When Chris and Nancy sent their 17-year-old son Ben on an Outward Bound Canada (OBC) course, they weren’t looking for a drastic transformation. The goal was simply to give him the chance to test himself in a place that would challenge him in ways everyday life doesn’t.
“He already loved the outdoors, and he’s a determined individual. We thought OBC would offer a unique experience for him to have in a beautiful place in Canada,” Chris says.
Like most parents, Chris and Nancy wanted to understand exactly what they were signing up for before their son left. They reached out to OBC with questions about safety, emergency procedures, and instructor training, making sure they felt confident before sending Ben out for three weeks in the mountains. In July 2022, their son joined a 21-day hiking course in the Canadian Rockies, on the traditional lands of the Niitsitapi, Îyârhe Nakoda, Tsuut’ina Nations, Ktunaxa Nation, and Métis Region 3.
The change after Ben’s OBC experience
What stood out after the course was a clear change in how their son saw himself and the people around him. Ben came back with a deeper understanding of what he could handle, both physically and mentally, shaped by the experience of being pushed in a real environment, far from his usual routine.
“Even though he was a confident, capable young man before, after the experience he realized that his body and mindset can do so much more. He came back with a stronger sense that he’s capable of doing anything he wants,” they share.
That transformation extended beyond personal confidence. Living closely with others and depending on the group brought a different awareness of relationships and connection. Nancy adds that her son gained a greater sense of the “importance of family, friends, and being around others, and the strength that comes from those relationships.”
From alumni parents to OBC supporters
For Chris and Nancy, the decision to become donors followed naturally. They had seen the impact of the experience on their son, and it also connected to Chris’s own history with Outward Bound earlier in life. Supporting OBC felt like a straightforward way to ensure others could have access to the same kind of growth.
“We know the impact the experience had on our son, and on me when I was his age, so it felt natural to give back to OBC” Chris explains.
When asked what they would say to other parents considering a donation, they kept it simple. Supporting OBC helps create opportunities that stay with young people long after the course ends. In their words: “Supporting OBC will no doubt help provide positive, life-changing experiences for others.”
At its core, their experience comes back to something that feels obvious once you’ve seen it firsthand: time outdoors, shared with others and shaped by real challenges, has a lasting effect.
“Being with others outdoors is both physically and mentally healthy for all of us, and the OBC vision and core values are really something for us to rally around and support if we can,” they say.
For this family, the course didn’t end when their son came home. It carried forward into how they see growth and connection, and into their decision to help make that same experience possible for the next participant.
Give the Gift of Adventure
Chris and Nancy saw firsthand how 21 days in the mountains can change a young person’s perspective. You can help ensure the next young person has the same opportunity to discover what they are truly capable of.
