History*

"There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, we will be unwilling to settle for less."—Kurt Hahn

Outward Bound is an innovative educational idea put forth by Kurt Hahn, a celebrated and progressive German educator, that has survived and flourished for more than sixty years.

The birth of today's Outward Bound began somewhat humbly with the opening of Gordonstoun school in Scotland in the 1930's with only two students. Here, Hahn refined his philosophies into a practical curriculum that rewarded development of physical skills such as running, jumping and throwing, as well as learning to live in the outdoors through an expedition, and embarking upon a hobby or project, in addition to achievements in the classroom.

After relocating the school to Wales, the next step of Outward Bound's evolution came via a joint effort with British shipping baron Sir Lawrence Holt to teach young British sailors the vital survival skills necessary during World War II. With a curriculum based mainly on Hahn's belief that character development was just as important as academic achievement, the new school became the wellspring of experiential learning in the post-war period. Hahn found that people who were put in challenging, adventurous outdoor situations gained confidence, redefined their own perceptions of their personal possibilities, demonstrated compassion, and developed a spirit of camaraderie with their peers.

It took only a few years for this ground-breaking educational program called "Outward Bound" - the nautical term to describe a ship leaving the safety of its harbor to head for the open seas—to begin its international expansion. As Outward Bound grew, there was considerable adaptation of programs and venues. Programs became available for corporate teambuilding, for inner-city youth and for special populations such as recovering alcoholics, families or adjudicated youth. Programs moved from being solely wilderness based, to also being offered in settings like classrooms and urban centers.

Now, more than sixty years later and with schools in over 30 countries on six continents and with a wide-variety of programs catering to the particular populations of those countries, it continues to evolve and the future of Outward Bound looks very promising.

Kurt Hahn | The Birth of Outward Bound | International Expansion | Outward Bound's Future

* All information contained in the subsequent pages of this "History" section have been obtained from and published with the permission of Dr. Tony Richards.