Families tend to find Outward Bound’s Intercept Program when looking to redirect their child before risky behaviors lead to severe, negative life consequences. Some risky or problem behaviors parents often describe include: poor performance at school, lack of motivation, poor decision making, over/misuse of technology, conflict within the family, promiscuity, and/or experimentation with drugs and alcohol.

Being a teen/young adult today is not easy and most young people will probably struggle at some point as they transition to adulthood. So, at what point should you choose the Intercept program over a Classic Outward Bound course? There are three main ways that the Voyageur Outward Bound School assesses an applicant’s appropriateness for an Intercept course vs. a Classic course: the applicant’s motivation to participate, the family’s desired outcomes and the parent’s willingness/ability to be involved throughout the program along with their child.

1. The typical Intercept applicant is often, not always, less motivated to attend Outward Bound than the typical Classic course applicant. Parents tend to play a larger role in getting an Intercept student signed up for an Outward Bound course. Students who are not intrinsically motivated to participate will not be considered for a Classic course but may still be considered for an Intercept course.
2. The Intercept program will spend more time addressing each student’s specific problem behaviors and work with them to create short and long term goals to improve their relationships with their family and community at home. Intercept courses provide a higher level of individualized attention.
3. Intercept courses require parent involvement throughout the course in order to most effectively support the student’s growth, learning and successful transition home after the course. Parents of Intercept students are expected to complete a daily workbook during their child’s course and participate in a 3-day Family Seminar at the end of the course. Because of the additional Family Seminar, Intercept courses are longer than most Classic courses.

Outward Bound’s Intercept program is not a Wilderness Therapy program. Our Instructors are not licensed therapists or psychiatrists. An Outward Bound course is an adventure, an incredibly unique life-experience, and it should be fun. An Outward Bound Intercept course is not a punishment, it’s an opportunity, and while some teens/young adults do not understand this in the beginning, many alumni appreciate their courses for being “life-changing” in the end.

Intercept courses are designed for students who lack motivation, battle low self-esteem, become easily frustrated, have difficulty communicating, demonstrate poor decision making skills and have difficulty connecting their actions with consequences. Outward Bound Intercept courses provide a rite-of-passage type experience that guides students to better understand how their actions affect their relationships and equips them with tools to more gracefully navigate greater adulthood responsibilities.

Outward Bound’s Intercept courses are not appropriate for those with histories of chemical dependency, violent behaviors or some psychiatric conditions.

A 3-day Family Seminar is held at the end of every Intercept course. Participation of at least one parent or guardian is required. All parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to participate in the Seminar, in order to build an effective bridge between the Outward Bound experience and home. The family seminar is vital to the framework and conclusion of the Intercept program.

During the first day of the Family Seminar, parents participate in lectures, interactive lessons and discussions, and in-depth conversations with one of their child’s Outward Bound Instructors. The purpose of the first day is to equip parents with a better understanding of their child’s Outward Bound experience, where they struggled and thrived, what progress they made, and how they may struggle after transitioning home. By the end of the day, parents will have also learned the same communication and decision making lessons that the Instructors taught their child during the expedition, giving families a common vocabulary to use the following day. Students do not participate in the first day of the seminar; they will be engaged in service projects that day.

On the second day the parents meet for a session with each other facilitated by the Course Director and Intercept Associate Program Director. Afterwards the student group gives a short presentation about their experience. Individual family conferences are scheduled throughout the afternoon and each family connect to have a conversation facilitated by one of their Instructors. Families reconnect and make a plan for the student’s transition home.

The Family Seminar culminates with a final parent session on the morning of the third day. Students and families travel home together after the end of the seminar.

Intercept courses are designed to promote improved communication, increase students’ sense of self-efficacy, connect actions with consequences, and equip students with the tools that can help them navigate their lives with a greater sense of responsibility and self respect. Our goal is to create a clear and thoughtful transition plan during the Family Conference that helps each family member commit to a set of agreements that will guide actions and behaviors in the future.

However, we know that every individual, every family and every set of circumstances is unique. Challenges are not likely to magically dissipate after a few weeks in the wilderness. It takes hard work, and in families, this hard work means that every family member must commit to continuing to grow, learn and make changes for the better. It’s not always easy, and it’s not always possible without support.

Parents/guardians are more than welcome to travel with their child to the course start location. Some students are comfortable traveling on their own, and others can benefit from having a parent there. Parents can wait at the airport with their student until everyone arrives, at which point the group will leave to begin their expedition.

Outward Bound’s general payment terms and conditions for Intercept courses are based on our investment in planning, staffing and delivering our courses. These expenses are not recoverable, therefore penalties may apply.

Enrollment Processing Fee

The Outward Bound application process is extensive in order to best ensure that students are appropriate and prepared for their Outward Bound experience. In order to reserve a spot, either through the website or over the phone, applicants are required to complete a short Health History Questionnaire and pay a $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course. This deposit includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee. At this time, a Voyageur Outward Bound School Course Advisor will contact the applicant and provide additional documents, including a more extensive Application to be completed within a specified time frame, typically two weeks. The applicant may also be required to return supplementary documents completed by their doctor, therapist or other reference. Upon receipt of the completed application, a Course Advisor will call/email to schedule a phone interview if s/he has any questions (both parent/guardian and student interviews are mandatory for Intercept expedition applicants). The whole process typically takes 2-3 weeks but can take longer if all pieces of the application are not returned in a timely manner.

Tuition

The total cost includes all tuition and fees for the course. Tuition covers the cost of food, instructors, permits, gear and equipment while on course. Not included in this total cost are personal expenses such as clothing, insurance (health and travel), airfare and baggage fees. Full payment is due 90 days before the course start date. Be prepared to pay the balance due at this time even if you have yet to submit your completed enrollment packet, or have yet to be cleared to participate on the course. If your payment is not received by the deadline, this may be considered a cancellation and you will risk losing your spot on the course and your $150 non-refundable Enrollment Processing Fee.

Tuition & Fees Refund Policy

In the event your enrollment packet is not cleared for participation on the course, Outward Bound will refund your payment for the course with the exception of the $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee. The $150 enrollment processing fee can only be refunded if you formally decline a scholarship offer.

Cancellation Policy

Outward Bound cannot refund the cost of the course in the event that a student is unable to attend or complete the course due to an unexpected event, illness or injury. There are no penalties if a student cancels more than 90 days before the course-start date. With the exception of the $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee, Outward Bound will refund $350 of the Deposit fee and 100% of the Tuition fee payment.

A graduated penalty system applies to cancellations less than 90 days before the course start date.

For cancellations between:

• 89 to 75 days from the course start date, Outward Bound will retain the full $500 deposit and refund the remaining balance.
• 74 to 60 days from the course start date, Outward Bound will retain the $500 deposit and refund 75% of the remaining balance.
• 59 to 45 days from the course start date, Outward Bound will retain the $500 deposit and refund 50% of the remaining balance.
• Less than 44 days from the course start date, Outward Bound will not issue a refund.

• Tired of conflict with their child
• Running out of ideas
• Feel like they’ve tried “everything” and don’t know where else to go or what else to do
• Looking for a positive, supportive learning experience for their child and their family
• Want to give their child and themselves time and space to grow new coping and life skills
• Seeking “time tools” and “support” rather than an “intense” “more expensive” or “bootcamp” experience like wilderness therapy

• Experiencing low motivation, struggling with self-confidence, and
  self-esteem
• Feeling or exhibiting anger
• Struggling with rules and defiance
• Struggling with low self esteem and confidence
• Chronically poor school performance
• Risky behavior
• Having a hard time communicating
• Grappling with anxiety and/or depression
• Feeling apathetic about school or coming into conflict there
• Doing “fine” and then suddenly “going off the rails”
• Poor decisions with friends
• Substance experimentation or use– alcohol, marijuana, and
  vaping– but family and therapists don’t categorize as addiction
• Inconsistent interest or motivation in changing their behavior
• Not fully on board with participating in Intercept, but ideally agree
  they are struggling in some areas and could use a change

• Age 14-17 for 28-Day Course
• Age 17-21 for 50-Day Course
• Student must meet Essential Eligibility Criteria
• Candidate is willing to attend and participate, even if they have a poor attitude
• One parent/guardian is willing to attend the Family Seminar at the end of Intercept
• Eligibility determination is made during enrollment process

*Certain medical & mental health histories or behaviors require that a physician and/or therapist recommend student participation. It is rare for VOBS to accept a student with a significant history or behavior without this critical professional recommendation. 

Behavior/History MAY Include:

• Low motivation
• Anger issues
• Chronically poor school performance
• Defiance
• Risky behavior
• Low self-confidence

*While these may be typical teenage behaviors, for the Intercept candidate, they are happening to a degree or frequency that prevents teens from engaging in or succeeding in life.

Behavior/History MAY NOT Include:

• Chronic history of aggressive or violent behavior (students with a one-time occurrence of aggression triggered by very specific circumstances would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
• Recent suicide attempt
• Active, severe eating disorders
• Active, severe chemical or substance dependencies
• Persistent engagement with the juvenile justice system
• Current incarceration
• Recent in-patient treatment (including for substance dependency)
• Severe proximity-based anaphylactic allergies (eg: anaphylactic shock from peanuts nearby)
• Physician or therapist objection to participation (VOBS will not accept students if their healthcare provider advises against enrollment)
• Significant & repetitive pattern of run-away incidents