How to take an Outward Bound course
How I did it: This is a story of my experience - your mileage may vary!
I'm not an outdoorsy person I'll admit, but my experience at Outward Bound in Ullswater, The Lake District, UK reaffirmed that.
I went with my college group back in 2000, my memories include trying to climb a mud-soaked wooden wall, trying to climb a mud-soaked wooden pole, climbing up a mud-soaked hill in 90mph wind and rain and shivvering in a cheap tent in a mud-soaked field at night next to someone who shouldn't have been in there in the first place.
Before the trip, one of the OB tutors, Iain, came to our college and showed us a very impressive promotional video - fun! adventure! teamwork! adventure! fun! It was all very convincing and exciting seeing a team of students in the video abseiling down a cliff, an other canoeing and another camping out on a peak, smiles abound. Pity my experience was nothing like this.
If I've learnt anything from my experience in the dreary Lake District it's probably not to trust promotional videos or camp anywhere ever again. Teamwork wise, in the physical activities we let the strong fit kids climb the walls and crawl through the tunnels while we stood around looking wet and sullen, conversely, with the activities which required brainwork such as orientation or building a paper and garden cane aeroplane, the thick ones would go off and chat amongst themselves while the others would squabble over what shape the wings should be.
If sleeping in a room full of strangers and wearing someone elses unwashed waterproofs for a week is your idea of fun or a great opportunity to build up your teamworking skills, go for it.
Did anyone detect any negativity in this story?
Lessons & tips:
- If you're going to be camping out, take only what you need
- The zip wire was pretty good
- Don't go
- You may be lucky enough to come back with an OB certificate, this may be used to impress friends or prospective employers
Resources:
- The coach which took me home
