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Middle School

Potomac River to Dolly Sods - Canoe & Backpack

You’ll camp, paddle, and explore some of the East Coast’s most historically and ecologically significant areas on this 12-day backpacking and canoeing course.

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Maryland/West Virginia

A group of backpackers hikes along a narrow trail through a grassy meadow. The trail cuts through dense green vegetation, leading towards a line of trees and hills in the distance. The sky is partly cloudy, with patches of blue visible. The backpackers are carrying large packs, suggesting a multi-day trip. The overall scene conveys a sense of adventure and immersion in nature.
The image shows a sunny day on a lake with several canoes. In the foreground, a person is sitting in a canoe, facing away from the viewer, with a paddle resting in the boat. Further out, two canoes are filled with people paddling across the water. The background features lush green trees lining the shore under a bright, partly cloudy sky.
CB20 Course Overview

About This Course

Activity

  • The image shows a blue outline of a hiking backpack against a black background. The backpack is fully packed, with a sleeping bag or similar item strapped to the top. It has multiple compartments and straps, suggesting it's designed for carrying a substantial amount of gear. The style is simple and graphic, resembling an icon or a line drawing. Backpacking
  • The image shows a simple, stylized drawing of a canoe in blue against a black background. The canoe is depicted with curved lines outlining its shape, and there are horizontal lines inside the canoe to suggest its structure or design. The style is reminiscent of a basic illustration or icon, with a focus on clear, recognizable shapes rather than detailed realism. Canoeing

Setting & Location

  • The image shows a simple, hand-drawn style illustration of three evergreen trees, possibly pine or fir trees. They are depicted in a solid blue color against a white background. The trees are stylized with jagged edges to represent the needles and branches, giving them a whimsical and slightly abstract appearance. The trunks are simple vertical lines. Forest
  • The image shows a stylized, pixelated scene of nature. Two tall, slender pine trees frame a view of distant mountains. A body of water, possibly a lake or river, is visible in the foreground, reflecting the scenery. The color palette is limited, with a dominant dark blue against a black background, giving the image a retro, digital aesthetic. River
  • airplane Course Start Location: Baltimore
  • airplane Course End Location: Baltimore

Session Details

1 session are available for this course

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The image shows a person wading through a shallow stream or river. The focus is on their lower legs and feet, which are clad in hiking boots and dark socks. The water is clear and reflects the surrounding environment, with rocks visible both in and out of the water. The person's skin is dark, and their legs appear wet. The overall impression is one of outdoor activity and immersion in nature.

What You'll Learn

On Outward Bound courses designed for middle schoolers, you’ll do exciting things with new friends, build confidence, and discover you’re capable of more than you know! You’ll have fun, work on your willpower and crush right-sized challenges – together.

The image shows two young people paddling a green canoe on a river. The person in the front is wearing a red life jacket and holding an oar, while the person in the back is wearing a yellow life jacket and a hat. There are other canoes with people in the background, and the river is surrounded by green trees. The water is calm and reflects the sky and trees.

What You'll Do

You'll develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your peers as you paddle the winding waterways of the Potomac, carry, cook, and share meals with your crew, and hike through breathtaking natural landscapes.

The image shows a low-angle shot of a large, weathered bridge support standing in a river. Several canoes with people are paddling on the water. Lush green trees line the riverbank, and a cloudy sky fills the background. The bridge appears to be made of steel and has a railway track on top.

Where You'll Be

Travel a winding section of the Potomac River as it cuts through the rolling hills of West Virginia and Maryland. Move on to the 17,371 acre Dolly Sods Wilderness - home to marshy terrain and unparalleled natural beauty.

A group of seven hikers poses at a trail marker. The marker reads "MASON DIXON LINE MARYLAND / PENNSYLVANIA". The hikers are wearing backpacks and hiking gear. Some are making silly faces. The setting appears to be a wooded area. The ground is muddy.

Why It Matters

You belong here! Outward Bound is a unique place to try new things, make friends, and discover your strengths. Building community – and new skills – through adventure is what we’re all about. Find your crew here!

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CB11 Scrolling Bullets

Confidence Starts Here

What if you learned how to face obstacles head-on while feeling brave, included, and proud of who you are?

Educational Approach

Two Week Courses for Middle School

Explore unique activities, forging skills to thrive! Discover your voice and learn there’s more in you than you know. You’ll have time to try new ways of working as a team in a supportive environment. Collaborate in moments of harmony and productive struggle, you’ll ask big questions like: “Who am I?” and begin to uncover the answers.

Bravery Meets Belonging

Uncover your own bravery with support from your crew. Meet challenges designed to activate your strengths, develop persistence, and show you what you’re made of—even when things get tough.

Skills for Life

You’ll practice key skills like communication, taking initiative, and problem-solving with purpose. You’ll be given space to make choices – and take responsibility for them. Through trial and error, learn how to face obstacles head-on—growing more capable with every step.

Stronger Together

You won’t go it alone—crew is everything. You’ll explore common ground with your crew while also learning how to acknowledge each other’s uniqueness in a group where every voice matters.  You will learn how to face challenges as a supportive team, forging strong friendships.

CB31 Media Gallery

Life on Course

12 days of adventure await you on this adventure through multiple ecosystems and environments.

Learn backcountry expedition techniques, leadership skills and navigation as you move through the diverse ecosystems, high mountain ridges and waterfall-laden streams of the Dolly Sods Wilderness. Then head to the Potomac River, where you’ll work in pairs to learn the art of paddling, read a map and compass and navigate a variety of river features. After 12 exhilarating days, return home with a renewed belief in your abilities, an adventure story of a lifetime and bolstered teamwork and leadership skills.

The image shows three people preparing food outdoors, possibly while camping. One person is sitting on a small stool, seemingly cooking over a portable stove. Another person is cutting vegetables on a cutting board, while the third person is also preparing food. There are various food items and cooking utensils scattered around them on the ground. The setting appears to be a wooded area.
A man is in the water next to a canoe. He is wearing a hat and a life vest. He is smiling and waving. The canoe is partially submerged. The water is murky and there are trees in the background. The man seems to be enjoying himself despite the situation.
Two young men stand close to the camera, seemingly posing for a picture. The person on the left has red hair and is wearing a camouflage jacket. The person on the right is wearing a black jacket and a red bandana. They appear to be outdoors, possibly near a rocky, wet area with a stream or waterfall in the background. Other people can be seen further up the slope in the background.

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CB39 Table Feature

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.

12-Day Course

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Day 1 Course start, introductory lesson is backpacking, begin hiking
Day 2-4 Backpacking, introductory lessons in travel, navigation, camp craft
Day 5 Backpacking final challenge
Day 6 Resupply, solo
Day 7 Introductory lesson in canoeing and river dynamics, begin paddling
Day 8-9 Canoeing, lessons in advanced paddling technique and river rescues
Day 10 Canoeing final challenge
Day 11 Return to base, clean and de-issue gear, service project
Day 12 Graduation, depart from base camp
CB27 Pull Quotes

Even though I was physically, emotionally, and mentally challenged, I won’t ever regret my time here.

R.

CB17 FAQs

FAQs

What will be happening on the expedition?

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In addition to the physical activities of an outdoor overnight expedition, Outward Bound’s Educational Framework uses challenge and adventure to allow students to learn through experience. A supportive environment of peers and instructors make it easier to try new things, speak your mind, listen, and to be heard – all elements of today’s most successful leaders. We value and teach compassion, integrity, excellence in craft, inclusion, and diversity. Each student will return having practiced the skills of a leader and they will be more aware of their personal strengths and abilities

Where do students sleep?

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Students on expedition will not be in cabins or permanent buildings, but will sleep outdoors in tents or tent like structures. Sleep groups will be determined by students’ gender. Crews will be moving to multiple camping locations during the duration of their expedition.

Will students have their cellphones while on course?

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When students depart from our Baltimore basecamp, their phones will be left in a secure area on base and returned to them on the last day of the course.

Is it safe?

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Outward Bound courses take place outdoors and include activities that present risks that can be managed but not eliminated. Running our courses safely is central to our educational goals and our safety record is excellent. Our instructors not only identify and reduce risks but also teach students to assess and address hazards with preparation and care, rather than fear and avoidance. Students and their families participate in our safety systems by familiarizing students with the course description prior to the course and by filling out our application and medical forms completely. We regularly review our safety training systems with our peers and other industry experts and continually seek to create or adopt the most effective practices. Every course is equipped with the ability to get help in an emergency. For more information, visit our Safety & Risk Management page.

What should I do if there is an emergency?

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Please understand that you will not be able to speak with your child while they are on course. You will be provided with an emergency phone number for questions, concerns, or if there is a family emergency during the expedition. This phone is available strictly for true emergencies, and is monitored 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE. THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH OUT HERE.
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