The Spark 03.18 : Women Outward Bound

Students and their parents regularly reach out to let us know how Outward Bound has truly “changed their life.” Last week was no exception when we received the following message from one of our VOBS alumus parents:

Good morning,
My daughter Savannah took the Outward Bound Intercept program when she was 16, ten years ago. It changed her life forever. I wanted to thank you again and again for your mission and the impact you have on others, especially my daughter. If it wasn’t for Outward Bound and the amazing instructors she had she wouldn’t be where she is today. She just returned from Antarctica as the youngest and as a woman climbing granite peaks that no one has climbed before. She was sponsored by Northface, National Geographic, and Yeti coolers. She has been doing amazing feats and credits Outward Bound. I wanted to share her video with you and her story of success thanks to Outward Bound.

Sincerely,
Christine

To watch the video Christine mentions above click here! I also highly recommend checking out Savannah’s website. In addition to being an amazing outdoor adventurer, she’s an incredible photographer and filmmaker. To learn more about the Intercept program here at VOBS, visit our web page!

What’s your favorite thing about instructing a course?

LP: “I love having the big picture vision of how to get the group to come together, and how each group and group member can reach their goals. Every group and every individual is different, and so are their goals. I'm pretty ambitious about what I think people can do and I love watching them realize they can do it."

MR: "There's this transition for instructors, after you've taught the students the skills and what they need to know, where you pass off leadership and students take over. This is my favorite moment because I'm always nervous how things will go, and I'm always pleasantly surprised how students take it, own it and absolutely succeed."

"My other favorite part of instructing is when students come back from solo. They are so proud that they survived out there on their own and it's also great to feel reunited with the group."

What does it mean to you to be a female instructor?

LP: "At VOBS we have so many women that work here. At any given time, it feels like 50% of our staff are female so my peers really just feel like my peers; gender roles don't come into play. On course though, especially recently, I feel like more and more women are showing up, specifically for winter courses. When I’m instructing I think a lot about role modeling because I think it's important for students to see females leading.
However, it's important people don't see female leaders just as these superheroes that aren't the norm. As a female leader in the outdoors I want to be seen as someone who can do this and is also female. That this can be the norm. It's important as a leader that our students are able to see elements of themselves in us; that they can feel like 'I can do that too.’"

MR: "VOBS has an exceptional number of bad-a$$ women. It's something I noticed right away when I first got here. I came from a job where there were primarily men in leadership. At first, I was anxious about being a female in leadership in a career in Wilderness. But I was pleasantly surprised at how not intimidating it was. I have all the respect in the world from both my students and fellow instructors. I realized the anxieties I had were coming from society, but at VOBS they don't exist."

On Course, we asked each student and instructor, ‘Which VOBS Sled Dog matches your personality?’ Can you share your answers?

LP: "Lucy. She's independent and sometimes needs to have her own spot and place to perform her best. She does really well out in the woods and she's not afraid to go off trail."

MR: "Penny, because she is fun, positive, and exuberant out in the woods."

* While I agree with Lisa's and Maddie's answers, our crew picked some additional options. Shanti for Maddie because her leadership style is similar: cool, calm and collected. A quiet confidence that gets stuff done and also brings a sense of calm and confidence to the group. For Lisa, we chose Chinook. Lisa is a born leader, always ready to get us back on track after every physical and mental crash on course. She's also incredibly kind while leading the way.

Best advice you've received?

LP: "Maddie shared some advice from her mom last winter on course, 'it's okay to throw away your art.' I've always hung on to this. It's so easy to get attached to the things you create, but you need to remember that it's okay to create and move on. It can be about the process as much as the product."

MR: "From a past instructor before I started instructing: 'get comfortable being uncomfortable.'"

Why Outward Bound?

LP: "The biggest thing Outward Bound does that is hard for us to do by ourselves as humans, is to choose challenge. The way a course is structured and provides support is hard to replicate or match. We tend to opt out of every day challenges in our lives. But by choosing to go on course, you sign up and show up. You're making a contract to invest in yourself. You're also doing it with professionals and we have the biggest and best playground to play in."

MR: "Going on course gave me a lot of confidence. I learned how to take care of myself and other people while being out in the woods. There's this rhythm of ups and downs, but there isn't a lot of complication. It's a simple lifestyle and routine, away from the technology and the rest of the world. Your only focus is on these two questions, “Who are you?' and 'What are you Doing?” You work hard and you sleep well. It makes you feel like a real person, you feel human."

YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Thank you for being a part of a community that develops accomplished and compassionate people to make a positive difference in their lives, their communities and the world.

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