Family Adventure (ACT)

Family Adventure - ACT
Connections for life. Reframe obstacles as opportunities and strengthen meaningful family connections with a bonding experience like no other!
Dates
30 Sep 2024 to 4 Oct 2024
Price $997 p/p
Ages 12 - 16 years with family adult
Region Tharwa, act

Outward Bound programs are beyond a simple outdoor experience. You have the chance to explore your core values and build your capacity for:

  • Compassion for others
  • Environmental responsibility
  • Resilience
  • Self confidence
  • Social competence
Essentials
Detailed Information

Demands on our time and the pressures of modern living can mean that families may miss opportunities to share great experiences together and build strong family relationships.

Outward Bound aims to strengthen important family relationships by providing a family get-away with a difference and a bonding experience you’ll never forget! Our 5-day family program encourages participants to support one another and connect through dialogue, personal reflection, working together and creating fantastic life-long memories. This is a rare opportunity to see your family in a whole new light.

Have fun sharing your adventure with other families who are on their own exciting journey. Adolescence is an important time for young people to build strong and healthy relationships with parents and carers in their life.

Itinerary

Please click on the image to see an indicative program for Family Adventure. The exact structure may change for your program, based on weather, National Park access, and the overall dynamics of the group.

Getting to and from program:

Meet us at our National Base in Tharwa ACT from 10:00am, for a 10:30am start on Day 1. We offer a pick-up option from Kingston Train Station at 9:30am, and Canberra Airport at 10am for those who cannot arrange car transport to our location.

Your program will end at 2:00pm on Day 5. If you require public transport to get home, we offer a drop-off option from Canberra Airport at 2:30pm, and Kingston Train Station at 3:00pm.

What to bring
Come prepared and leave with a new vision of family connection.

Please click here to access your packing list for the program: Short Expedition Packing List. Please note this list is designed on a per person basis.

Participants are expected to come on program with all items, as indicated.

If there are items that you do not have, see if you can borrow from friends or family or look online and buy second hand. We also have organised with Camp List to offer many of the items on the list for hire and/or purchase. To see what is available go to www.camplist.com.au and in the central search bar type “Outward Bound Australia”.

Safety

Outward Bound is the world leader in outdoor education. This global presence has enabled us to develop the most comprehensive  Safety and Risk Management Policies and Procedures. 

We balance risk, reward and responsibility as core tenets of our mission. Our programs are facilitated and supported by a network of qualified, highly trained and experienced instructors, with a clear understanding of this risk/reward balance.

Safety first, always.

FAQs

We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have over the phone (1800 267 999). Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions.

Is this program right for my young person?

Outward Bound provides a safe and supportive environment for your young person to thrive, regardless of their prior experience on an adventure like this. Outward Bound’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity means programs cater to people of different ages, genders, backgrounds, and abilities. However, the Outward Bound team are not trained disability support workers or trauma informed, and OB programs are not for everyone.

Programs are delivered in a group setting, with two staff members facilitating up to 18 participants. We are unable to provide 1-on-1 ongoing support throughout the program for individual participants with complex additional needs.

Participants need to:

  • Be respectful: physical or verbally abusive behaviours will not be tolerated.
  • Co-operate and partake in the fundamental elements of the program, without deliberately disrupting group activities.
  • Self-manage living skills in an outdoor camping environment.

Participants may be removed from the program if they fail to meet these standards.

Please read the full Public Program Participant Behavioural and Personal Competency Expectations before committing to this Outward Bound program.

Where am I sleeping?

Our programs are expedition-based. You will be hiking to a new expedition campsite every night where you will share a bivvy (A-frame tarp, with waterproof groundsheet and sleeping mat.)

What will I eat?

We value fresh food and endeavour to organise regular food drops for you to enjoy throughout your program. Participants will learn to cook a variety of group-based meals, including pasta, rice, burritos, and perhaps even a roast dinner. We are able to cater for most dietary requirements. We will request your specific dietary needs before the program.

Can I bring technology on program?

An Outward Bound program is your opportunity to ‘disconnect to reconnect’. We encourage adult participants to not use technology such as phones, tablets, music players, etc. during your program. If you need to bring these items, we can securely store these while you are out in the bush.

Do I have to wear hiking boots?

We recommend hiking boots for all our programs. If you are unable to source these, you will need to find a suitable pair of lace-up, fully enclosed footwear, that has a rigid sole and provides ankle stability.

Do I have to bring the wet weather clothing?

We use the rain jacket and waterproof overpants as a heat-trapping layer in the evenings, just as much as a waterproof cover in the case of rain. For the majority of situations, we continue with our program when it is raining, and so very strongly encourage participants to provide these items.

Do I have to bring the thermals?

For programs running May – September, yes you do need to bring the thermal top and bottom to program. For programs running at other times, you can choose if you want to bring these or not. Overall, we recommend bringing thermals for any time of year, as they can act as a lightweight jumper in the evenings, or as a pair of pyjamas (which are not a part of our packing list).

What activities will I be doing?

All Outward Bound programs include a hiking expedition and team initiatives. The program length and location may include abseiling, rock-climbing and high ropes. Programs in Western Australia and Grampians VIC usually include a water-based activity.

Do I have to be very fit to come on a program?

An Outward Bound program is an expedition in the natural environment, so you need to feel confident enough to manage walking on uneven ground for 5-10km every day of your program, carrying a hiking backpack that is at least 6kg. A fully packed hiking backpack usually weighs approximately 15kg. We do adjust our programs to meet the capabilities of each group.

Where are the programs held?

All-year-round programs operate from our national base in Tharwa, ACT. We operate seasonally from our Base in Walpole WA, and our remote set-up in the Grampians, VIC.

Scholarship

We want as many people as possible to experience the advantage of a wilderness program in Australia. Through our charity arm, the Australian Outward Bound Development Fund, we can offer financial scholarship opportunities to those participants who would otherwise not be able to afford to come on a program.

There are three scholarship tiers available on every program. At the time of application, you will be asked to select which Scholarship Program Fee you can afford.
The amount selected is the total Program Fee you may be asked to co-contribute. Scholarships do not include any costs associated with clothing, equipment, or transport to and from program.
For the Family Adventure program, scholarships are considered on a per-person (not per-family) basis.

  • $697.90
  • $498.50
  • $199.40

We accept applications for all programs throughout the year. First-round notification of your success for any given program will be advised 16-weeks (4-months) before program start date. 
This is Monday 10 June 2024 for the next Family Adventure program. 

To apply for a scholarship please go to our Scholarship Application Form.

Fundraising with Prezentbox

Prezentbox is a digital platform that enables family and friends to contribute to your Outward Bound program. Read more about Outward Bound’s partnership with Prezentbox and how it works.

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