Three months ago I was given the incredible opportunity to represent John McGlashan College on the Outward Bound ‘Mind Body and Soul’ course in the Marlborough Sounds, and I can say quite confidently that those weeks were some of the most fun and challenging of my life.
The course itself takes place over three weeks, during which you are separated from your phone and thrown into a group of 13 strangers and pushed through every kind of challenge imaginable. The activities were varied and fun, with hiking, sailing, climbing and several opportunities to jump from height into water, there was never a dull moment. Beyond the physical challenge there is the mental side of things, with instructors guiding you through team building exercises and leadership drills with your group (or your Watch) and discussing our futures and what they might hold. There was also a goal setting and habit building workshop which was particularly helpful in that regard.
Some of the standout activities, or as our instructors called them “Schemes” were as follows; a five and a half day expedition, with two and a half days spent hiking up mountains and through bush followed by 3 days of sailing. The Life Run where instructors encourage you to independently reflect on your life, attitude and the people you value. The solo, almost 2 days alone in the bush with no human contact and very little food, just you in your campsite thinking and reflecting, an opportunity to meditate. And finally, the half marathon at the end of the course, which was quite possibly the most satisfying challenge of all, and definitely the most painful.
I found Outward Bound an incredible opportunity for anyone willing to fully commit to it. The skills you learn and the friendships you build through your journey, along with the confidence and leadership skills you develop make you feel like an entirely new person by the end of the course. I would recommend it to any student who wishes to challenge themselves and learn about nature and people, there is a valuable opportunity offered by the Otago Trust Fund through the school, supplying a student with a $6000 scholarship that covers most of the costs of the course, you’ll probably be hearing more about this later on from both myself and Mr Casey. I can’t stress enough how fun, satisfying and fulfilling I found this course, and I hope that at least one of you reading will be able to say the same.
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