<p>My D has two great opportunities for an outdoor adventure this summer. It isn’t a clear cut decision so I thought I would throw it out there for a variety of opinions.</p>
<p>Option 1 is the 2 week Outward Bound Youth Leadership Corp which is described as a “program that has been developed to cultivate budding leaders through the unique challenge of a 14-day wilderness expedition. Students learn the skills that are critical to success and often not learned in the classroom– leadership styles, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and decision making. The ideal YLC applicant is a 15-17 year old who shows natural leadership abilities.” The two weeks would be split between hiking and canoeing in a natural area a few hours away from us. And if you are selected for this program it’s free.</p>
<p>Option 2 is three weeks with the Student Conservation Association on a National Crew. Its materials say: As a member of a National Crew you can:
Spend 3 to 5 weeks in the field completing trail maintenance and site restoration projects in national, regional, state, or local parks
Develop collaboration and leadership skills while working with other high school students from across the country
Learn about local wildlife and help to preserve vital habitats
Practice Leave No Trace camping and learn practical outdoor skills
Take an outdoor adventure trip with your crew at the end of your program
Her placement is not in any of the grand, or even semi-grand national parks we imagined. The placement itself is pretty mundane but will still be outdoors, camping, roughing it, clearly more service oriented than the Outward Bound experience. This program is also free and her placement is within driving distance. </p>
<p>She can’t do both, the dates overlap. She has strong outdoors skills and loves, loves, loves to camp and hike so either will be right up her alley. She really can’t go wrong. If the SCA placement were elsewhere I think it would be slam dunk for SCA. But Outward Bound also offers a unique experience and the location is more beautiful. There are slight pros and cons for each and she may have her own set of opinions. But I thought others might have experiences or perspectives that will help.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I will say my son LOVED his SCA experience. It was not in a glamorous place, but this place is now very special to him as he takes great pride in the work he did and he said it was such a great experience it doesn’t matter where you are. My second child is now on the waitlist for SCA. You are fortunate to have a spot!</p>
<p>My older D did SCA and still talks about it, 8 years later. It was one of the highlights of her HS years. It is not intended to be glamorous but for a kid who loves outdoor activities it’s ideal. And it doesn’t have to be a grand place to be a special experience. D’s was right here in WA and not far from Seattle. She still loved every minute of it.</p>
<p>Thanks @SpaceCoastMom! I can see my D having that feeling of ownership too. I think the location will probably bother me more than it bothers D. Hmmm, sounds like something I need to work on! 
</p>
<p>And I definitely should say that I do feel incredibly lucky that she has these two great options to pursue one of her passions! And get out of my house and away from electronics for a few weeks. Ooops, did I say that outloud?</p>
<p>My daughter did a state YCC (youth conservation corps) in a state park last summer. While not always loving it (building fire pits in the rain with lots of digging and muscle work) she felt it was definitely worth it. She liked the service aspect of the experience. </p>
<p>Great choices!</p>
<p>Thanks @SlackerMomMD! Yea, I think that hard work is good for them. </p>
<p>DH has thrown in his vote for Outward Bound, both for the focus on personal growth which would be a really good thing for her right now, and the fact that we can have a family vacation if she does that shorter program. He has a point there! And I know of an amazing Outward Bound changed my life story here on CC.</p>
<p>D asked me which I preferred and I could honestly say they both would be great. Thanks for your thoughts!</p>
<p>Thanks @sseamom! (for some reason I missed your response earlier). Yea, re-reading my response I realize I sound pretty bratty, “Whadya mean she isn’t going to the Grand Tetons, Joshua Tree National Forest or the Everglades?” She definitely doesn’t mind roughing it and hard work so I know the program is right up her alley. And Outward Bound would be as well. Her prior outdoor/service experiences have been really important to her and I know this one will be too.</p>
<p>@LeftofPisa Both options sound fantastic! I did something similar to Outward Bound when I was in high school and it’s still one of the best experiences in my life. I wish I could get D interested in something like that. I think it would really expand her horizons. Her idea of “outdoorsy activities” is reading on the deck. </p>
<p>My D did a 3-week Outward Bound program in Maine last summer. Half sailing/half hiking. She absolutely feels it changed her life. She came back with an AMAZING new attitude, sense of accomplishment, belief in herself, and motivation. She really pushed herself. There was a several day “solo” with close self examination. Teamwork was critical for the rest, and leadership skills were emphasized as the students took turns leading the sailing/hiking each day. At the end of each week, after they’d learned the ropes, the teachers hung back and let the group (with student leader) make ALL the decisions for a 24-hour period. As a parent I can see what an enormous impact it had on her.</p>
<p>To this day, she uses skills learned on OB in her daily life, such as communication and conflict resolution techniques.</p>
<p>I am HIGHLY impressed and can’t recommend OB enough.</p>
<p>In addition, my H did a 2-week OB program out west when he was a young adult, and, similarly, describes it as life-changing.</p>
<p>@elliemom, she doesn’t get it from me! I too am a read on the deck kind of gal. My husband was outdoorsy when he was younger so maybe it comes from him but it is certainly something innate in her. </p>
<p>And @staceyneil, as you know, your daughter’s story and the impact of OB on her life has been a huge inspiration for me. I know whichever program my D chooses she will benefit from the hard work, fresh air and challenges.</p>
<p>Hopefully all these stories will inspire other families to look into these options for their kids next summer. Or as a Gap year option!</p>
<p>@LeftofPisa Doh! I didn’t look at your username. I should wait till I am more awake to post responses, clearly!</p>
<p>@staceyneil, LOL! No, it’s good because others who are considering OB will read this! I always figure any thread is part for the OP, part for the lurkers and part for the parent who googles outward bound and gets sent here. :-)</p>
<p>I think I need a picture which will be instantly recognizable. I know seeing yours makes it easy to know it’s you! </p>
<p>Can’t go wrong either way - a bit of different emphasis from each program, but in my book, the emphasis and philosophy is good: Self-reliance, thinking beyond oneself, and the good things in life don’t come easy. Anything that provides a different perspective from “I am the center of the universe” is a lifelong value lesson. </p>
<p>Exactly @swimdogmom! I know either program will be great for her. </p>
<p>I loved my SCA experience, 38 years ago. Dang, that’s a long time ago!!! I think it was 6 weeks of putting in fencing in the backcounty of Bryce Canyon and it was a marvelous experience</p>
<p>@anxiousmom, now see Bryce Canyon is more what we were imagining! 
But it says a lot about the program that it is still such a great memory for you. I was pretty floored when I found the program and saw that it was free. </p>
<p>My daughter did SCA a few years ago (at age 18, I think), at a not-incredible location. She was very happy to get a placement but had a lukewarm experience. There wasn’t really enough work for the group, and to my surprise, there was some sustained mean-girl activity going on. I thought the program would attract mostly down-to-earth (no pun intended) nice kids, but her group wasn’t really like that. She had a reasonably okay time, not memorable. I’m sure this doesn’t reflect on SCA as a whole.</p>
<p>Thanks @seren50. It’s good to hear the negative too. It is surprising to hear because it’s so at odds with the SCA ethos and the whole outdoorsy hard work thing. And of course, that is my D’s worst fear. </p>
Hi, @LeftofPisa - what did you end up deciding to do? And what was the experience like? D applied to SCA this year; waiting anxiously to hear back…
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Please don’t resurrect old threads. You can send a PM if you’d like, instead. Thanks!