Course Information
Welcome to the Colorado Outward Bound School! This is a place of challenge, learning, and community and we’re so glad you’re joining our crew. As you’re getting ready for your course experience, we wanted to share with you a bit more about what to expect. A COBS course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to face new challenges in a supportive environment; to find success through mistakes; and to navigate through adversity with compassion for self and others. The breathtaking mountains, rivers, and canyons of Colorado and Utah are our classroom. And the life lessons are as limitless as the views.
As in all of life’s adventures, elements outside of our control may require adjustments to the details and we often adapt our itineraries to meet dynamic environments, but one thing’s for sure: we’re going to connect with new people, try new things, and explore some amazing places together. Here at COBS, we believe there is more in you than you know and we’ll use the inherent beauty and challenge of the natural world to test our comfort zones and to discover opportunities to work hard, learn, and reflect. And the memories you’ll take home will last a lifetime. Read on and we’ll see you soon!
NOT OFFERING - CUQR-371: Southwest Canoeing & Canyoneering Outdoor Educator
Course Code: CUQR-371
Start Date: 2/26/23
End Date: 4/21/23
Embark on a 55-day journey through the mountains, canyons, deserts and rivers of one of the most beautiful and geologically stunning landscapes in the world on this leadership and outdoor skills focused Semester course.
Develop outdoor skills. Enhance your leadership and communication abilities. Strive to increase your knowledge of the environment – all while learning wilderness travel techniques in a variety of natural environments. The ultimate goal of the Semester is to develop the confidence, knowledge and integrity essential for effective leadership. Whether you are learning how to safely tie in on belay, deciding as a group how to navigate through new terrain, or setting up a minimum-impact campsite for the evening, you’ll be reinforcing, honing and practicing skills for life.
Non-Technical Canyoneering
With your crew, you will journey through the intriguing and difficult-to-explore canyon country, taking in the infinite shapes of the arches, towers, buttes, amphitheaters, overhangs, and domes. While doing this, you will be carrying a 45 to 60 pound backpack which will have all you need to thrive in the wilderness. Sometimes students will shed their backpacks for smaller daypacks to navigate into narrow slots or explore thousand-year-old cliff dwellings and rock art. Crews camp on expansive rock slabs, stopping along the way to explore microclimates and canyon ecosystems. All the while, you continue learning how to use maps and compasses, to cook meals for yourself and your crewmates, negotiate slickrock obstacles, find water, and live comfortably in the immense canyons. The days can be long and hard, but the canyons reward you with their jaw-dropping beauty. You will spend time in an incredible area where life becomes more in tune with the essentials of traveling through a landscape of rock, sand, sky -- feeling the sunshine on your face and watching the setting sun give way to stars.
📍Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) lands
Technical Canyoneering
Canyoneering involves exploration and travel in canyons that are often narrow, sinuous, and steep with many obstacles to negotiate. Traveling through them requires a combination of scrambling up (and down) climbing over boulders, lowering packs, maneuvering with backpacks, and possibly rappeling. This rugged, rocky terrain requires teamwork and delicate decision-making on the part of group members. Instructors will begin by teaching the foundational skills necessary for efficient travel, such as basic movement over rock and spotting techniques in order to meet the demands of the technical terrain. The group may then learn more advanced movement on rock, and roped techniques such as rappelling, knot-tying, self-rescue, and rope handling. Canyons become a puzzle and the solution means you can move forward.
📍Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) lands
Solo
Depending on your course length and environmental factors, your solo may range from a few hours to an overnight experience. Solo provides an important break from the rigors of both the expedition and the distractions from everyday life. This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With sufficient food and equipment, you’ll have time to journal, rest, reflect, and look ahead to future goals. Your solo site will be close enough to the Instructors in case of emergency, but far enough removed to assure your solitude. You will not travel during this time and your Instructors will check on you occasionally. Many students are initially nervous about solo, but later recall solo as one of the highlights of their entire course.
Service Project
Some projects focus on land restoration and are coordinated with partners and land managers like the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. Other projects are grounded in social services, and may include visiting a nursing home or hospital. Past projects include working on a goat farm, building trails, cleaning trash and debris from natural spaces, working with a local community garden, and removing invasive species. Seeing the impact of their actions firsthand, students develop a value of service, and transfer this desire to serve their communities back home.
Canoeing
Canoeing is an opportunity to experience the jaw-dropping canyons and magic of the river. The tranquil waters allow for reflection and relationship-building with your canoe partner. The calm waters can change with up-canyon winds that require strength to push forward. The canoes provide you with great freedom and maneuverability. While many of the skills you learn canoeing are transferable to rafts, the small craft will demand a high level of coordination and cooperation with your canoeing partner. Canoeing allows for connection to place, water, and people.
Photo: Ashley Perry |📍Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Diné, and Pueblos lands
In addition to the expedition itself and all of the skills and learning associated with it, Outward Bound’s time-tested curriculum includes education on the many aspects of personal growth and learning that can be found in each activity you undertake. You will learn four important Outward Bound Core Values:
- Compassion
- Integrity
- Excellence
- Inclusion and Diversity
You may find that the most important lessons you take home are learning about yourself and your community while acquiring backcountry skills and having an adventure. You’ll learn to protect and appreciate the unique, unspoiled environments through which you travel.
Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities and the discovery of what’s in you is the purpose of Outward Bound.
Utah Canyon Country
The most spectacular aspects of the Utah landscape are the hidden treasures found within its vast canyon networks, formed by millennia of wind and water erosion. The canyonlands of Southern Utah are still as stunning, mysterious, and wild as they were for the Ancestral Puebloans and Fremont Indians who roamed these lands over 800 years ago. The sandstone canyons are a geological playground and are composed of a spell-binding labyrinth of alcoves, fins, pinnacles, buttes, towering walls, ledges, cliff dwellings, and arches just waiting to be explored. These regions are within the ancestral lands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Diné Bikéyah, and Pueblo nations.
Photo: Dillon Marks |📍Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Diné Bikéyah, and Pueblo lands
Labyrinth Canyon, Utah
You will launch on the Green river in two person canoes for 63 miles through Labyrinth Canyon. The river enters Labyrinth Canyon slowly, named for the serpentine path it carves as it dives deep into the redrock sandstone that characterizes southeastern Utah and the Canyonlands area. Narrow and winding side canyons, towering cliffs rising vertically out of the river, pinnacles and ledges all await you as you fine tune your paddling strokes. The canoes provide you with great freedom and maneuverability. While many of the skills you learn canoeing are transferable to rafts, the small craft will demand a high level of coordination and cooperation with your canoeing partner. During this phase of your course, your instructors will introduce you to the most important elements of the river life: environmental stewardship, outdoor cooking, first aid, natural history of the river canyons, the night sky, and of course, paddling skills. This region is within the ancestral lands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) nations.
📍Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) lands
What is a land acknowledgment?
At the Colorado Outward Bound School, we include land acknowledgments in our work as a formal way to recognize and respect the traditional territories and Indigenous Peoples as stewards of the land. It is important to understand and acknowledge the comprehensive past, present, and future of the places we travel and to seek to understand our role therein. To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation we give to the Indigenous Peoples who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. Read more about land acknowledgments at Outward Bound here.
The following is an example of what your itinerary may look like. Your actual course plan will vary according to weather, your group’s skills and abilities, and Instructor preferences.
Days 1-6: Course Start and Canyon Backpacking
Days 14-21: At Moab Basecamp for Your Wilderness First Responder Course and Certification
Days 22-28: Canyon Backpacking
Days 29-45: Canyoneering and Solo
Day 46-53: Final Expedition – Apply All You’ve Learned to a Final Group Challenge
Day 54: Personal Challenge Event, Course End Celebration
Day 55: Departure Home
Click here for COBS COVID-19 Program Practices
For your convenience, you may pay the balance of your tuition online through a link in your admissions emails, or make a payment by phone.
Please have the student's name, course number, course start date and balance due when using this payment option.
In most cases, a $500 deposit has been paid when you applied. Please refer to your Enrollment Email to confirm your balance. If you are unsure of your balance due, please call 720-381-6589 or email [email protected].
If your payment is not received by the due date listed in your Enrollment Email, you will risk losing your position on the course and your $500 deposit. Please review the Admissions and Cancellation Policies.
Everyone who participates in a course must read these documents before attending
Please bring everything on the required clothing and gear list, but do not feel like you have to buy everything new. Many of these items can be found second hand at thrift stores, consignment shops, and online like eBay and Facebook Marketplace
Packing for Backcountry Travel
Backcountry travel means you can and, for your comfort, should carry a lot less than you do in the regular world; most experienced backcountry travelers will tell you that they bring about the same amount of gear on a three-day trip as they would on a three-week trip.
Your COBS Packing List:
- Colorado Outward Bound School provides other necessary equipment not on this list, including stoves, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, backpacks, cookware, sleeping tarps, ropes, drybags, & personal flotation devices.
- There are no additional fees for the use of our equipment, but if our equipment is lost or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, you will be charged for the replacement.
- Pack your clothing and gear in a duffel bag or suitcase. You will keep personal items such as clean clothes (for your return trip home) and valuables (cell phones, electronic devices, and wallets) in your luggage while you are on course. These items are kept at our base camp facility in a locked storage area while you are on course. Please leave unnecessary or expensive items at home.
- Once on the course, your instructors will help you select from your luggage the best combination of items for you. They will assess your personal gear, the group gear you will be required to carry, and then balance it against your pack weight, physical size, and temperature for the time of year.
- Since this list must accommodate ALL the weather conditions you may encounter and consider the wide range of individual preferences and body temperatures of our students, it is very likely you will not use every single item on this list. One option is to leave the tags on any items you purchase for this course in the event they were not used on the trip and you would like to return them but please note your retailers’ return policies!
- Please bring everything on the list! If there are items not mentioned on this list you feel you will need, or you have concerns about cost and want help strategizing for less expensive options, call and ask your course advisor.
Medications:
- All prescription medications must be listed in the applicant’s medical record, must be approved by your course advisor prior to course, and must accompany the participant on course. Participants may not be permitted to begin their course without their required medications OR with new medications not approved by your course advisor.
- All medications (prescription, non-prescription, and OTC) must be in their original containers with the prescription label intact. The prescription label is documentation of the dosage directions. If possible, bring a double supply.
What to Wear While Travelling:
We recommend you wear course clothing and boots while travelling and bring all essentials (prescription meds, insurance card copy, cash) in a carry-on. This will minimize the inconvenience in the unlikely event your luggage is delayed in transport. Being dressed for course will also further the efficiency on your first day, especially since front country bathrooms and private changing areas are rarely available.
Gear that Outward Bound Provides
Please note Outward Bound provides all other equipment including but not limited to sleeping bags & pads, backpacks, camp gear. There are no additional fees for the use of our equipment. If you have your own equipment and it meets the below criteria, you are welcome to bring it with you. Please be aware that your instructors will assess it for appropriateness and may ask you to use Outward Bound gear in lieu of your own if they do not find your gear adequate for your particular course.
If you DO wish to bring some of your own gear, here are our minimum standards for what MAY be acceptable for few common items
If you DO wish to bring some of your own gear:
Here are our minimum standards for what MAY be acceptable for a few common items.
- Sleeping bags – need to be made from synthetic materials (down fill is not appropriate for our purposes) and have a 20-degree or colder warmth rating.
- Sleeping pads – can be ¾ to full size in length. They can be made of closed-cell foam (Ridge-Rest or Z-Rest) or be inflatable (Therma-Rest®). If you bring an inflatable pad you must bring a patch kit as well. Remember, inflatable pads usually weigh considerably more than closed-cell foam pads.
- Backpacks – need to have a minimum capacity of 6,000 cubic inches, should carry 45-60 lbs. comfortably and be an internal frame design. Side pockets are also a useful option.
If you bring your own equipment, it will be inspected by your instructor at the beginning of your course. If it does not meet our standards you can store it in a secure location during your course.
Layering:
- First layer—This layer is worn next to your skin. Synthetic and wool materials pull moisture away from your body so your sweat won’t cool you down too much and make you cold.
- Mid layer(s)— the insulation layer (warm tops, socks, fleece pants). This should be thick fluffy sweaters and jackets that will trap and store the heat your body is producing to keep you warm.
- Outer layer—the shell layer (jackets, pants, rain gear). Adding an outer wind and/or waterproof layer makes sure that the wind does not steal all that built up heat and all your insulating layers do not get soaked.
Materials:
- Hard Shell: These are materials that are waterproof, windproof, and breathable and generally worn when it’s raining, snowing, or really windy.
- Soft Shell: These are materials that are water and wind resistant, but not always waterproof. They are more breathable than hard shell materials.
- Fleece: Great insulator and dries quickly, but not always wind proof. In windy conditions, you’ll often wear your hard shell over your fleece to combine the wind-resistance and insulation.
- Wool: Natural material that, unlike cotton, keeps you warm when wet. It’s a bit heavier than some of the synthetic fabric. As a bonus, wool is naturally odor and bacteria resistant.
- Synthetic: Most items listed here should not be cotton, because cotton absorbs water, dries slowly, and steals your warmth when wet. Acceptable non-cotton options are wool, capilene, poly-propylene, polyester, fleece, acrylic, rayon, Polartec, Thinsulate, COOLMAX, and nylon.
Head & Hands:
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 1 | Warm Hat | A warm hat that will be used for when things get chilly. Can have ear flaps. No cotton. ($8-$25) |
| 1+ | Sun Hat | Should have a good brim to at a minimum cover your face like a baseball cap or can have a brim all the way around for added protection. Should be made of softer material so it can fold easily if needed. ($8-$20) |
| 1+ | Lightweight Gloves or Glove Liners | A lightweight glove that is the first layer for hands and worn snuggly against the skin. Rubber coated gloves work well and can be found inexpensively in hardware stores. ($5-$20) |
Tops:
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 2+ | Long Sleeve Sun Shirt | Loose, lightweight, and light-colored for sun protection. Instructors prefer old oxford or button down men's dress shirts from thrift stores. A long sleeve cotton shirt is ok. ($2-$40) |
| 6+ | Wicking Short Sleeve T- Shirts | This t-shirt is made out of quick-drying fabric that moves moisture away from your skin and allows maximum airflow. Cotton t-shirts are ok for additional shirts, but each participant should have at least 4 quick dry shirts to use in any conditions. ($12-$30) |
Inner Layers: fits next to the skin
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 1 | Lightweight long underwear set |
You will need a top and a bottom. This is your base layer meaning this goes next to your skin and you will wear more layers on top. This is a good online resource: http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/underwear.html |
| 8+ | Underwear: Quick Drying | Quick drying underwear is usually a blend of Nylon and Spandex, that breathes well, moves moisture away from you and dries quickly. 4 pairs should be Quick Drying for the river and canyons, the rest can be cotton. ($5-$25) |
| 4+ | Sports Bra | Should have the proper support for athletic activity. Can be worn as a swim top with quick drying shorts if a swimsuit is required. You do not need to bring a swimsuit if you plan on using this combination. ($20+) |
| 1 | Expedition-weight/Heavyweight Long Underwear Top | This top is your second or third layer depending on what is required. Needs to be a bit bigger to fit the previous layers underneath. ($30+) |
Outer Layers: fit over inner layers
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 1 | Raincoat & Rain Pants | All rainwear must be 100% water proof, not water resistant! Rain jackets should also include a hood. Breathable fabrics highly recommended. Breathable Options include: Any Gore-Tex jacket or breathable coated fabrics like the Marmot © PreCip or Phoenix Rainwear, REI Ultra Light or Kulshan Rainwear are suitable examples. ($150+ for the pair) |
| 1 | Fleece Jacket | A heavy weight fleece jacket with a full length zipper. It has good breathability, making it a good choice when insulation is needed during vigorous, highly aerobic activity. Dries quickly when wet. ($50+) |
Bottoms:
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 2+ | Quick Dry Shorts |
Lightweight nylon fabric wicks moisture and dries quickly. Board shorts and running shorts can work well and double for use on the river. Pockets are always nice. |
| 1+ | Quick Dry Pants | Lightweight nylon fabric dries quickly and resists pilling, and is easy to pack away in a backpack or dry bag. Should be loose fitting as to aid in movement. Keep in mind, our course areas can be abrasive to clothing: make sure you bring pants that are tough, or that you won’t mind getting ripped up during your course. ($45-$100) |
Feet:
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 3+ pairs | Liner Socks | Lightweight, flat-knit provides a close fit for a protective second skin that prevents blisters. Should be worn under heavier socks to prevent blisters. Need to be at least crew-height. ($5-$9 pair) |
| 6+ pairs | Mid-weight Hiking Socks | These socks are worn on top of the liner socks. At least need to be crew-height. A variety of midweight to heavyweight socks will suit you best to find your personal preferences in our course areas. No cotton, wool works exceptionally well, even when wet. ($8-$25 pair) |
| 1 pair | River Shoes | River sandals such as Teva or Chaco sandals are ideal. Vibram ‘5 finger’ shoes are also a good option Any boating shoe must have an ankle or heel strap. These shoes will be wet daily. Old sneakers will also work great. Flip-flops, Clogs, Crocs, and Aquasocks are NOT acceptable. ($60+) |
| 1 pair | Running/Approach Shoes | Virtually every course requires two pairs of shoes; one to hike in (your boots), and one to wear around camp. Camp Shoes should be lightweight sturdy running or approach shoes. Many courses have a Challenge Event at course end that may involve running so sturdy runners are preferred versus fashion or skateboarding type sneakers. An old pair of running shoes will work. ($0-$120) |
| 1 pair | Backpacking Boots | Backpacking boots are the most popular off-trail boots sold today. This category of boots used to be known as Medium-weight Hiking Boots. These boots have shock-absorbing composite rubber soles, innovative injection molded mid sole/shanks/plates and soft, yet supportive, leather uppers characterize this category of mountaineering/backpacking footwear. Through the use of state of-the-art materials, it is now possible to purchase a boot that is at once relatively lightweight, comfortable, supportive, and weatherproof and requires only a moderate break-in period. Medium-weight boots are offered in a wide variety of brands and models and work well for moving with full backpacks. VIBRAM (OR SIMILAR) SOLE REQUIRED. NO JUNGLE/WORK BOOTS. ($102+) These are good resources: https://www.cobs.org/lib/file/manager/Boots/Boot%20Information%202020.pdf http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/hiking-boots.html |
Personal Items:
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 1 | Insurance Card | If you are covered under any medical insurance please bring your card. The actual card is preferred, but a copy of the front and the back of the card will be okay. |
| 2 | Sunglasses with keeper strap | Dark and sturdy, need to bring a keeper strap with them. Essential to protecting your eyes in a highly reflective environment! Bring 2 in case you lose, scratch, or break one. ($8-$40) |
| 2+ | Personal Hand Sanitizer | Two 3oz bottles plus a larger 16oz to refill during the course. ($10) |
| 1 | Digital Oral Thermometer | Used to check temperature. ($7) |
| 2+ | Fabric Face Masks |
To be worn at course start, during social distancing, during travel days, while preparing food, while in close proximity to others, and when requested by COBS staff. Should be washable, consist of at least 3 layers of fabric and securely cover the mouth and nose. N95s can also be brought to supplement washable masks. Refer to mask document for more information. |
| 20+ | Disposable 3-ply surgical masks | To be worn when an additional layer of protection is necessary. ($30) |
| 1 | Sarong or unfitted twin cotton sheet | A sarong is a large length of fabric that is often used for sun protection while rafting. It has many other uses as well. If you are unable to find a sarong, an unfitted twin cotton sheet also works just as well and is typically very easy to find at a thrift store. ($2-$30) |
| 1 | Small headlamp and 4 extra sets of batteries. | This is a hands free flashlight. It is either a LED or halogen headlamp that uses a minimum of three volts (two or more AA- or AAA-batteries). Bring four extra sets of batteries. Headlamps with a red setting are preferable because they preserve night-vision, save battery power, and do not attract flies. ($15-$40) |
| 1 | Watch with alarm | Inexpensive, durable, & waterproof. You will be responsible for waking yourself up on time! ($10+) |
| 2 | Water Bottles | Wide-mouthed and durable—Nalgene, Sigg, and Klean Kanteen make quality water bottles—NO DISPOSABLE BOTTLES. Each should hold 32 oz. for a minimum total capacity of 64 oz. Good hydration is very important in the dry climate. Screw top lids are better than ‘sippy-top’ lids since the bottles will frequently come into contact with river water. ($10-$30) |
| 2-4 | Bandanas | This all-purpose piece of cotton absorbs sweat, cleans off trail-grime and offers a multitude of other camp and trail uses. Females should bring 4 bandanas. ($1-$5) |
| 2+ | Glasses or contacts, if needed | Contacts are ok, but present major challenges in the field. Please also bring 2 pairs of your eyeglasses as backups. |
| 2 | Insect Repellant | Medium size, in an unbreakable bottle—no spray cans. Products with Picaridan or DEET (10 - 35%) are most effective. |
| Stationary, Stamps, & 2 Pens | Bring stamps and envelopes if you would like to send mail. Consider pre-stamping and pre-addressing them before course. Put in a zip-lock bag with paper and pens. | |
| 6 | Large zip-lock plastic bags | Heavy duty to protect things from sand and water. |
| 2 sets | Prescription Medications including Asthma Inhalers | THESE MUST BE DECLARED DURING THE APPROVAL PROCESS. Please bring these to course start even if you think they are unnecessary. Please bring in their original containers and a Ziploc bag for storage. |
| 2 | Sunscreen | Waterproof, SPF 30+ (Approximately 16 oz bottles) ($5+) |
| 1 | Lip Balm | With SPF to protect from the sun. ($2+) |
| 1 | Toiletries Kit | Toothbrush, toothpaste, small biodegradable soap, comb or brush, (deodorant, shampoo, and makeup are unnecessary.) |
| Feminine Supplies | Please bring an ample supply as changes in diet, altitude, & fitness level can unexpectedly bring on your period. We are a Leave No Trace organization so tampons such as OB that do not have plastic applicators are recommended as it reduces the amount of trash being carried out. A Diva Cup is also a great reusable option. You are welcome to bring pads if that is the system you are most comfortable using. If you have any questions please contact your course advisor or instructor. | |
| 1 | Moisturizing Lotion | Your hands and feet will thank you after weeks in arid environments (approximately 12oz bottle. ) ($5+) |
Travel to and From Course
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| - | Travel Money or Snacks | The first day is often long. Have cash to buy snacks along the way or bring food with you. There may be unexpected travel expenses such as luggage fees. ($80) |
| 1 set | Clean clothes for the trip home | Please bring a set of clean clothes for your travels home. |
Optional Items
These are NOT required and you will be fine without them. Please only buy them if you plan to use the items again after your course or you think they will be of great assistance to you while on course (you may be asked to leave these behind depending on weather and space available in your backpack or dry bag).
| Quantity | Item | Description |
| 1 | Travel Insurance | COBS strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance to protect you in the event of an emergency cancellation or early medical departure. There are many companies that offer it, but we’ve seen success with Travelex Insurance. Cost varies by plan. (www.travelexinsurance.com). |
| 1 | Baby Wipes | Unscented. Keep in mind that you will have to pack out any used baby wipes. |
| 1 | Water Filter | COBS disinfects all wilderness water with iodine, bleach, or by boiling. Not all of these methods are effective against cryptosporidium. Immunocompromised people may wish to obtain an appropriate water filter for their course. ($40-$100) |
| 1 | Crazy Creek Chair | Crazy Creek and REI are popular brands. No chairs with legs can be brought! Must be lightweight and packable/rollable. ($20+) |
| 1 | Camera | Disposables are great & don’t get filled with sand. Bring multiple cameras if disposable. Digital cameras are fine, but you will have to take some extra precautions like putting it in a waterproof bag to keep out dirt, sand and water. Olympus, Canon, and Fuji all make digital waterproof/dustproof cameras. |
| 1 | Platypus or Camelbak (Hydration bladder) | This is not a supplement for your water bottles. Backpack hydration systems sometimes break. For that reason, please bring your water bottles as well. Hydration Systems can make hydrating while hiking in the mountains easier so you don’t have to stop to reach your water bottle. It helps to buy just the bladder, not the backpack since you will already have a backpack. These can only be used on land since they are difficult and hazardous to rig on the rafts for rapids. 3-4 Liter size is recommended. (20+) |
| 1 | Straw Sun Hat | Great for sun protection on the river. ($10+) |
| 1 | Synthetic Insulated Jacket (Puffy) or heavy Fleece | Synthetics are water-resistant and will dry quicker than down and retain warmth even when damp. 13oz.-17oz. should work well for this time of year. ($70-$200) |
Items not Allowed on Course:
- Electronics—cell phones, iPods, etc. These may be brought on the plane or bus but will need to be stored at the base before going into the field.
- Deodorant, makeup, shampoo, conditioner, perfume, cologne, etc.
- Illegal drugs, any CBD/THC products, alcohol, vapes, tobacco products of any kind, and nicotine.
- Any prescription drugs not cleared by your course advisor.
- Weapons of any kind.
Weather During Your Course:
Expect summer daytime temperatures in the mountains ranging from 60-85 degrees with nighttime temperatures ranging from 35-50 degrees. On the river, daytime highs will generally range from 80-100 degrees (pro-tip: avoid dark colors since they absorb more heat) with nighttime lows ranging from 50-60 degrees. Despite these recommendations of what is “normal weather,” our course environments are characterized by unpredictable weather—snow and freezing weather as well as 105 degree heat are all within the realm of possible weather during the summer, although rare. Please bring everything on this list since weather patterns can change quickly, especially over the course of 50 days through varying elevations. Once you arrive at course start, your instructors will update you on current weather patterns and what clothing will be appropriate.
Meeting Place:
Walker Field Airport (GJT)
Upstairs Near Vending Machines
Grand Junction, CO
COURSE START:
Please meet your COBS instructor and group at the airport no later than 1:00 PM on the first day of the course. It is a small airport, and we will do a roll call to ensure all participants are located. Parents will be notified only if a student does not arrive as expected. If you are dropping your child off in person, please arrive at the airport between 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM.
COURSE END:
The van is scheduled to arrive at the Walker Field/Grand Junction Airport (GJT) by 11:00 AM. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to make a flight before 12:00 PM, so plan your itinerary accordingly.
TRAVEL PROBLEMS AND EMERGENCY CONTACT:
If you encounter problems with your travel plans that will delay your arrival to Grand Junction, we can help troubleshoot solutions to get you to course start. Call us at 720.381.6589 and press option #2 (emergencies) and continue to follow the directions for a travel emergency on a Utah course. Make certain to leave your name, course, and call-back number if you are leaving a voicemail. In the event of an emergency (such as a death in the family) where you need to reach a student who is on course, follow the prompts for critical emergency for a student currently on a course. This will route to an on-call cell phone and you will get a prompt return call as indicated by the message.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
If you need to arrive in Grand Junction the day before the course start and/or spend the last night in Grand Junction, we recommend you contact the CLARION INN to make reservations.
Clarion Inn
755 Horizon Dr.
Grand Junction, CO 81506
Direct: (970) 243-6790
By calling the Clarion Inn directly, you can obtain a discounted rate for Outward Bound students - you must identify yourself as one when making reservations. The hotel also offers the following: free shuttle to/from airport, indoor pool, hot tub, exercise room, restaurant, and in-room movies. Please make reservations 45 days in advance or ASAP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for college credit registration and instructions for how to use 529 college funds to pay for an Outward Bound course
Click here to learn more
Once you submit your initial application, your COBS Course Advisor will send you an enrollment email that contains links to the forms we need you to complete and submit online
Click here to read an example of a typical day on course and what you can do to be prepared
Click here to review COBS Essential Eligibility Criteria
Click here for ideas to prepare for and manage homesickness
MAIL:
Embarking upon multi-week expedition without most of our comforts from home can be an unfamiliar challenge, and receiving letters from family and/or friends can be incredibly encouraging for everyone on an expedition. Your mail will be delivered to you at transfers and resupplies as well as at the end of course. Your family and friends can send mail to you at the following address. Any undelivered mail received after the course will be forwarded to your home address. Please ask them to mail the letters at least 6 days before the course end. Packages are subject to opening prior to delivery to the student. Packages should be sent via UPS or FedEx as the USPS will not deliver packages all the way to our basecamp. Letters can be sent through the USPS.
Name and Course #
c/o Colorado Outward Bound School
16 Ranch Road
Moab, Utah 84532
General Hygiene
Your instructors will explain the details of backcountry hygiene when you arrive. Groups carry soap and/or hand sanitizer for hand washing. Every student is given one wet wipe per day. You are welcome to bring and additional personal supply. Sometimes there are creeks, rivers, or lakes that groups can splash around in. Although showering and washing hair are not an option while on course, and there are usually no opportunities to wash clothing, it is not as bad as it sounds and we are all in it together.
Every course environment has different techniques and environmentally appropriate practices for going to the bathroom. You will learn how to dispose of human waste in latrines, cat holes, groovers, or other wilderness-area specific methods.
Getting your Period on Course
Diet, altitude, & fitness level can unexpectedly bring on your period or postpone it. You may experience irregularities while out on course. Choose the method you are most comfortable with such as pads, menstrual cups, or tampons and include extra/supplemental supplies. Many of our staff love a reusable menstrual cup (MeLuna, DivaCup or Lena), because it reduces the amount of waste that you will need to carry and pack out. If you’ve never used a menstrual cup, we recommend you research and trial it before course. If using tampons, consider a non-applicator tampon to reduce bulk and waste that needs to be carried. Feel free to contact your course advisor with any questions. Regardless of your choice, we are able to share practices for managing periods and supplies in the backcountry and provide all the supplies to manage waste.
Physical Preparation
Click here for guidance
Mental Preparation
Compassion is one of Outward Bound’s core values. Be prepared to offer it and expect it from your teammates. You will travel with and rely on a group of strangers each of whom have different reasons for attending Outward Bound and will come with varying levels of physical and mental strength. You may find that you will need to make compromises in your own expectations to support other members of your team. It is important to remember that in such a small group setting, your attitude and actions affect everyone.
Click here to learn more about financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Please contact Nohemi Mora, Scholarship Program Coordinator: [email protected] | 303-676-8238 with questions.
For your convenience, you may pay the balance of your tuition online through your invoice or make a payment by phone.
Please have the student's name, course number, course start date and balance due when using this payment option.
In most cases, a $500 deposit has been paid when you applied. Please refer to your Enrollment Email to confirm your balance*. If you are unsure of your balance due, please call (720) 381-6589 or email [email protected].
If your payment is not received by the due date listed in your Enrollment Email, you will risk losing your position on the course and your $500 deposit.
Please review the Admissions and Cancellation Policies.
Still have questions? Click here for more FAQs
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