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Middle School
Blue Ridge – Families – Backpack & Rock Climb
Strengthen family bonds and create lifelong memories in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
This course requires two applications–one for the child and one for the caretaker. A reduced deposit of $150 is required for both applications.
Scholarships
Open 
North Carolina
About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking -
Rock Climbing
Setting & Location
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Forest -
Mountains -
Course Start Location: Asheville, NC -
Course End Location: Asheville, NC
Session Details
2 sessions are available for this course
What You’ll Learn
On Classic Family expeditions, families experience the fun and connections made by facing unique challenges together. You’ll learn new things about yourselves and each other while navigating stunning landscapes. Try something new together and make memories that last well beyond course.
What You'll Do
Spend your days backpacking scenic trails, climbing rock faces, cooking over camp stoves, and strengthening family bonds through shared challenges and adventures.
Where You'll Be
Venture into the ancient and misty Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With your crew by your side, you’ll discover rushing rivers, hidden waterfalls, and forests brimming with wildlife in one of North America’s most biodiverse regions.
Why It Matters
When families adventure together, they learn and practice skills that strengthen their relationships. Teamwork and communication are cornerstones of an Outward Bound experience and on Classic Family expeditions, families experience the fun and connections made by facing unique challenges together.
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Courses for Families
What if you and your family grow closer through adventure?
Stronger Families Through Adventure
Families who adventure together learn skills that strengthen their relationships. Teamwork and communication are cornerstones of an Outward Bound experience.
Challenge. Growth. Confidence.
Our expert Instructors will facilitate right-sized challenges so each participant can explore the edges of their comfort zones. You’ll discover there’s more in you than you know!
Family Bonds That Last Beyond Course
You and your family will discover new ways to support each other as you learn to set up camp, navigate new terrain, and celebrate your successes together. These strengthening moments will carry into life after course.
Life on Course
Travel side-by-side with your loved one as you navigate the lush forest trails and rugged rock faces of Western North Carolina.
Spend meaningful time together as you spend your days backpacking and learning backcountry skills like navigation, campcraft, and Leave No Trace principles. Work as a team to set up camp, cook meals, and tackle challenges on the trail. Build communication skills and trust on climbing days, where you will climb up a rock face, rappel down it, or tackle a high ropes obstacle course. Along the way, you’ll share laughter, stories, and quiet moments in nature. By the end of course, you’ll return home with stronger connections, lasting memories, and deepened appreciation and support for one another.
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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.
4-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course start: learn backpacking and camping skills |
| Day 2 | Backpacking expedition: practice navigation skills and summit a peak |
| Day 3 | Rock climbing, belaying, and rappelling. Family reflection activity (duo) |
| Day 4 | Personal challenge event, course end ceremony, and transportation to airport |
My proudest accomplishment on course was having a 2 hour-long conversation with my daughter, during which we talked about some difficult topics. It left us both feeling more connected.
FAQs
Can a family of three or more enroll in this course?
NCOBS Family Courses are built for youth-adult pairs. We cannot accommodate individual enrollments or families of three or more.
Where does course start and end?
All Blue Ridge Mountains courses start and end at Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). A North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) representative will meet participants at baggage claim for check-in. Transportation is provided between Asheville Regional Airport and the course area at course start and end.
What are your essential eligibility criteria?
Our Essential Eligibility Criteria shares what participants must be able to do during course. Full disclosure of all health and medication information is required during the admissions process.
What is duo?
Near the end of every course, students will participate in an adapted version of the Outward Bound ‘Solo’ experience. Parent and child duos will separate from their crew to be alone together for a period of time, sometimes overnight. During this time, instructors assign each duo with their own individual campsite within a designated area. These areas are both secluded and within hearing distance of other group members and instructors for safety. Students will be provided all necessary gear, food, water, and skills to complete this part of the course. They will also know the location of their instructors’ campsite should they need to contact them for any reason. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this time and the Duo will last no longer than 24 hours. This experience is a great opportunity for families to relax, recharge, connect, and reflect on their course after long days of strenuous group activities.
