Outward Bound California is part of a long tradition of experiential education rooted in challenge and reflection. From the beginning, our work has been guided by the belief that meaningful challenge outdoors builds confidence, and a deeper sense of responsibility to self and others.
From remote wilderness to urban green spaces, Outward Bound California’s work is shaped by the idea that there is more in us than we know.
Our programs offer different options with varying levels of challenge—students can participate at the Challenge Course, close to home, in a day program in an intact group they already know, like their school or an organization. Another option is an expedition with that same type of group, overnight for 3–7 days in the desert of mountains. A third option is a longer expedition where they don’t know others (not an intact group), lasting from 7–30 days.
Within each program, challenges build on one another, offering deeper opportunities for growth. Each of these experiences builds skills, confidence, and connection through shared challenge.
Today, more than 3,000 students participate in OBCA programs across California each year. Each course is grounded in the same core principles of experiential education.
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We serve nearly 4,000 students annually through all of our programs. We operate in some of the best urban and wild spaces in California.
Southern California (Joshua Tree)
High Sierra (Ansel Adams Wilderness, SEKI: Sequoia Kings Canyon & Courtright Reservoir)
San Francisco (John McLaren Park)
Opened in 2020 with San Francisco Rec & Parks, the Challenge Course in John McLaren Park offers experiential learning in an urban green space. The course serves schools, nonprofits, and organizations looking to strengthen communication and collaboration, and is also open to the general public through a free monthly community day.
Each year, thousands of participants take part in challenge-based experiences that invite problem-solving, shared leadership, and reflection within a supportive group setting.
Outward Bound California’s connection to the desert spans more than four decades. Programming in the Joshua Tree area began in the early 1980s, when the region served as a base for desert courses and as a launching point for courses in the Sierra Nevada.
The high desert offers a distinctly different classroom, with twisted, spiky yucca trees and massive, stacked boulder formations. Students sleep under stars clearer than they’ve ever seen—and at times, witness solar phenomena like eclipses.
In 2024, Outward Bound California purchased a property in Joshua Tree, securing a permanent basecamp to support future desert courses and expand our programs.
Our High Sierra courses take place in some of California’s most stunning wilderness areas, including the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and the Courtright Reservoir area.
Crews backpack and rock climb near granite domes, dip into clear alpine lakes, and hike through forests of pine and fir, sleeping under the stars as they move through these places.
Our Midpines basecamp, in the Sierra foothills, serves as a home for staff as summer courses operate throughout the region.
From the beginning, students have described the “magic” of their Outward Bound experience—building strong relationships, gaining confidence, and tapping into empathy. Decades of research support what we see in the field: social and emotional skill development is essential for long-term success, and it’s at the core of every Outward Bound course.
Student growth is measured through the Outward Bound Outcomes Survey (OBOS), completed by participants ages 12–23 at the end of their course. OBOS tracks four key domains—Belonging, Courage, Physical Engagement, and Reflection. Across both one-day and overnight programs, students report statistically significant positive growth in all twelve social and emotional indicators, including Assertiveness, Perseverance, Teamwork, Emotion Control, Empathy, and Self-Awareness.
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Outward Bound California was founded on the belief that all young people deserve access to high-quality outdoor education — regardless of income, background, or zip code. We are committed to building an inclusive culture where students and staff alike feel seen, supported, and at home in the outdoors.
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