Alex Gorosh
Outward Bound is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational organization and is approved as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are tax-deductible. Outward Bound considers applicants on an equal opportunity basis without regard to an applicant’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. Outward Bound actively seeks to serve diverse students through recruiting, affiliations, dedicated scholarships and community programs. To support the Outward Bound Veterans program place call 1-888-88BOUND or email vets@outwardbound.org
Tom Brown
Outward Bound 910 Jackson Street Golden, CO 80401 1-888-88BOUND www.outwardbound.org
Tom Brown
VETERANS PROGRAM proudly serving those who serve. CHALLENGE YOU R S E L F. CHANGE YOUR WO R L D.
Ian Kellems
OUTWARD BOUND.
REBUILD sense and spirit. From the very beginning in 1941, Outward Bound has worked in service to those who serve. Outward Bound’s earliest programs trained British Merchant Marines in World War II and, in 1962, the first volunteers for the Peace Corps. Since 1983, Outward Bound has served more than 6,000 veterans with fully funded Outward Bound expeditions. Our goal is to serve an additional 5,000 veterans in the next 4 years.
Alex Gorosh
Scott Arter
Kiran Nimmagadda
EVERYDAY MORE AND MORE SERVICE MEMBERS RETURN HOME
“I am no longer invisible” OB Veterans Program Alum
THE PROGRAM, Fully Funded for Veterans Our unique course environments—some of the most stunning wilderness areas in the United States—provide a change of scenery that is reinvigorating and promotes personal discovery and learning. Our courses take place in awe-inspiring wilderness environments. They bridge the interpersonal and physical intensity of wartime experiences with the real-life positive experience of Outward Bound to create emotional and cognitive change in the fitness of the veteran.
“Outward Bound provides a singular experience… giving back to our men and women a sense of perspective, a sense of what’s most important in our lives, an understanding of core values and beliefs (Integrity, Compassion) that transcend all walks of life; and in doing this helps soldiers better succeed as they move forward in what follows next” Major General Paul Hoppe OB Veterans Program Alum
1 Challenge yourself. Change your world. Outward Bound.
And everyday this new generation of veterans faces the challenges of readjusting to life back home. To help ease this often difficult transition, Outward Bound provides veterans with transformative wilderness courses that draw on the healing benefits of the natural world, teamwork, and challenge.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army
OUTWARD BOUND PROGRAM DESIGN Daily life on course is used as a metaphor for daily life at home; discussions and individual reflection show participants that the support and collaboration needed to travel in the wilderness is also needed to navigate their lives at home. Courses provide vital camaraderie; they build the self-confidence, pride, trust, and communication skills that help participating veterans successfully return to their families and communities.
PROVEN BENEFITS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT Recent research results show that the Outward Bound Veterans Program improves stress management capacity and specifically increases veterans’ “sense of coherence.” A high “sense of coherence” indicates that individuals are able to more successfully deal with stressful situations, and that they have enhanced well-being and increased resilience.
Also, recent studies suggest that a high “sense of coherence” can result in decreases in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, and anger.
POST-COURSE ONE YEAR POST-COURSE PRE-COURSE
SELF-CONFIDENCE POST-COURSE
ONE YEAR POST-COURSE
PRE-COURSE
HEALTHY & BALANCED LIFE POST- COURSE
ONE YEAR POST-COURSE
PRE-COURSE
SENSE OF COHERENCE
Alex Gorosh
Michael Brands
Michael Brands
OUTWARD BOUND IS A CHANCE FOR WAR VETERANS TO:
• Validate their experiences as and among veterans • Push limits and increase their sense of self worth in a non-military setting • Live in the present moment and focus on transition • Translate their military values and experience so that they continue to serve their communities
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U.S. Veteran/Expedition Participant
INSPIRE new perspective. Tom TomBrown Brown
Challenge yourself. Change your world. Outward Bound.
“I truly had a breakthrough and a lifechanging experience. I don’t think it would be possible if the program wasn’t put together specifically for Vets. I feel like a new man, with a different direction in life.”
With your help we can serve more than 1,000 veterans each year Outward Bound has served thousands of veterans with fully funded Outward Bound courses since 1983. Despite generous support from a public-private network of donors and partners like Military Family Outdoor Initiative Project, the Sierra Club, Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust, and private donors, demand still far exceeds available funding.
We need your help to continue and to expand this already successful program, meet this growing need, and to give back to the people who have given us so much.
“For the first time in months I have been able to sleep through the night without nightmares. I simply can’t express how much this course has meant to me. I will take the lessons home with me and use them to cope with any problem I will have in the future.” -
Veterans Expedition Participant
DELIVER real success. Robert Dawes
Full scholarship support for one veteran: With your $2000 donation, a veteran can experience the benefits of Outward Bound with no out of pocket expenses. $1300 per veteran covers tuition and administrative overhead for a 6-day wilderness course that includes the following: • Instructional staff • Food and permits • Camping gear, packs, and equipment • 2 Staff per group of 7-10 participants • Local transportation • Basecamp facilities, management, and logistics • Instructor training and development $700 covers travel to and from course location, including: • Airfare to and from course location • Hotel stays the evenings before and after course start 5
Any gift will help. If you support the full cost of one or more veterans on course, you will receiv Three Star $50,000
Two Star $20,000
One Star $2,000
Veterans Served
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Erik Bentley
Michael Brands
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Robert Dawes
Challenge yourself. Change your world. Outward Bound.
Four Star $100,000