Outward Bound program starts at Presidio

by Judith Kahn

The Presidio Trust has added another unique educational program to its many others.

The Outward Bound Bay Area Center (OBBAC) is housed at two newly-renovated buildings above Baker Beach. The group is a chapter of the national organization Outward Bound. Instructors use the OBBAC headquarters to host orientation sessions with students before beginning their adventures.

The missions of Outward Bound and the Presidio Trust are aligned philosophically - to use wilderness adventures to help youth develop self-reliance, leadership, teamwork and community service. Students are taught character development through outdoor activities and unique programs, such as the "urban expedition."

The urban expedition provides an opportunity for students to step out of their neighborhood and into their city-at-large. They are introduced to resources available to them, service projects they can join, and sites they can bring their families to see. Then they walk out of the front door, get on a bus and head out to their first location.

Guided by OBBAC instructors, the students begin their experience at the Presidio with a hike through the Crissy Field wetlands to the Main Post, where a National Park Service ranger teaches groups about the natural history of Lobos Creek and its watershed areas.

Recently, a group camped in the Presidio and participated in reflective exercises. Then they set out on a two-mile hike to the Hyde Street Pier, carrying all of their equipment on their backs. When they arrived, each student took turns at the helm of a sailboat as it cruised to the dock at Angel Island State Park. On the island, students learned "leave no trace" camping methods and practiced their new skills while discovering the natural history of the island.

On the final night, the students slept overnight at the San Francisco Zoo, where they learned about the nocturnal activities of animals.

Students in the program range from 12 to 17 years of age. After attending the program, the students should demonstrate an ability to collaborate and exhibit compassion toward others in an effort to live a healthy and balanced life. They learn to set goals and inspire and guide others to achieve them. Tools learned include learning to collaborate, communicate, solve problems and resolve conflicts effectively.

They have a strong alumni association and many of the students who have attended outdoor programs have continued to be actively engaged in the community, demonstrating social and environmental responsibility. They become actively involved in maintaining a healthy environment. Students in the program are asked what they realized about themselves as a leader after taking the course.

Some of the responses were: "I realized I don't need electronics," "I realized I can do all sort of things," "I am valuable," "I can do anything" and "I can endure hard work."

Many graduates have gone on to other adventures, include hiking and camping throughout the rest of the parks in San Francisco and more remote wilderness areas. Many are also active in trail maintenance and other activities around the Presidio.

Outward Bound feels fortunate that good outdoors spots, including Dragonfly Creek, Lobos Creek, Baker Beach and Crissy Field, are only a short hike from its headquarters. As well, there are many outdoor venues in Marin, like the hiking trails at Mount Tamalpais, which are a short distance from the Presidio.

Outward bound is a nationwide non-profit organization created by Karl Han in 1941. Today, there are more than 30 Outward Bound schools on five continents.

Han, who was born in Germany in 1886, decided that students just weren't being prepared for the challenges of life. So, in 1920 he created his own school, the Salem School, to teach students via real-world experiences how to make positive changes in their communities. In 1932, when Adolph Hitler began to rise to power in Germany, Han began to speak out against the German despot and was sent to jail. After being released, he moved to England, where he opened the Gordonstoun School to continue teaching.

When World War 11 did break out and Hitler tried to take over Europe, British ships were being sunk by German submarines and the survivors had to endure harsh conditions in the North Atlantic. It was noticed by a British merchant named Lawrence Holt, owner of the Blue Funnel Shipping Line, that younger sailors were suffering more at sea than older sailors. He thought this was the result of the older sailors greater life experience, so Holt asked Han to teach the younger sailors how to work better together to survive.

In 1941 he created the first Outward Bound course to train the young sailors. After the war, people thought his teachings could be useful for students everywhere, so they began to create more Outward Bound schools.

To be an instructor at an Outward Bound, a person must have the ability to work with young people and make a commitment to their community. Many of the instructors have teaching backgrounds and are skilled in various outdoor activities, such as rock climbing.

Outward Bound works directly with the SF Unified School District and other school districts that can benefit the most from its youth leadership outdoor programs. Recently, the group has been working with students from Visitation Valley and Marina middle schools and Mission High School.

The program serves 70,000 kids throughout the nation and more than 300 kids are expected to be part of the San Francisco program.

To find out more about the Outward Bound program, contact Vanessa Mendillo at 933-OBBA (6222), ext 2, or visit the Web site at www.outwardboundbayarea.org.