Being 16 these days comes with a lot of noise: from screens, pressure, and expectations pulling in every direction. So, when Alex stepped onto a mountain trail for a Connecting with Courage course, he wasn’t just going on a trip: he was giving himself space to breathe, reset, and reconnect.
This life-changing experience, made possible through the partnership between OBC and The Maddie Project, marked his first hike in BC and the beginning of a journey that strengthened his confidence, resilience, and sense of self.
“The first day, my backpack weighed 64 pounds! We had to split that up because it was way too much,” Alex says, laughing.
For Alex’s mom, Debra, watching her son step into the unknown carried far more weight than any backpack. As a parent of a teen who struggles with emotional and social wellbeing, she had been considering Outward Bound courses for Alex for a few key reasons:
1. He has a strong passion, curiosity, and love for nature
2. Both parents experienced outdoor adventure programs after high school and know how transformative time in nature can be
3. Most importantly, Alex was in a “good spot” in his personal growth and open to taking on the challenge of the trip
The Connecting with Courage program is designed for youth navigating challenges like low self-esteem, self-doubt, or social isolation, and who are ready to try something new. More than an outdoor adventure, it offers young people the chance to connect with peers, build confidence and resilience, and reflect, grow, and heal in nature.
FEELING SEEN AND SUPPORTED AS A FAMILY
“When my husband and I found out Alex had been selected for the BC hiking trip, we were extremely grateful. It was an enormous blessing to have someone see the potential in him, recognize his strengths, take a chance and invest in him,” Debra says.
She explains that parenting a teen who struggles with mental wellness can feel isolating and discouraging. “Then something like this comes along and suddenly we don’t feel so alone. It felt like we had support; someone willing to invest in our child and allow him to grow independently from us.”
Debra adds that teens don’t always want to hear what their parents have to say. They need mentors outside their family to invest in them. “We felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and hope that this investment in our son would improve his outlook on life and restore his sense of possibility.”
CONNECTIONS THAT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
For Alex, that support began with his instructor, Lorna.
“She’s a surfer. And I’m a surfer,” Alex says.
Surfing isn’t common in his hometown of Bradford, Ontario. Alex first fell in love with the sport on a trip to Florida and later surfed on Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, braving strong winds and cold water. That shared passion helped him quickly connect with Lorna. Once trust was built, Alex became more open, not just to learning new skills, but to the unfamiliar rhythms of wilderness life.
As the group explored BC’s coastal mountains and temperate rainforests, Alex learned strategies to manage anxiety and adjust to new people and environments. When the group felt overwhelmed, Lorna suggested something simple: hugging a tree and focusing on a single detail, like the texture of the bark.
That singular focus helped Alex restore calm and build patience, both with people and with situations beyond his control. Wilderness life moves on a different schedule, far from routine and predictability. Learning to adapt was challenging, but transformative.
BRINGING THE LESSONS HOME
When Alex returned home, Debra noticed the changes right away.
“He came back more confident, with a lighter spirit and a noticeably more positive attitude. We saw it in the way he treated people around him, with more patience, kindness, and respect.”
During the trip, Alex was encouraged to incorporate healthier habits into his life and he has continued many of them since returning home, including journaling, reflecting, reading, and spending time in nature.
“Journaling was something he had never done before, and the fact that the instructors helped integrate these positive tools into his life is incredible. When I purchased and packed the journal for the trip, I thought to myself, ‘There is no way he’ll actually use this, but I’ll buy it because it’s on the list, LOL’. I’m thankful to stand corrected,” Debra says
CONNECTION WITHOUT SCREENS
Now, Alex is making more intentional choices about how he spends his time and what he takes in, both mentally and physically, and he continues to prioritize time outdoors. He credits both the people and the absence of technology for much of that growth:
“Without cell phones, the group played cards every night and hung out around the tents. It was really fun. I hadn’t played card games since third grade. That’s a long time!” Everything’s so digital now. But when you’re playing cards, you actually talk to people instead of staring at a phone. You connect on a different level. Being out in the mountains, free of distractions, was the best stress relief.
A GIFT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME
For Debra, seeing the change in her son wasn’t just about confidence. It was about hope:
“This experience will be something Alex looks back on for the rest of his life, an anchor and a foundation for his mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. It will be something he can return to, remembering what he learned through the hiking journey, the instructors, and the other participants.”
This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible for our family without the Maddie Project. This gift encouraged us as parents and made us feel like we finally had someone on our team, supporting our son’s growth. Parenting is the hardest job in the world, and we’ll be forever thankful not just for the experience itself, but for the gift of hope for a stronger, healthier, and more abundant future.
Since 2019, OBC and The Maddie Project have partnered to run the Connecting with Courage program, offering 10 courses across BC and Ontario and supporting the confidence, resilience, and well-being of 72 youth participants.
If you’re curious about how programs like Connecting with Courage are made accessible, or want to learn more about the Maddie Project and Outward Bound Canada’s funded programs, you can find more information below:
