<p>My youngest is a HS senior, admitted to college, very immature and doing things she shouldn’t be doing. I fear a one semester college career for her. I am thinking of making completion of a program like Outward Bound a prerequisite to being able to go away to college. Does anyone have personal experience with Outward Bound or similar programs? I am looking for a program that will boost maturity, self reliance and self esteem.</p>
<p>Look into Nols. The programs are great. They have both summer and semester experiences. </p>
<p>Where there be Dragons is also another great company.</p>
<p>Both Nols and Dragons are not for troubled kids but they will will boast maturity, self esteem and a give one a new outlook on life.</p>
<p>My S did outward bound in Maine where he was sailing for one week (including 24 hour watch) and finally did a solo on a small island for 24 hours. He built a lean to shelter to weather the rainy night and sang every song he could think of. He learned to be self sufficient and cook for a group with limited ingredients. he often compares water temp to that cold Atlantic Ocean he bathed in every day. Many of the students had been awarded the trip as a prize in a science competition so it was a motivated group. He remembers it fondly. He also traveled there by himself taking subway, bus, 2 planes and was picked up by OB staff.</p>
<p>Close friend of mine went to NOLS (a long time ago–she’s 52) as did her son (two years ago). My friend loved the program and still enjoys the outdoors/hiking/nature–she felt that the leadership opportunities at NOLS gave her skills that she’s used throughout her adult life. Her son went to the program that’s in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. He loved it–he’s now at Colorado College. </p>
<p>[NOLS</a> Wind River - Wind River Range Backpacking Course | NOLS](<a href=“http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/rockymtn/windriverwilderness.shtml]NOLS”>http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/rockymtn/windriverwilderness.shtml)</p>
<p>Another program that a number of kids I know have done for a gap year is City Year. It’s a great program that really gets kids to take responsibility–the kids who join serve full-time and run after-school and leadership programs for younger kids. All the kids I know who were in City Year were in Boston–but there are programs all over the US. The kids get a small stipend.</p>
<p>[City</a> Year: give a year. change the world.](<a href=“http://www.cityyear.org/home-WhatWeDo.aspx]City”>http://www.cityyear.org/home-WhatWeDo.aspx)
This is an article about the program.
<a href=“Bridging the Gap Between High School and College, at a Price - The New York Times”>Bridging the Gap Between High School and College, at a Price - The New York Times;
<p>As the parent of someone who has been the counselor for experiences like Outward Bound, I second that it isn’t really for kids with behavior problems and the counselors aren’t necessarily prepared to deal with them.
( I’m responding to anyone who may be reading this, not OP)</p>
<p>Both my kids took a gap year, and I am an advocate for everyone to do so. 
I would work with her to find a plan that will work for her.
Whether it be working two jobs for five months like my youngest, so she could spend almost the same amount of time on a volunteer vacation in India & the UK, or a CityYear, like her older sister, your daughter can find something that feels right.</p>
<p>Yesterday I read some blogs and reviews of some of the programs…I don’t know that I’m ready to send D to a really harsh environment. There don’t seem to be many “women only” groups…quite a bit of the very negative things I’ve read involve young women having to carry packs as heavy as the guys, being the only female in the group, etc. Maybe a service learning environment would be better (than the wilderness) for her.</p>
<p>The Appalachian Mountain Club offers programs for teens and young adults. I don’t have personal experience with these programs, however, other AMC programs I’ve participated in are first class. </p>
<p>[Teen</a> Outdoor Adventures - Appalachian Mountain Club](<a href=“http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/teens/index.cfm]Teen”>http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/teens/index.cfm)</p>
<p>Missypie- my kids have done both Nols and Dragons. I would not discount them as being rough. I would say that both programs provided my children with life changing experiences. They were worth every penny. This is not to say that my children still didn’t make mistakes along the way but they are better people because of their experiences.
In our case they both did summer month long trips. The Nols trip was the Wind River trip. Though his trip was not advertised as single sex it was all male. At first he was disappointed but in the end felt that was not an issue.
With both Nols and Dragons I would just pick up the phone and call about your concerns. I think even a 30 day Nols trip prior to college can provide great benefits.
Edit adding- one of my kids is involved with a student run horse barn. They are 100% female. These young women are amazing. They do all the heavy lifting. Move heavy jumps and drive huge horse trailers. It is a wonderful example of what the female body is capable of doing when no males are around.</p>
<p>We are big fans of Rustic Pathways programs. Very immersed in local cultures, with local as well as US leaders, a very responsible and caring group of folks. My D has done programs with them for 4 years.</p>
<p>For the cost of travel (plus some basic gear if you don’t already have it) the Student Conservation Association provides high school students the chance to volunteer at national parks, recreation & historical sites nationwide. </p>
<p>My kids have had multiple 4-5 week assignments from Acadia to Denali, and are looking forward to more. They live in tents/leantos, share campsite chores/cooking with a small crew (6-8) of students from all over the country, and get chances to explore when the work’s done. A shower once/week is typical. The work for my kids has been mostly trail work, both new trail building and maintenance of existing - grading, installing drainage, steps, boardwalk and new bridges. They have had to hike 2+miles one-way, every day, with gear and tools, to the worksite. It’s manual labor, and it can be dirty, but it’s rewarding to see the result of their effort. To reduce your out-of-pocket costs, you can specify that you are only willing to work in certain region(s), (airfare to Denali was not cheap; but we were able to drive my son to Acadia), although you might reduce your chances for an assignment.</p>
<p>bookmark, great thread</p>
<p>My D did a 21-day Outward Bound course in Maine last summer and she says it changed her life. I can see that it did. She came back with abundant motivation and self-confidence. Similarly, my H did one his senior year. He was struggling VERY hard and he also says it was life-changing.</p>
<p>In both cases, though, they wanted to do it. They had accepted they needed to change something in their lives and so were motivated. While I HIGHLY recommend Outward Bound, I’m not sure how successful it would be if the student was resentful of being there…</p>
<p>I agree with staceynell’s post - I doubt that either NOLS or Outward Bound (the only two I’m familiar with) would be appropriate for someone who didn’t want to be there.</p>
<p>As for girls being “forced” to carry as much as boys . . . if they’re planning to eat, have a change of clothes, and have some kind of shelter at night, who do you think should carry their stuff for them??? That having been said, in my experience with Outward Bound, the stronger kids are usually more than willing to pitch in to help the weaker kids, regardless of gender, so long as the weaker kids are actually trying to do the best they can.</p>
<p>Any boot recommendations?
My D is going backpacking, and three days by herself.</p>
<p>RE: boots. Outward Bound sends a very specific and detailed package with boot recommendations. let me know (PM) if you’d like me to forward it to you. We found it very helpful since the selection out there is so daunting!</p>