About Us
Mission
Outward Bound Croatia is a non-profit organization that delivers outdoor education courses. Our work and our courses follow the values of cooperation, compassion, courage, and responsibility.
Our Story
It was the scientist dr. sc. Stanimir Vuk-Pavlović who lives and works in the USA since 1984 who brought the idea of Outward Bound to Croatia. Our founder and head of Safety Board Vladimir Dado Mesarić and our current president Lovorka Šimunec Vlahovich liked it immediately.
On July 7th 2005, Outward Bound Croatia was formally founded as non-profit, non-governmental association.
Our first 7 years were marked by the volunteering work of enthusiasts who made a persistent effort to bring the Outward Bound method of non-formal education closer to parents, teachers, decision-makers, and youngsters in Croatia.
In 2016, we've opened our first Educational center in Velikom Žitniku and became a fully licenced member of the Outward Bound network.
Since then we've been continuously growing in numbers of our courses, participants, staff, and volunteers. We're constantly working on raising the quality of our courses and designing new ones, educating our staff and raising the level of safety in the field.
What Is Outward Bound?
The essence of the Outward Bound philosophy can be expressed in Kurt Hahn's famous saying: „There is more in you than you think. “
We believe in the power of learning and adventure in the outdoors – as a means of bringing out the best in our participants.
An Outward Bound course is all about learning and the impact this has on the individual.
With the instructors' support, the participants reflect on their experiences and draw conclusions about themselves and their environment. Based on these insights, they can change their mindset and behavior in different life situations to be able to realize their potentials.
Outward Bound is about much more than developing technical skills for outdoor activities – it's about adventure, facing the unknown, pushing your boundaries, developing courage, resilience, determination, responsibility, compassion, leadership and team-work skills.
In short - it's about developing life-skills.
The History of Outward Bound
Outward Bound courses were originally developed by the educator Kurt Hahn, who opened the first Outward Bound school in Wales in 1941. Initially, he had designed the courses to develop the skills of young sailors, who had a difficult time in the harsh conditions on the sea.
Hahn had noticed that, compared to their older colleagues, who had less physical strength but more life-experience, the younger sailors were struggling much more. “Outward Bound” is a sailor's term of a ship leaving the harbor and sailing out to the open sea.
A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for.
Outward Bound International
We're a proud member of Outward Bound International, a network of Outward Bound schools in 34 countries around the world. Outward Bound International builds on more than 80 years of experience and today stands for the highest level of quality in outdoor experiential education.
Find out more about Outward Bound International.
Who Is Outward Bound For?
Outward Bound courses are suitable for anyone who wants to develop their skills, push their boundaries, and unlock their inner potential.
You can apply to our courses individually, or in a group. Although a large part of our work is directed at children and youngsters, we’ve recognized the benefit of outdoor adventure education for adults, too.
We work with a diverse range of clients: schools, youth groups, social care institutions, businesses, and individuals.
Our Courses
Testimonials
... My child was very pleased with the program (with its diversity as well as with possibilities of staying in nature which he was not able to experinece so far) but also with the instructors who responsible for the execution of the course. In particular, he pointed out the good preparation, the ability to communicate with young people and the possibility of transferring useful knowledge to young people by your instructors ...Anđelina Jurčić, parent of the participant of the course
... Thanks to this course he has developed some new skills, he became very confident when in nature. During the last years we haven't seen he has so much patience when achieving his goals ...Aleksandra Berberih Slana and Robert Berberih, parents of the participant
A mind broadened with experience can never be forced into its old frames anymore.Lucija Mlakar, 3.b
I believe my social skills have significantly improved. I made new valuable friendships that still continue. By doing physical activity I gained muscle weight. I gained new skills - reading topographic maps and compass, which I could immediately try out on the field.Participant
... it seemed as if the days passed very quickly. By the end all participants wanted to stay longer and they couldn’t believe how quickly the time had passed. Over the eight days all the participants learned more than anyone would expect ...Marija Mažić, mag.paed.soc., educator
I would recommend this course to everyone, because it's such an aberration from everyday life that you have to get out of this experience as a changed person if you embrace all the challenges given. I would definitely describe myself now, after the training, as more in tuned with myself and who I actually am.The participant of the 8-day program