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Outward Bound Slovakia:

Dressed in the costumes of a King and Queen, the instructors of Outward Bound Slovakia, also known as Štúdio Zázitku (Studio of Experience), lead their students on both a physical journey and a creative journey into their own personal and professional development. The instructors at this Outward Bound School work hard to create an artistic studio environment from which people can recreate their images of themselves. This is part of the unique contribution OB Slovakia has given to the international community of Outward Bound schools.

A student on a course in Slovakia may find him/herself building an ice cave during the day and then putting on costumes and acting at night. Students will climb, abseil, cave, raft, participate in ropes challenges, and also learn through creative activities like theatre playing, shooting films, and artistic workshops. OB Slovakia has found creative presentation sometimes even more challenging for some participants than the physical challenges of the course.

The idea of the Studio of Experience came after the break up of Czechoslovakia. Tamara Greksakova and friends, who had been connected with the Czech school, wanted to offer Outward Bound in the mountains and cities of the new Slovak Republic. After traveling around the world and looking at Outward Bound models, OB Slovakia chose to create shorter programs, 1 to 12 days.

Courses fall into three distinct categories: Open enrollment for youth, university students, parents and children, youth at risk, orphans and youth workers; Professional development programs for industry and corporations in Slovakia and Eastern Europe; and, International courses with students from as close as Croatia and as far as Singapore.

Courses vary in location depending on their type. Creative expressive and city challenge courses are run from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Outdoor courses are located in the central mountains of the country including the High and Low Tatras, Big Fatra, and the Small Carpathian mountains.

Whats students say about Outward Bound Slovakia

"Man often thinks that there are boundaries and limits that cannot be overcome... Today I have changed my opinion. I am certain that once there are positive conditions created and there is strong support from the team, there are almost no boundaries and limits that man would not manage to overcome."
--Jaroslav Holecek, the Head of Human Recourses Department Volkswagen Slovakia

"The whole course confirmed my belief that teams achieve more than individuals. I was glad that I overcame my own laziness. The whole course allowed me to see my colleagues in different situations than in a traditional working environment."
--Milan Pinos, Head of Production, Jacobs Suchard Figaro

"I understand that it is important to see people differently, not only from how they look and present themselves. I am aware of the fact that I should appreciate and value myself more, be more patient, more collaborative and listen to others more thoroughly."
--Participant of Paternoster, course for youth at risk

"You "made" me do the things I've never done before. And I loved it! Now I see that I am capable of doing everything I want to do. In these 12 days I've experienced and put more emotions into something than in my whole life."--Veronika, Croatia

CONTACT OUTWARD BOUND SLOVAKIA:
Outward Bound Slovak Republic
Studio Zazitku
Cervenova 4, 811 03 Bratislava
Slovak Republic
Bus: 421-7-544 18 073
Bus Fax: 421-7-544 14 130
E-mail: tamara@euroweb.sk
Web Page: http://www.outwardbound.sk