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Middle School

Colorado Rockies – Alpine Backpack

Hike among wildflowers and waterfalls, laugh with your crewmates, and fall in love with the mountains. At every step of the way, you’ll build your confidence and learn to be a brave leader.

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Colorado Rockies

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 blue rope against a black background. The rope is coiled and appears to be somewhat thick. The blue color of the rope stands out against the dark backdrop, making it the focal point of the image. The rope's texture and the way it's coiled add visual interest to the otherwise simple composition. Ropes Course

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 simple, cartoon-style drawing of two mountains. The mountains are depicted with triangular shapes and jagged peaks, suggesting a rugged terrain. Dashed lines adorn the sides of the mountains, possibly representing snow or rocky textures. The drawing is done in a single color, giving it a minimalist and somewhat childlike appearance. The overall impression is one of a basic, almost iconic representation of mountains. Mountains
  • airplane Course Start Location: Denver
  • airplane Course End Location: Denver

Session Details

6 sessions are available for this course

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What You'll Learn

On Outward Bound courses designed for middle schoolers (12-14), 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

Each day, you’ll hike through alpine forests, cook outdoors, and sleep under the stars. You’ll learn to work with your crew to navigate the trails , develop beginner backpacking skills, and chart your path.

Where You'll Be

Endless mountain views, lush pine forests, alpine lakes for swimming, and so many wildflowers!

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!

Two Week Courses for Middle School

Explore unique activities, forging skills to thrive! Discover your voice and learn there’s more in you than you know. You’ll have time to try new ways of working as a team in a supportive environment. Collaborate in moments of harmony and productive struggle, you’ll ask big questions like: “Who am I?” and begin to uncover the answers.

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.

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Life on Course

Each day will be a chance to have fun and build confidence in the outdoors. You’ll learn to pack a backpack, hike on high mountain trails, and cook and camp as a crew. As you grow your new skills, you’ll take on more leadership to chart your daily path. Near the end of your expedition, you’ll get to take on a big challenge – like attempting to summit a mountain peak. Among adventure-filled days will be time for slowing down to connect with nature and your crewmates.

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CB39 Table Feature

Sample Itinerary

Climb mountains, laugh often, sleep under stars, repeat!

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.

Let's Go

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Course Start Start your journey by meeting your crew, repacking your gear, and getting familiar with the course area. Instructors will guide you through what to expect, what you will learn, and introduce skills to keep you comfortable in the backcountry.
Backpacking Learn the essentials of backcountry travel as you navigate through beautiful mountain landscapes and set up camp in new locations each night; learning essential skills in camp craft, navigation, and hiking as a group. You’ll take on "Leader of the Day" roles, helping guide your crew through each day’s goals.
Practicing Leadership and Teamwork As you and your crewmate hone your backpacking skills, you’ll take on more responsibility to chart your daily path. Each day, you’ll take on "Leader of the Day" roles, helping guide your crew through each day’s goals.
Solo & Final Challenge Embark on a personalized final group challenge to test your new skills in teamwork, leadership and outdoor adventure. You also might have the chance for a Solo experience, quiet time spent relaxing on your own, with Instructors nearby for support.
Course End Celebrate your accomplishments during a final pin ceremony. Share what you’ve learned and experienced before heading home with new skills, friendships, and memories.
CB27 Pull Quotes

It is really life changing…I have summitted, camped, and walked many miles with 30 pounds on my back and now I can achieve anything.

COBS Alum

I thought I was not going to be able to do anything, from cooking dinner to carrying the backpack. However, as I did the course, I realized I can do much more than I thought…This course gave me many skills and boost of self-confidence.

COBS Alum

An amazing course with fun at every turn.

COBS Alum

CB17 FAQs

FAQs

What kind of food will I eat?

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Every day you’ll be eating something different and meals will always be full of the carbs and nutrients needed to fuel long days of adventuring. Think oatmeal with dried fruit for breakfast, salami and hummus tortillas for lunch, chili for dinner, and lots of snacks along the way! If you have questions about dietary accommodations, reach out to our customer success team.

Will I have my phone on course?

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This course is a totally phone-free adventure! Although some students are hesitant about this at first, many reflect on their experience as a well-needed break from screens and social media. No phones means more time to be present with nature and your crewmates too.

Do I need to have experience camping or backpacking?

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Nope! We’ll teach you everything you need to know, from packing to cooking and setting up your sleep shelter. You don’t need to be an all-star athlete to thrive on this course either. Having enthusiasm for trying new things and stepping outside your comfort zone are the most important things you can bring to course.

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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