the top. It has multiple compartments and straps, suggesting it's designed for carrying a substantial amount of gear. The style is simple and graphic, resembling an icon or a line drawing. Backpacking
  • The image shows a stylized, blue drawing of a foot and ankle, possibly representing a ballet dancer's foot in a pointe shoe. The foot is positioned vertically, with the toes pointing downwards. The drawing has a simple, almost cartoonish style, with thick lines outlining the shape of the foot and shoe. The background is black, which makes the blue drawing stand out. The image could be used to represent dance, movement, or elegance. Rock Climbing

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 stylized, pixelated scene of nature. Two tall, slender pine trees frame a view of distant mountains. A body of water, possibly a lake or river, is visible in the foreground, reflecting the scenery. The color palette is limited, with a dominant dark blue against a black background, giving the image a retro, digital aesthetic. River
  • airplane Course Start Location: Philadelphia (Discover Center)
  • airplane Course End Location: Philadelphia (Discover Center)

Session Details

1 session are available for this course

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What You'll Learn

On Outward Bound courses designed for middle schoolers, you’ll do exciting things with new friends, build confidence, and discover you’re capable of more than you know! You’ll have fun, work on your willpower and crush right-sized challenges – together.

What You'll Do

Backpack a rugged stretch of the Appalachian Trail and spend a day rock climbing natural formations. Learn to lead, cook, and navigate as you rotate roles with your crew and build outdoor living and teamwork skills on this expedition.

Where You'll Be

Traverse a section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This iconic route features rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and forested paths, offering a scenic and challenging backdrop for hiking and climbing.

Why It Matters

You belong here! Outward Bound is a unique place to try new things, make friends, and discover your strengths. Building community – and new skills – through adventure is what we’re all about. Find your crew here!

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CB11 Scrolling Bullets

Confidence Starts Here

What if you learned how to face obstacles head-on while feeling brave, included, and proud of who you are?

Educational Approach

One Week Courses for Middle School

Try exciting things and practice new ways of connecting with your group. You’ll take on challenges, weigh healthy risks and work together with your crew to find success! Are you ready for adventure? Let’s go!

Bravery Meets Belonging

Uncover your own bravery with support from your crew. Meet challenges designed to activate your strengths, develop persistence, and show you what you’re made of—even when things get tough.

Skills for Life

You’ll practice key skills like communication, taking initiative, and problem-solving with purpose. You’ll be given space to make choices – and take responsibility for them. Through trial and error, learn how to face obstacles head-on—growing more capable with every step.

Stronger Together

You won’t go it alone—crew is everything. You’ll explore common ground with your crew while also learning how to acknowledge each other’s uniqueness in a group where every voice matters.  You will learn how to face challenges as a supportive team, forging strong friendships.

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Life on Course

Hike, lead, and live outdoors as you backpack the Appalachian Trail, learning to navigate, climb, cook, and connect as a close-knit team.

Life on this expedition means carrying everything you need on your back and learning to live comfortably in the backcountry. You’ll hike a beautiful stretch of the Appalachian Trail with your crew, sharing responsibilities like navigating, cooking, and leading the day’s journey. One day will be spent rock climbing at a natural site along the trail. Nights are spent at remote campsites, surrounded by nature and new friends. You’ll return with stronger leadership skills and a deeper understanding of your own strength and potential.

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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.

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8-Day Course

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Day 1 Meet and pack your gear, transport to Michaux State Forest, camp at campsite
Day 2 Learn the basics of backpacking and backcountry travel, hike to camp 2.
Day 3 Begin to work on more advanced backpacking skills, hike to mountain camp 3.
Day 4 At this point, students will begin to run the expedition. Navigating, cooking, and making group decisions. Hike to campsite 4.
Day 5 Learn expert backpacking skills and begin final challenge.
Day 6 Solo and final challenge.
Day 7 Spend the day rock climbing and base camping.
Day 8 Wake up early, hike to your takeout point, and head back to Philadelphia. Clean the gear that you and your crew used during expedition, and participate in a large-group graduation.
CB27 Pull Quotes

Outward Bound was an amazing period of self-discovery that helped me improve as a person and realize my true capabilities and responsibilities in a group.

SD

CB17 FAQs

FAQs

What is an expedition?

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It is a multi-day outdoor, overnight experience. Each student will be part of a crew comprised of 8-12 participants and 2-3 professionally trained Outward Bound instructors. Our expeditions begin at our base in Philadelphia before traveling to our designated course areas. Each expedition will have a focused outdoor skill component(s) which include backpacking, rock climbing, or canoeing – all of which take place in wilderness areas located throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Participants will be sleeping outside at multiple campsites throughout their course, and will be setting up camp, preparing meals, and navigating by map and compass during the length of their expedition.

What should I expect on course?

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Participants should come prepared to work hard, have fun and learn new skills. Your time with us will be spent outdoors in the natural world, meeting challenges, practicing leadership, managing risks and working closely within a group. Along the way, you will be guided by your instructors and supported by the camaraderie of fellow participants.

What kind of food is provided?

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On course you will be eating nutritious and portable food 5 times per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks daily). Staples include grains, pasta, cheese, vegetables, fruit and nuts, selected to meet high-energy demands of the course. Typical meals include cereals and oats, burritos, macaroni and cheese, pasta and tuna or chicken sandwiches. The diet may differ from what you are accustomed to at home. To prepare, we suggest you cut down on soft drinks, coffee and junk food. We are able to accommodate any eating restrictions and allergy concerns with our backcountry menu.

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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