About

The concept of Outward Bound Training was the brainchild of Kurt Hahn. He believed that people needed to develop their skills and felt that this could be done by appropriate methods of teaching in a conducive environment. It was the thinking of educators such as Kurt Hahn and Laurence Holt (Chairman of Blue Star Shipping Lines), that the only way to cut the losses suffered by allied seamen during the Second World War was to train and prepare them for the exact eventualities that they would face. This resulted in the idea of Outward Bound Training. It was Hahn’s vision that these training programmes would foster extraordinary, well-rounded young men and women, who would be distinguished from others of their age by their enthusiasm, willingness to learn and determination. These programmes are designed to encourage the participants to develop leadership qualities, foster team spirit and above all build self-confidence. Slow learners with disabilities, the academically gifted, the physically inept as well as the naturally athletic, were all welcomed and encouraged to reach their fullest potential. Today, Outward Bound International is the largest professional, independent, non-profit, outdoor educational organization in the world, with 34 schools in 32 countries, with over 250 wilderness and urban locations who all share the following mission statement. “Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization created to stimulate Personal Development and generate understanding between people. This is achieved by impelling them out of their familiar environments and setting new challenges through safe but demanding adventure experiences which inspire responsibility, self-reliance, team-work, confidence, compassion and community service.” The Outward Bound Trust of Sri Lanka (OBTSL), the accredited agent for Outward Bound International, United Kingdom, implements this philosophy in the most appropriate form based on its unique culture, geography, social and political environment. In recent years the pace of development has forced most organizations in Sri Lanka to rapidly promote and hurriedly recruit employees who may not be fully prepared to accept the responsibilities that they are presented with. Our trainees will learn and enhance those ‘life skills’ we all need to cope in a fast moving and highly competitive work environment; skills such as leadership, initiative, communication, decision-making, cooperation, risk-taking and trust. Our safety record is outstanding and is subject to annual review and accountable to Outward Bound International. When water based activities are undertaken, in addition to the life jackets & other gear, the services of experienced & trained lifeguards are utilized. When required safety boats patrol the area. The resource personnel deployed in this programme have been trained both nationally and internationally in Outward Bound methodology. Our chief Instructors and Safety Auditors participated at the World Conference and upgrading workshop held in Malaysia. Outward Bound Sri Lanka proposes to host the World Conference in 2008. In every programme there is a Chief Instructor, Group Instructors, Safety Auditor, Co-ordinator and in addition an officer-in-charge.