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Changing lives through challenge and discovery.
In 1941, Outward Bound was founded in Great Britain by Kurt Hahn, who believed that effective learning should include a holistic approach to education by providing tangible and powerful experiences to gain self-esteem, discover innate abilities, and build a sense of responsibility toward others. In 1962, Josh Miner founded the nonprofit Outward Bound movement in the United States and ran the first course at the Marble basecamp in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Local founders of the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) included Bill Coors, Chuck Froelicher, Ruth Brown, and Charlie Gates who were inspired by Hahn's philosophy of creating wilderness opportunities that forged true leaders and well-rounded individuals. Since its inception in 1962, COBS has become an industry leader and transformed the lives of thousands upon thousands of students through active learning and character-building on expeditions such as backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, and rafting in remote wilderness areas of the Rocky Mountain West, particularly in Colorado.
"There were many times when I could have easily given up, but I found an inner strength within myself to persevere. This expedition has given me many skills that I will continue to use in my day to day life: teamwork, selflessness, passion, perseverance, leadership, and the will to keep moving forward every day. I'm choosing the harder, more challenging route, which in the end is way more rewarding."
- 2015 scholarship student
"My life is extremely busy and stressful, and like many, I battle PTSD daily. This was a great opportunity to decompress without the day to day worries, surround myself with a supportive network of fellow veterans, and do something difficult in unfamiliar terrain once again. This trip was needed in ways I didn't know."
- 2015 veterans scholarship student
"This trip taught me that I am a very resilient person that can bounce back from conflict. This trip also showed me that any challenge can be overcome. All I have to do is keep trying."
- 2016 scholarship student
"I discovered that I am willing to step up and do activities that are not something I would typically choose to do...I found out that I can face my fears and overcome them on this trip. This is something that I will always in the future in scenarios where I do not feel comfortable or confident in my ability to do something; I will push through to achieve my goal."
- 2017 scholarship student
