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High School
Boundary Waters – Canoe & High Ropes
You belong in the Boundary Waters this summer. No experience? No worries—Outward Bound is for everybody. Leave the screens behind, reset your mind, and rediscover what it feels like to be fully present. Pack your sense of adventure and unplug as you explore the wilderness with a new crew of friends, powered by paddles, campfires, and real conversation.
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About This Course
Activity
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Canoeing -
Ropes Course
Setting & Location
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Forest -
Lake -
Course Start Location: Duluth, MN -
Course End Location: Duluth, MN
Students Can Earn
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College Credit
Session Details
5 sessions are available for this course
What You’ll Learn
Forge an epic adventure! On Outward Bound courses for high schoolers, you’ll make new friends and face exciting new challenges together while building communication and leadership skills that help your group soar to new heights!
What You'll Do
This isn’t camp—this is Outward Bound. Unplug and step into a real adventure where you build lasting friendships, explore what matters to you, and stretch your comfort zone. Trade scrolling for meaningful connection, wind whispering through the pines, and blue, sparkling waters. You won’t just learn how to paddle a canoe—you’ll learn how to lead a wilderness expedition, walking away with unforgettable memories, real‑world life skills, and bona fide bragging rights.
Where You'll Be
Water, water everywhere. Trade your phone for a paddle and explore crystal‑clear lakes, towering pines, ancient granite, and some of the darkest, starriest skies you’ll ever see. This is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—where there’s more water than land, and endless space to slow down, tune in, and rediscover what it feels like to simply be you.
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Why It Matters
High school is hard work – take a break and do something memorable! You’ll explore new places, make friends, and learn skills that will expand your belief in what’s possible. We are crew, not passengers which means you’ll share responsibility for your crew’s success through teamwork, communication, and leadership. Let’s go!
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Classic Courses for High School
What if you had space to feel more connected to yourself, to others, and to the challenging world around you?
One Week Courses
You and your crew will try adventurous things and practice new ways of being in a connected group. You’ll discover your unique contributions to the group as you take on challenges together, weighing healthy risks and considering other people’s perspectives to find success!
Us. But Better.
You and your crew will learn how to support each other’s success, boldly tackling challenges and persevering together through epic adventures! Our skilled instructors protect the time and space students need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Connection and Care
Focusing on building a connected group where each student’s unique personality is valued, you and your crew will practice the communication skills you need to feel safe, cared for, and pay forward that care for each other as you go adventuring!
Shared Success
You’ll start to learn how to be thoughtful about your own actions, your words, and the impact of both on other people. You will practice holding all of this at once while you just how magical facing challenges and succeeding as a team can be!
Life on Course
Make new friends, sleep under the stars, and learn outdoor adventure skills to feel empowered in navigating life’s ever-changing tides.
You’ll learn essential canoeing skills, map‑and‑compass navigation, and teamwork as you travel across lakes, rivers, and portage trails—all in a completely screen‑free setting. Without digital distractions, you’ll practice focused communication, build strong group relationships, and reflect on your relationship with technology. Guided by experienced Instructors, you’ll develop confidence, resilience, and personal goals around balance, attention, and connection—skills that support success at school, at home, and beyond.
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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.
Swipe on table below to view more.
8-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start (Get picked up from the airport, pack your gear, and enjoy a camp meal with your crew) |
| Day 2-3 | Canoe training expedition (introductory lessons in canoeing, portaging, camp-craft, cooking over a fire, and navigation; intentional discussion & reflection surrounding technology use). |
| Day 4 | Solo experience - personal reflection & goal setting |
| Day 5-6 | Continued canoeing expedition (increased group responsibility over navigation, travel and camp-craft. Group conversations about goal setting). |
| Day 7-8 | Return to base for gear clean, high ropes, and course end ceremonies. |
FAQs
Is prior experience necessary?
No prior experience is necessary to participate on an Outward Bound expedition! Our talented instructing staff will start the course by going over the basic skills needed for backcountry travel. All we ask is students come prepared for and open to new experiences. We’ll handle the rest!
How is this course different from other 8-day canoe courses?
This course aligns with our classic 8-day canoe & high ropes expeditions; all of our courses provide an opportunity to step free of phones! This course emphasizes unplugging & re-setting as a way to shed the constant pull of phones and technology. Through intentional reflection & conversation, students will be encouraged to share their experiences with social media & overall phone use & how it impacts them. Students will explore goal setting as a tool that can support setting intentional boundaries around tech, and replacing scrolling with that which brings a more active pursuit of connection, joy, & inspiration.
How can I be physically prepared to attend course?
Though students do not need to be in peak physical condition to successfully complete the course, it’s always a good idea to physically prepare for the course ahead of time to increase comfort, especially at the start of your journey.
How will I know what to bring?
Outward Bound will provide the activity-specific and camping equipment for course including tents, tarps, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and cookware, etc. You will receive a packing list of items to bring, consisting mainly of clothing*, footwear, personal items, and toiletries after applying. If you’d like to see a packing list for a specific expedition ahead of time, reach out to our Customer Success Team at 866-467-7651 or [email protected]. A Customer Success Specialist will be happy to provide this information!
*Pro tip: Not everything on your pack list needs to be brand new! See what items you can thrift or find at a second hand gear store
