Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    I have a close friend that did outward bound in the Fall of 87.  If you
    give me your mailing address or phone number I'm sure she'd love to
    share her experiences with you.  According to her it is the best thing
    she ever did.
    
    Suzanne

    I believe there's a discussion of Outward Bound in
    XCUSME::SURVIVAL

    I think  it's  a  great  idea (and took a course modelled on it in
    High  Schol),  but as of the mid-seventies it was quite dangerous.
    They  had  fatality  rates of just over 1%, which I consider to be
    unacceptably high.

    They used  to  tell  people not to make friends with anyone on the
    trip  because he might be dead before they finished the trip. They
    stopped that in 72 after 2 people died in a group of 10.

    I don't  know if they've gotten better. I also don't know of other
    groups  that run similar but safer programs. (It is possible to do
    so,  the one I went on was run be some of my high school teachers,
    and was only open to students at my school.)

    If you can find one that's run safely, by all means go.

--David

    The daughter of a friend of mine has been on two O.B. expeditions..
    one the 'in the woods alone' and one sailing...
    She loved them both, though I think was most 'altered' by the
    first experience (the woods).  She and her parents speak
    very highly of the experiences, and I think they are safe enough,
    but did strike me as expensive...
    unfortunately I don't have any other info for you, but if you
    find one that interests you, and you have the time and $$$ , I'd
    say GO FOR IT!
    
    deb
    

    
    I went in 1985
    I also sent you mail highlighting my UNFORGETABLE
    experiences.
    
    I applaud you for thinking about it
    --Christopher
    

    
    Can anyone provide a mailing address or an 800 number for info about
    Outward Bound programs?  Much obliged,
    
    Scott

    could one of you that has done this, please write some more about it in
    here?  I'd love to hear about it!
    
    Becky

    RE: .6  Scott
    
        I still believe that a Physician referral is necessary
        to participate in Outward Bound. So try your Doctor and
        see what he/she has to say about it.
    
    RE: .7  Becky
    
        I will offer to share what I think about Outward Bound
        in the mail to those who are seriously interested in
        participating (as the base noter seems to be), but I
        personally can't type in a reply here ...
        Seems that much is lost when corresponding this way
    
    --Christopher

    
    Hi,
    
    I used to work for Hurricane Island Outward Bound in Maine (the
    sailing experience), and though I didn't work as an survival
    instructor, I did see and talk to quite a few of the people 
    going out on the trips and coming back in.  An instructor whose
    previous experience were desert trips in New Mexico was my roommate
    and we talked quite a bit also.
    
    There are still quite a few misconceptions about the program, though
    they may be based on the years before I worked there.  You can
    get information and applications by calling 800-243-8520.   You
    probably do need to be physically approved by a physician, though
    you don't need a physician referral.
    
    The experience itself is as much of a group activity as an individual
    one.  The emphasis is learning how to manage all roles in a group,
    not just the one you automatically take.  For example, in the sailing
    experience everyone has to act as leader AND follower, and everyone
    pitches in to help the group succeed, not just themselves.  Part of
    the trip is devoted to solitude on an island or part of an island
    but people are monitored by the instructors.  
    
    I don't believe they discourage you in making friends on the trip.  In
    fact, they used to send anniversary cards to all the people who 
    eventually married after meeting on a trip, and there were quite
    a few couples.  At the time they were diversifying into trips for
    18-22, recently divorced, women-only, special programs for troubled
    teenagers, and so on.  I suppose some of those succeeded and others
    were canceled by this time.
    
    My roommate said the sailing trips and desert trips were very
    different, mostly due to the effect of the landscape upon the 
    individual and group.
    
    The physical activity is considerable, but they have all types of
    people go through the program.  Listen to the opinions of others
    who have been but call yourself to see what they're up to today.  
    
    
    Julie
    

    Hi 
    
    I did the white water canoeing Outward Bound trip last summer for
    8 days and it was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm planning on
    going on an alumna trip next summer with Outward Bound.
    
    I needed a quick physical by my doctor. I joined the male/female
    trip because I thought that it would be good for me. I almost died
    when I had to sleep in a tent with four other people men included.
    By the second night it wasn't a concern any more. I can't believe
    how much I learned about myself. If I told you too much it would
    take the experience away from you. I took my camera with me although
    they took it  away from me on solo. The solo came at a good time
    because you need a break from living with 12 people 24 hours a day.
    It was a welcomed 30 hours. I slept with a moose stick on my solo
    because I was afraid I'd get attacted by a moose - I didn't. We
    stopped counting moose on the 2nd day because there was so many.
    We only so one bear. The people I met were fabulous. I still write
    to a couple of them. The others I may never see again but I will
    never forget them. I had conflicts with all of them and by the last
    day I had gotten over all of them. I took 4 rolls of film and I've
    made a slide show out of my experience. It's very interesting. That
    experience still is with me today, it has molded me in a way. I
    had to be rescued from the river a fear I've always had. I always
    thought if I was drowning no one would be there to save me; I was
    rescued.
    
    I think if I could sum up my experience I know that I'm capable
    of more than I think I am; that knowledge pushes me forward. If
    you'd like to call me feel free. dtn 264-0187, or home 508 486-3798.
    
    Sandra
    
    

>      <<< Note 698.10 by SAGE::BARRY "Sandra J. Barry -BOIS- 264-0187" >>>
>                          -< I'll never forget it!! >-

>    It was a welcomed 30 hours. I slept with a moose stick on my solo
>    because I was afraid I'd get attacted by a moose - I didn't. We
    
A moose stick?(is that a 300 Winchester Magnum?) could you explain please?
I have seen moose during rutting season(theirs, not mine) and would not
mess with one with anything less than a 300 mag. 2000+ lbs of mean when
they are mad.
Amos    

    	The OB instructors dropped us off at various points along the
    shore of a lake for our solo. The moose feed early in the morning
    along the lake and I thought they'd come crashing through my shelter
    which was just a piece of plastic strung up between two trees. So
    I spent an hour looking for a strong stick in the event a
    moose came by early in the morning. I called it my moose stick.
    
    Sandra

    Umm, Sandra, do you know what an adult moose weighs ?
    
    Up to 1200 pounds !  Make it a biiiig stick :-)
    
    Really, if the moose sees you or gets wind of you, he'll 
    leave very quickly.

    
    	Dana,
    
    	 1200 pounds, maybe for a female, a good sized male will go
    	over 2000 and be around 7 feet tall at the shoulders.
    
    	G_B

    First: thanks to *everyone* who wrote in this file and sent me mail.
    It is great to know that I can draw on others experiences so easily
    and with such a diversity of answers to my questions.
    
    As I was hiking up Old Bridle Path to Greenfield Hut this past Sat.
    my 5 yr old waterproof jacket slowly becoming soaked through with
    the steady rainfall, my Raikles weighing 3# each more than when
    they were dry, my pack growing heavier, and my 65 yr old hiking
    companion stopping more often to catch her breath, I suddenly
    remembered this note file.
    
    As I hand over hand climbed a slick rock facing with water pouring
    over my boots [when I managed to find a place to put them] I wondered
    if I was out of my mind thinking I needed Outward Bound.
    
    Heck!  I finally figured I *was* on Outward Bound.  I think somehow
    I convinced myself that what I have been doing for years was a bit
    too tame to be considered a suitable test of my abilities.  But
    now that I know more of what Outward Bound is for and does, I don't
    think it is something I will do after all.
    
    I have hiked in the Wht. Mts. trusting completely the
    companions I was with--that if anything happened to me or to them,
    we would be able to rise to the occasion.  I have hiked alone [so
    much for being in the woods by myself] for hours at a time.  I have
    canoed alone, and once spent over 1/2 hr. getting to shore without
    my glasses [I am really near-sighted] after losing them in the water,
    and I didn't panic or get upset.   I am learning to sail a stupid
    little boat I bought [that is a tale all to itself] and I am not 
    really fond of the water.
    
    I haven't faced a moose---or a bear---but I did share a campsite
    with a skunk once and we learned co-operative living skills for
    3 days which I figure counts for something.
    
    I feel so much better about myself now; it is my habit to feel that
    what I do is pretty tame and doesn't count in the scheme of "big
    things".   
    
    M