OUR COURSES: RESILIENT AND READY

Updated November 2022 - Additional updates to come as the CDC, national, state and county guidelines evolve. 

We are so excited to welcome students on our 2023 expeditions. Our courses may look slightly different this year, as we follow our enhanced health and safety standards. Please keep reading to see what these standards look like on course and what you can expect as you embark on your journey with Outward Bound.  

CBOBS is following all applicable federal and state law and CDC guidance regarding COVID-19. Due to the changing nature of the pandemic, information on this page is subject to change and will be updated, as necessary. 

Let's Get Started. The moment you decide to go Outward Bound you’re tasked with responsibilities that impact not only yourself, but also your crew. This includes taking the necessary precautions to mitigate risks, including those associated with COVID-19. Below are enhanced health and safety practices we ask of every student prior to arrival and while on course.  

Reach out to your Course Advisor if you have additional questions.  

COURSE PROTOCOLS SUMMARY [DETAILED FAQ BELOW]

All students are encouraged to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to course start. If a student tests positive on arrival the student will need to leave the course permanently. Please note that tuition refunds are provided in the case of a positive test IF and only IF tuition insurance has been purchased.

For the 14-days prior to your course start date, please do the following:

  • Practice proper social distancing
  • Wash and sanitize your hands frequently
  • We encourage you to wear a mask when practical
  • Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms

*COVID-19 Testing

Testing is one layer of the safety system which ensures that students arrive at their course healthy. Open Enrollment participants, travelling from out of state, are encouraged but not required to test prior to course start with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 test. You can take either a PCR test 72 hours prior to the first day of course, or a rapid test 24 hours prior to the first day of course.

Upon arrival, all courses 5-days or longer will follow a 2-test regimen.

  • Test 1 – On the first day, after arriving at base or the airport, all students and staff will complete an OTC Antigen Rapid Test, which has results in 15 min.
  • Test 2 – the second OTC Antigen Rapid Test is performed in the field on day 5 or after returning to base.
    If the course is longer than 5 days – students can discontinue masks/physical distancing after everyone is confirmed as Covid negative.

All participants are  encouraged to be up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and/or obtain an FDA-authorized COVID-19 viral test prior to the first day of course.

Participants on Open Enrollment courses may use all travel options to course start and for return travel. If Outward Bound changes the transportation policy for the course that you are enrolled on, and you are unable to attend course as a result, you are eligible for a full tuition refund minus the $150 non-refundable application fee. 

For the welfare of all the students and staff, please do not arrive to course start if you are feeling unwell, running a fever, or experiences any symptoms of communicable diseases including COVID-19 Symptoms. All Students will be screened upon arrival and will complete a rapid antigen test on site. If any signs or symptoms of illness exist, or the test results are positive, students will not be allowed to start the course.

Our team is committed to safety on each and every crew that goes into the field. In order to maintain our high standard of COVID-19 compliance, we will be doing the following, while also ensuring that our students have the Outward Bound experience they deserve. 

  • Participants will wear approved personal protective equipment when requested to do so. 
  • Enhanced personal hygiene will be practiced on every course. 
  • Increased cleaning and sanitization. 

See additional details in the FAQ below. 

Our staff has worked rigorously to develop field safety practices that keep everyone (including themselves safe while on course). Any CBOBS Staff member who works with students will be fully vaccinated**

** All program staff at CBOBSare vaccinated with at least one  COVID-19 booster.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

WILL CBOBS STAFF BE TESTED FOR COVID-19?
Any CBOBS Staff member who works with students or provides in-person program support will be tested prior to in-person interaction.  
WHAT WILL YOU DO IF A STUDENT EXHIBITS SIGNS OF COVID-19?
Parents/guardians will be contacted in the event their child develops symptoms consistent with any communicable disease, including COVID-19. Symptomatic individuals will be equipped with PPE, and tested using a rapid test. Students will be cared for, and CBOBS will seek medical care based on the student’s signs and symptoms and local medical advice, involving parents in the conversation as practical. If your child is Covid positive or otherwise too sick continue course, parents will be asked to pick up their child from the field as soon as possible. CBOBS’ emergency on-call team will manage this process, and the admissions team will support all pre- and post-course communication.
WHAT IS YOUR QUARANTINE PLAN?
If the symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, Outward Bound will equip the student with PPE, and care for the student until they are put in the care of a parent or guardian. If necessary, Outward Bound will seek medical care based on the student’s signs and symptoms and local medical advice, involving parents in the conversation as practical.  
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE IN THE GROUP TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the student will need to leave the course permanently.   Parents/guardians are required to pick up the student as soon as possible from CBOBS headquarters in Baltimore. CBOBS will seek medical care based on the student’s signs and symptoms and local medical advice, involving parents in the conversation as practical.  CBOBS will notify the parents/guardians of the remaining students of the potential exposure. Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to remove their child from the course.  If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they would leave the course permanently and be replaced by a staff member who has been supporting the group. 
WHAT ARE THE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR UPCOMING COURSES?
COVID-19 vaccinations and at least one booster  are required for all CBOBS program staff. COVID-19 vaccinations are encouraged but not required for all participants.
WHAT WILL THE SLEEPING SITUATION LOOK LIKE?
Students will sleep under tarps or in tents. Students will not wear masks when sleeping.
WILL STUDENTS AND STAFF BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS?
Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks at certain points through the course, such as in vehicles or indoors. Be sure to pack at least 2 masks in your gear.  Outdoor activities (such as canoeing, climbing, sea kayaking, or hiking) will not require wearing masks,
WHAT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN DURING THE COURSE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE?
Staff will teach and supervise hygiene behaviors on course, including: 
  • Handwashing and hand sanitizing 
  • Sanitary food preparation and dish sanitizing 
  • Covering sneezes and coughs
  • Not sharing personal utensils or personal care products 
  • Masking and/or distancing when necessary
WILL MY CHILD BE DENIED ACCEPTANCE TO OUTWARD BOUND IF THEY HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS?
Having an underlying health condition would not automatically exclude anyone from participating in Outward Bound. All students undergo a medical screening process to make sure that they are safe and fit candidates for their specific course. Students with underlying conditions are advised to check with their physicians about any additional risks of contracting a communicable disease. 
WHY SHOULD I TEST BEFORE ARRIVING TO COURSE?
Testing is one layer of the safety system which ensures that students arrive at their course healthy. All students are heavily encouraged to obtain an FDA-authorized COVID-19 rapid test prior to course to avoid unnecessary return travel and expense. All students will be tested on arrival and on day 5 of course.   
WHAT IF OUTWARD BOUND HAS TO CANCEL A COURSE MY CHILD IS ENROLLED ON? WILL WE GET A REFUND?
If Outward Bound needs to cancel a course due to COVID-19 your Course Advisor will assist you in transferring to a future Outward Bound course OR issue a course credit for a future Outward Bound course OR issue a refund in full. 
WHEN WOULD YOU CANCEL A COURSE AS IT RELATES TO COVID-19?
If travel or other challenges result in enrollment dropping so low that the group size is below what we believe is necessary for the valuable interpersonal dynamics of an Outward Bound course, we will seek to transfer students and combine groups. If this is not possible, we may be forced to cancel a course.  
WILL CBOBS BE PROVIDING SHUTTLE AND UNACCOMPANIED MINOR PICK UP/DROP OFF AT YOUR LOCAL AIRPORT?
  CBOBS will provide a shuttle from BWI Airport to base for students only. The shuttle to base from Baltimore-Washington Marshall International Airport (BWI) leaves promptly at 10:30 AM.   Directions to the Outward-Bound Shuttle:  
  • From baggage claim, proceed upstairs to the departures level.  
  • Leave the terminal through Door #1 (labeled) across from the Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter  
  • Cross the crosswalk and turn left towards the Southwest Drop-off area. (This is the first drop-of area that incoming vehicles encounter.) Outward Bound staff will meet you here at 10:30 AM.  
Parents or guardians wishing to travel to base from the airport must arrange their own transportation. BWI Airport is a 20 min drive from our base in Baltimore.  See google map directions here.    CBOBS staff will not meet unaccompanied minors at their arrival gate/departure gate for air travel.  If an airline requires that a minor be accompanied by an adult, the parent or guardian will be responsible.  Airlines vary according to their policies. Please contact your airline for their specific policy.    Here are some of our more commonly used airline policies on Unaccompanied Minor travel: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/unaccompanied-minors-pol.html https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/unaccompanied-minors.jsp https://www.delta.com/us/en/children-infant-travel/unaccompanied-minor-program 

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 

Our instructors have tested all of our safety measures in the field on themselves in real-world scenarios in the very course areas your program will take place. We've made sure that all of our student expectations are functional, manageable and do not detract from the quality of your Outward Bound course. Here is what it looks like to take a course with our crew during COVID-19.