VOBS Tuition Discounts & Scholarships

Greetings Partners, Friends and Champions,

The Coronavirus pandemic has certainly disrupted learning for students during the school year, and it threatens to disrupt intervention, support and enrichment programs for students this summer and beyond.

It is our goal at Voyageur Outward Bound School to prepare students for the challenges of life. We change lives through challenge and discovery. Our vision is a more resilient and compassionate world. We know that now, more than ever, the world needs compassionate and resilient people. This pandemic challenges us to take care of one another, to persist and to solve problems. Belonging, strength and purpose are not unique to life, but they are now more critical. When we can be together again, young people will need to recognize and grow their resilience. They will need to find comfort in shared experience and the natural world, and they will need the confidence to thrive.

As many of you know, Voyageur Outward Bound, in accordance with Outward Bound USA safety guidelines and the MN Stay At Home order, has suspended April, May and June programming. This has been disruptive for some of our program partners.

We now plan to start our summer season in July. While many of our partner programs should continue without interruption, we realize some students will still need support. So we'd like to get the word out about opportunities for individual students to enroll on a VOBS course this summer. We are prioritizing local enrollment, offering tuition discounts to all, and extending scholarships to under-resourced students in Minnesota and neighboring states.

We are offering individual students 3 types of Leadership Expedition programs this summer:

Intercept Expedition- Teens & Young Adults
An innovative and time-tested 28 or 50 day wilderness expedition for struggling teens and young adults. This intensive program supports both students and families to build confidence and resolve conflict with profound experiences and practical problem-solving tools. VOBS accepts counselor, therapist, administrator and parent referrals for this life-changing program.

Classic Expedition- Teens & Young Adults
15 or 22 day wilderness expeditions for teens and young adults in the Boundary Waters and Northern Minnesota. Students discover belonging, strength and purpose through shared challenge and adventure. Classic = life-changing experience, skills for success at home and in school, and excellent preparation for college.

Pathfinder Expedition- Young Adults
30 day wilderness expeditions for young adults seeking purpose and a path to success. Students identify and leverage strengths to unlock personal and peer potential. This program focuses on discovery and direction to help students navigate the transition to adulthood with confidence.

Please share this information with your students, colleagues, families and friends. Here are some handy links for information:

Voyageur Outward Bound Course Finder
student.services@vobs.org | 828. 239. 2376
Scholarships & Discounts for Local Students

For 56 years, Voyageur Outward Bound has helped students develop skills for success. We realize that in the weeks, months and years to come, young people will need confidence, courage and tenacity as they face new challenges. It is our goal to provide greater access to our programs today in order to prepare youth for tomorrow.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions; our Student Services Team is happy to help.

We look forward to serving your students and our community this summer!

Marlais Brand
Director of Partnership
Voyageur Outward Bound School

“Young people who have stronger social, emotional, and cognitive

skills are more likely to enter and graduate from college; succeed

in their careers; have positive work and family relationships,

better mental and physical health, and reduced criminal

behavior; and be more engaged citizens... Employers recognize

that it doesn’t matter how much workers know if they can’t work

well in teams, communicate clearly, and persevere when

confronted with complex problems.”

From A Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope, The Aspen Institute