OBCA will retain a $150 non-refundable application fee.

OBCA will retain the $500 deposit.

OBCA will retain the $500 deposit plus 50% remaining tuition.

OBCA will retain full tuition.

OBCA will retain full tuition.

Our goal is for every student to have a successful course. By sharing your full history of physical, psychological and behavioral conditions with us in the screening process, you enable us to help you find the course that will provide you with the highest chance for success. Failure to provide accurate and complete information could compromise your or other participants’ safety as well as course quality. Any undisclosed conditions that result in early departure from course are not eligible for a refund, and may result in additional fees up to $1000 to cover costs incurred during removal from the field.

• An Outward Bound course is meant as a place to stretch oneself, break free of preconceived ideas, and discover new strengths and talents. We have found that when participants have exclusive relationships on course (especially with an existing friend or relative) it can negatively affect both the course culture and the individuals’ growth.
• Each applicant is regarded as an individual applicant, so if one person withdraws or is medically screened off of the course, the other applicant is expected to attend. There are no revisions to our cancellation and refund policies for a friend/relative situation.
• An Outward Bound course is about both individual and group processes. We ask all participants to be open to building positive relationships with all team members. If any relationship (including one with a friend or family member) becomes exclusive and negatively impacts the crew experience, your instructors will create a plan with you to be more inclusive.

On occasion, relocating or cancelling a course is the only way we can maintain our high safety standards. When complications such as inclement weather, environmental disaster or similar uncontrollable interruptions occur, we have the following policies:

In all cases, airfare and other travel costs will not be reimbursed by OBCA. If you have purchased travel insurance through a third party, please complete a claim to potentially recover travel costs. OBCA can assist with necessary documentation upon request.

Courses relocated to another course area: Programming will continue and no refunds or credits will be issued.

Courses cancelled, which have not started: Full course refund including fees (if not able to be transferred to future course).

Courses cancelled, that have started: OBCA will retain a $150 application fee and a $150 transportation fee. Applicants will receive prorated credit as follows.

• < 25% Course Completed: Full tuition credit
• 25-75% Course Completed: Prorated tuition credit
• 75-100% Course Completed: No tuition credit

60+ days prior to course start:

• ONE complimentary transfer to another course
• $100 transfer fee for subsequent transfers

31-59 days prior to course start:

• Forfeit 50% of your paid tuition and fees, apply the remainder to your new course

< 30 days before course start:

• Transfers within 30 days of course start will forfeit payment of full tuition and fees

You may also want to consider insurance for the cost of Emergency Evacuation. Health insurance often does not cover the cost of emergency evacuation by air or other means, and these costs can be very expensive. Outward Bound California will not be financially responsible for these costs in the event your student requires evacuation.

The Academic Explorer Program offered through InsureMyTrip above does not offer coverage for emergency evacuation. You will need to purchase that coverage from a different insurance provider. As a courtesy, here is a list of possible options:

Travel Agent: Tina Skelton – Twist Travel
Phone: 206-512-4977
Email: [email protected]

Insurance Provider: World Nomads

Outward Bound makes no representations or warranties about these insurance options or how they handle claims.

Airfare, related costs, and non-refundable payments are expensive. Insurance to protect your trip and course is not required, but it is strongly recommended. If you choose not to purchase insurance and either cancel or leave your course early, you will be held to the terms of the Cancellation Policy (above).

Outward Bound offers an option for insuring these costs from the third-party provider InsureMyTrip through its Academic Explorer Program (linked here). This program has coverage options that include your travel costs and the non-refundable tuition costs. Click the link to that program’s insurance coverage options. Alternatively, you may choose to purchase trip related insurance through a different insurance provider. In either case, the amount and type of coverage you choose is your responsibility and must be discussed directly with the provider.

We offer scholarship options and flexible payment plans to make our courses accessible to more applicants. Please ask your Course Advisor for more information. If you met all due dates and do not receive sufficient funds to attend course, OBCA will refund your full deposit.

Tuition and Fees Payments

The $150 deposit you paid upon enrollment is a non-refundable application fee. After review of your application and financial need statement, any balance due of tuition and fees is due 90 days prior to course start regardless of your application status. Late materials and past-due payment may be considered a cancellation and you will forfeit both your space on course and your deposit.

Payment Plans

We can offer payment plans to make the course more accessible to more applicants. Please ask your course advisor for more information.

Cancellations

If you cancel:

• More than 75 days from the course start date: OBCA will retain the $150 non-refundable application fee
• 74-45 days from the course start date: OBCA will retain the $150 non-refundable application fee plus 50% of remaining tuition
• Fewer than 44 days from the course start date: OBCA will retain full tuition
• Early departure from course: OBCA will retain full tuition (see insurance options below)

*In the event you are not cleared to participate on the course, Outward Bound California will refund paid tuition and fees with the exception of the $150 non-refundable application fee.

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you research travel insurance options (see options here) and purchase one that will protect your investment in this course.

Commitment Fee:

Outward Bound California requests a $50 non-refundable* Commitment Fee at time of application. If this fee is a financial barrier, please contact our Customer Success Team to request a Commitment Fee Waiver. The waiver process includes submitting a Statement of Commitment confirming your intent to follow through with this program.

*The $50 Commitment Fee is refundable only under the following conditions:

• If you apply as Standby or Waitlist and a position does not become available.
• Outward Bound California cancels your course.

Cancellation Policy:

Outward Bound California’s veterans programs are fully funded by several generous donors. Due to the expense of program planning, staffing, and provisioning of crews, we cannot recover expenses in the event of short-notice cancellations. If you are cleared for course and then cancel within 30 days of course start, you will be charged a $250 cancellation fee. In addition, if travel has been arranged for you and is not refundable, Outward Bound California will charge you for the purchased ticket. Exception: If you are active duty and receive orders to deploy that conflict with the course, and submit documentation, we will not charge the cancellation fee or the cost of your ticket. (More details on this policy can be found in your Participant Profile.)

Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist spots become available. A $500 deposit is required. The deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee. The remaining $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application prior to receiving an open spot, or if an open spot does not become available. 

If an open spot becomes available, the applicant will be applied to the open spot and held to the terms of the Application and Cancellation Policies above, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date. 

Waitlist applicants are required to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open spot. Spots may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications.