Our students push themselves backpacking, rafting, and surfing. Yet, when we ask them to tell us one of the most challenging parts of their course, many answer: “Not knowing the time!”

So why do we take wristwatches away from students? Here’s a few of the top reasons:

Hiking with Costa Rica Outward BoundTake a Break from the Tech-Intensive Society
Coming on an Outward Bound course means separating yourself from the distractions of everyday life. You can’t check your email, update your Facebook status, or flip through television channels. Our courses take away that virtual network that has become a security blanket for many of us.

Natural Rhythm
Costa Rica Outward Bound students wake up with the sun (or earlier) and spend the day outside. The schedule on course is usually different from what you’re used to at home; days are so full that students generally go to sleep before 9 pm. By not knowing the time, students are forced to listen to their bodies' natural rhythm, rather than using the time to schedule their day.

Measurement
TeamworkSometimes hiking 5 km will take an hour, but sometimes it will take more than 3 hours. Terrain, climate, equipment, and morale all affect a group’s speed. Using time as a measurement can be disheartening, and we don’t want a group to measure itself by how fast they move. Instead, we want students to measure themselves by their energy, group dynamic, and what they learned in a day- not the time!

In the Moment
All of the above factors relate to the same underlying concept: students should be in the moment & expand their comfort zone. How dependent are you on your watch?