Outward Bound USA

What Outward Bound USA does

Outward Bound USA is a nonprofit outdoor education organization founded in 1962 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, operating a national network of nine chartered regional schools that deliver experiential wilderness programming across the United States. Its core product is multi-day to multi-week expedition-based courses in activities including backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, whitewater rafting, dog sledding, and mountaineering, targeted at youth (ages 12-18), young adults, adults, families, military veterans, and corporate/professional groups. Course pricing ranges from $50 for subsidized veterans programs to $21,100 for 80-day leadership semesters, with need-based financial aid and scholarship support broadening access.

Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer course tuition sold via the outwardbound.org catalog, supplemented by philanthropic donations, corporate sponsorships (including the Ford Bronco Wild Fund partnership that reached over 2,025 students from 2020-2025), and partnership-driven group programs for school districts, youth organizations, colleges/universities, and corporate teams. The organization served 30,628 students in 2024 and references over 1 million lifetime alumni. Operating geographies span nine US regions (California, Boston, Chesapeake Bay, Colorado, Maine, NYC, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Minnesota) plus international locations in Costa Rica, Panama, Patagonia, and the Bahamas. Leadership is provided by CEO Ginger Naylor with a Board chaired by Christine Cook and a full C-suite covering development, operations, finance, and marketing functions.

Name

Outward Bound USA

Legal name

Outward Bound

Website

https://outwardbound.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Outward Bound USA is a nonprofit outdoor education organization operating nine regional schools across the United States, delivering multi-day wilderness expedition courses in backpacking, climbing, canoeing, and sailing to youth, adults, veterans, families, schools, and corporate teams for tuition ranging from $50 to $21,100.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult Skill-Building Expeditions & Courses (Leadership, Survival, Navigation) (THAAAOAC), Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG)

Keywords

• Outdoor education programs
• Wilderness adventure courses
• Experiential learning programs
• Leadership development courses
• Youth adventure programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition: Primary revenue from course fees ranging from $50 (veterans programs) to $21,100 (80-day leadership semester). Pricing varies by course duration, activity type, and location. Need-based financial aid and scholarships available.
2. Philanthropy and Corporate Partnerships: Donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners like Ford Bronco Wild Fund. Corporate sponsors fund scholarships and access programs for underrepresented communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Outward Bound USA delivers experiential outdoor education through wilderness adventure courses spanning backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, whitewater rafting, and mountaineering. Programs are offered for youth (ages 12-18), young adults, adults, veterans, families, schools, and corporate teams across nine regional schools in the United States and select international destinations. Revenue is generated primarily through course tuition, supplemented by donations, corporate sponsorships, and scholarship fundraising.

Product overview

Outward Bound USA is a national outdoor education organization operating as a network of nine regional schools across the United States. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of adventure-based courses and programs designed to spark lifelong growth through challenge in outdoor settings. The core offerings include Youth Courses (Middle School and High School programs ages 12-18), Adult Courses (classic courses for ages 18+ and 30+), Gap Year Courses (Pathfinder and Intercept semester programs for ages 17-25), Veterans Programs, Professional/Team Programs, School Partnership Programs, Family Courses, and Outdoor Educator Training. Activities span backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, whitewater rafting, mountaineering, dog sledding, surfing, scuba diving, and wilderness expeditions. The organization also runs national initiatives like The Reset Campaign and partnerships like the Ford Bronco Wild Fund to expand access to outdoor education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Reset: A national campaign launched in January 2026 encouraging youth, families, and educators to unplug from screens and reconnect with their communities.

Products and services

• Youth Courses (Middle School and High School) Outdoor adventure courses for students ages 12-18 featuring backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, whitewater rafting, and wilderness expeditions. Programs build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills through challenge-based learning. Course pricing ranges from $2,000 for a 5-day Colorado Rockies Intro to Adventure to $6,175 for 15-day Maine Island programs.
• Adult Courses Outdoor adventure courses for adults seeking to unplug, reflect, and reset. Activities include backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, dog sledding, and cross-country skiing for ages 18+ and 30+ cohorts. Pricing ranges from $1,680 for a 4-5 day Joshua Tree Rock Climb Basecamp course to $2,875 for a Blue Ridge Backpack & Rock Climb course.
• Gap Year Courses (Pathfinder and Intercept) Extended semester-length programs (30-80 days) for young adults ages 17-25 including Leadership Semester expeditions, Pathfinder courses, and Intercept programs. Activities combine multiple outdoor activities with cultural immersion and service projects. Pricing ranges from $8,070 for a 30-day Boundary Waters Pathfinder canoe course to $21,100 for the 80-day Maine to Bahamas Leadership Semester.
• Veterans Programs Specialized outdoor courses for military veterans including backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, and sea kayak expeditions. Programs focus on transition support, healing, and leadership development for veteran populations. Includes Women Veterans programs and Ten Thousand Islands expeditions with substantial scholarship support.
• Professional Programs Team-building and professional development experiences for corporations and organizations. Programs develop trust, communication, and leadership skills beyond typical professional development through experiential outdoor learning. Delivered through dedicated partnership channels for corporate teams, non-profits, and organizations.
• School Programs Custom partnership programs for schools bringing social-emotional development to students. Includes programs for middle schools, high schools, college and university institutions. Programs are aligned with school curricula and educational goals and delivered through dedicated partnership channels.
• Family Courses Multi-generational outdoor adventures for families to experience together, including canoe expeditions and backpacking trips such as the Ten Thousand Islands Families Canoe (3 days at $1,700) and Blue Ridge Families Backpack & Rock Climb.
• Outdoor Educator Courses Professional training programs for individuals seeking to become outdoor educators, including instructor development and certification preparation courses. Programs develop the skills needed to lead wilderness expeditions and outdoor education experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of students report increased self-confidence after completing Outward Bound programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Ford Bronco Wild FundmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Five-year collaboration (2020-2025) between Outward Bound USA and Ford Bronco Wild Fund reaching over 2,025 students, including many from underrepresented communities, through outdoor learning programs. Partnership aims to expand access to the outdoors and develop future leaders.
• National Youth and Family OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutward Bound launched 'The Reset' national campaign on January 24, 2026, partnering with youth and family organizations to address rising youth mental health concerns and digital fatigue through outdoor activities and digital wellness.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Road Less Traveled: Road Less Traveled is a smaller experiential education provider focused on teen service and adventure trips. Comparable target market (youth and families) and trip formats (multi-week outdoor expeditions) to OBUSA's youth programs.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): NOLS is the closest direct peer to Outward Bound USA — a nonprofit wilderness education organization offering multi-week backpacking, climbing, and paddling courses for youth, adults, and professionals with comparable methodology, pricing, and target segments.
• Bold Earth Teen Adventures: Bold Earth is a for-profit experiential education provider offering teen adventure trips domestically and abroad. It competes directly with OBUSA's youth and gap-year segments on multi-week wilderness and international courses.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: AMC is a regional outdoor recreation and education organization offering hiking, climbing, and outdoor skills programs in the Northeast US. Overlaps with OBUSA's New England/Maine regional school on outdoor education programming and member-driven engagement.
• REI Adventures: REI Adventures offers guided outdoor trips and expeditions across the US and internationally. Operated by the REI co-op, it overlaps with OBUSA in backpacking, climbing, and rafting experiences, but targets a more consumer-driven audience with shorter-format trips.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA: YMCA operates a national network of camps and youth programs with outdoor adventure components. Broader mission (fitness, childcare, community services) but directly comparable in delivering outdoor youth programming and summer camp experiences.
• Expeditionary Learning (EL Education): EL Education is a K-12 school network and professional development organization applying experiential, adventure-based pedagogy in schools. Comparable methodology to OBUSA but delivers through partner schools rather than direct outdoor expeditions.
• Student Conservation Association: SCA is a national nonprofit offering conservation service and outdoor leadership programs for youth and young adults. Broader portfolio than OBUSA (includes urban and trail crew work) but overlaps in outdoor leadership development and youth engagement.
• Boy Scouts of America: BSA is a large national youth organization delivering outdoor skills, leadership, and adventure programming. Broader and more youth-development-focused than OBUSA but competes for the same youth and family outdoor education audience.
• Sierra Club: Sierra Club is a large national environmental organization offering outdoor activities, outings, and education programs. Overlaps with OBUSA in outdoor recreation and experiential learning for adults, though more conservation-advocacy oriented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/outwardboundusa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OutwardBoundUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/outwardboundusapage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outward-bound-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/outwardboundusa
• TikToktiktok.com/@outwardboundusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Outward Bound USA