Being an instructor for Outward Bound has countless benefits. I have the opportunity to do what I love and to share these activities with young people from all walks of life. I have been very blessed to have jobs that I enjoy and this one is at the top of the list. I have the pleasure of teaching the students new skills and sometimes honing skills they already possess. One of the greatest lessons or skills I help them with is the acceptance of living in the moment. We all have a tendency to get caught up in what has happened in the past or what may happen in the future. I, along with my co-instructors, find this to be a waste of time and energy. I find that when the students learn to let go of their normal concepts of time they open up to everything else around them. We encourage them to find the joy and beauty in each moment. In our everyday lives there is much to see if we would only be mindful and open ourselves up to it. This is especially true in the rainforest, all the sights, the sounds and the smells are just waiting to fill your senses. I have witnessed some students make the transition overnight while it takes others a little longer. I have found that when the students settle into their new surroundings, away from commercial distractions, they are more open to new possibilities. This is a great potential for growth because when we get into a different mindset we can see things from many different vantage points. It makes us more vulnerable, but that too is a chance for growth for when we open ourselves up to others we are potentially opening ourselves up to scrutiny and often criticism. It is during times like this that students learn things about themselves that they may have never known.

During course students have roles each day, one day you might be the leader, and the next day you might be the dishwasher, but each job has its responsibilities for the well being of the group. In teaching the importance of each role in the group dynamic we reinforce the necessity of working together toward a common goal. In order to work together effectively the students have to know they can trust themselves as well as their fellow students. Throughout the beginning of the course we have the students participate in trust building activities. It is a useful and very effective tool as I have seen many students overcome trust issues. They tend to enjoy activities such as climbing and rappelling much more if they trust the person who has them on belay. Every job/role has lessons to be learned. Being the leader for the day is usually the hardest job for students. Even if they have strong leadership skills, they sometimes find it difficult to tell “strangers” what to do. This is where the lessons learned come into play. Having trust in their fellow students makes it easier to take direction as well as give it.

One of our goals as instructors is to teach them about effective communication. We can all use refreshers on that subject from time to time. Effective communication can be particularly useful during the preparation of meals. That is one of my favorite times of the day. I enjoy watching the students working together to prepare meals for the group. As a chef, not only is it entertaining, but it is a great thrill to see the pride in their accomplishment as they call everyone for chow circle. That too is just another way of trusting and forming bonds with one another. At our nightly meetings we all have the chance to offer constructive criticism to one another as well as accolades for a job well done. These nightly meetings offer a safe environment to communicate what ever we need to talk about. Learning to communicate effectively also increases our capacity for compassion, not only for others but ourselves as well. The students that learn to love and respect themselves for who they are find it much easier to love, respect and accept others as they are.

I have seen dramatic changes in the attitudes of students from beginning to end of course. By living and working together in such close confines one of the lessons they learn is tolerance. It is difficult, at best, for most people to share their living space with ten or more people, but it has been my experience that students rise to the occasion and it is not even an issue by the end of course. It is a rewarding experience as an instructor to see the changes in the students from the beginning to the end of course. Some have overcome physical challenges, some emotional, such as a fear of heights or fear of water. Whatever the challenge, there is a noticeable difference in each student at the end of their course. There is a shift in their conciousness, they feel more empowered and confident in who they are as individuals as well as members of the collective world we live in. A part of our nightly meetings was to read a passage from our book of readings or have one of your own to share with the group. The passage was sometimes relative for a certain activity of the day and sometimes just for its inspirational quality. One of my favorites is by Soren Kierkegaard; “ To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself. It is our hope that the lessons our students have learned will serve them well in their daily lives now and in the future. What a bright future the world has with confident, compassionate young people leading the way."

I thank you for the opportunity to help empower your children.

Pura Vida,

Donna White

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