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High School
Boundary Waters – Dog Sled & Cross Country Ski
Team up with exuberant sled dogs on this exhilarating dogsledding and cross-country skiing expedition in the magical snowy forests and pristine frozen lakes of northern Minnesota.
Scholarships
Savings Plan
Open 
Boundary Waters, MN
About This Course
Activity
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Cross Country Skiing -
Dog Sledding -
Winter Camping
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
1 session are available for this course
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What You’ll Learn
On Outward Bound courses for older high-schoolers, students do exciting things with new friends, focusing on having an unforgettable adventure. You’ll refine skills like teamwork, leadership, and navigation that expand beyond your time on course. Try new things, remember what you’re made of, and return revitalized and ready for what’s next.
What You'll Do
Come travel the frozen north country with a team of human and furry friends. Learn to survive and thrive in the winter wilderness. Sleep outside, ski, build fires, and take care of your crew. Explore new terrain– inside, and out.
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Where You'll Be
Blazing sunsets, borealis nights, bracing cold, warm embers, soul-filling silence. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a winter wonderland. With more water than land, snow and ice transform the BWCAW into a land of clarifying extremes– perfect for adventure.
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Why It Matters
Outward Bound courses are a great way to disrupt your routine, connect with new people and activities, and gain clarity about who you are and what you want to do next. Navigating challenges with a supportive crew gives you space to explore your strengths, recognize your contributions, and celebrate your wins.
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Ready For Anything
What if you learned how to develop strong communities with peers while confidently forging your own sense of self?
One Week Courses for Ages 16-18
Try exciting things and practice new ways of being in a connected group. You and your crew will value each other’s unique gifts as you together and find success! This is a space to ask, “who am I?” and to learn the answer through an unforgettable adventure.
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 your need to both recognize your strengths and consider the strengths of others.
Prepare to Launch!
Whether you’re getting ready for a big life transition or you have another year or two before you turn the page into a new chapter, you will leave your Outward Bound course having practiced important life skills to help you be successful in both this adventure and the next!
Reflective Relationship Building
This is an opportunity for you and your crew to focus on being thoughtful about your actions, words, and the impact of each on other people. You’ll work together and on your own to practice new reflection skills that’ll help you make sense of the world and build dynamic relationships within your active crew, and beyond.
Life on Course
With a team of expert Instructors and lovable sled dogs, students develop skills in dog mushing, cross-country skiing, ice reading, winter camping, and sled dog care.
Students learn to navigate over frozen lakes and the overland portage trails between them. Group members take turns mushing the dogsleds and skiing throughout the course. Take part in a beautiful winter choreography as skiers serve as advanced “scouts”—navigating, checking for safe ice conditions, and tracking out a trail while mushers work with the dogs to help guide the dog sleds to follow. Once at camp, Instructors teach students techniques for harvesting water from beneath the ice, collecting firewood, cooking over an open fire, and setting up shelters and cozy winter sleeping systems. This epic adventure is sure to help you develop more confidence and tenacity!
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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, meet group, organize gear, camp under the stars. |
| Day 2-4 | Travel days: dog sled, ski, camp in the Boundary Waters |
| Day 5 | Solo |
| Day 6 | Travel day: dog sled, ski, camp in the Boundary Waters |
| Day 7 | Arrive at base camp, course end ceremonies |
| Day 8 | Depart for the airport and travel home. |
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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 that students come prepared for and open to new experiences. We’ll handle the rest!
How can I be physically prepared to attend the course?
Students do not need to be in peak physical condition to complete the course successfully. However, 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. Check out how to physically prepare for course through our Preparing for Course page.
How will I know what to bring?
Outward Bound will provide the activity-specific and camping equipment for the 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
