Our goal is for every student to have a successful course. By sharing your full history of physical, emotional and behavioral conditions with us in the screening process, you enable us to help you find the course that will provide you with the highest chance for success. Failure to provide accurate and complete information could compromise your or other participants’ safety as well as course quality. Any undisclosed conditions that result in early departure from course are not eligible for a refund, and may result in additional fees up to $1000 to cover costs incurred during removal from the field.

• An Outward Bound course is meant as a place to stretch oneself, break free of preconceived ideas, and discover new strengths and talents. We have found that when participants have exclusive relationships on course (especially with an existing friend or relative) it can negatively affect both the course culture and the individuals' growth.
• Each applicant is regarded as an individual applicant, so if one person withdraws or is medically screened off of the course, the other applicant is expected to attend. There are no revisions to our cancellation and refund policies for a friend/relative situation.
• An Outward Bound course is about both individual and group processes. We ask all participants to be open to building positive relationships with all team members. If any relationship (including one with a friend or family member) becomes exclusive and negatively impacts the crew experience, your instructors will create a plan with you to be more inclusive.

Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist spots become available. A $500 deposit is required. The deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee. The remaining $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open spot does not become available. 

If a spot becomes available, the applicant will be applied to the open spot and held to the terms of the Application and Cancellation Policies above, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date. 

Waitlist applicants are required to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open spot. Spots may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications.

Airfare, related costs, and non-refundable payments are expensive. Insurance to protect your trip and course is not required, but it is strongly recommended. If you choose not to purchase insurance and cancel your course or leave your  course early, you will be held to the terms of the Cancellation Policy (above). 

Outward Bound offers an option for insuring these costs from the third-party provider InsureMyTrip through its Academic Explorer Program (linked here). This program has coverage options that include your travel costs and the non-refundable tuition costs. A link to that program’s insurance coverage options is below. Alternatively, you may choose to purchase trip related insurance through a different insurance provider. In either case, the amount and type of coverage you choose is your responsibility and must be discussed directly with the provider.

You may also want to consider insurance for the cost of Emergency Evacuation. Health insurance often does not cover the cost of emergency evacuation by air or other means, and these costs can be very expensive. Outward Bound California will not be financially responsible for these costs in the event your student requires evacuation.

The Academic Explorer Program offered through InsureMyTrip above does not offer coverage for emergency evacuation. You will need to purchase that coverage from a different insurance provider. As a courtesy, here is a list of possible options:

Travel Agent: Tina Skelton - Twist Travel
Phone: 206-512-4977
Email: ts[email protected]

Insurance Provider: World Nomads, https://www.worldnomads.com

Outward Bound makes no representations or warranties about these insurance options or how they handle claims.

On occasion, relocating or cancelling a course is the only way we can maintain our high safety standards. When complications such as inclement weather, environmental disaster or similar uncontrollable interruptions occur, we have the following policies:

• In all cases, travel will not be reimbursed by OBCA. If you have purchased travel insurance through a third party, please complete a claim to potentially recover travel costs. OBCA can assist with any necessary documentation. 

Courses relocated to another course area: Programming will continue and no refunds or credits will be issued.

Courses which have not started: Full course refund including fees (if not able to be transferred to future course).

Courses that have started: OBCA will retain a $150 application fee and a $150 transportation fee in all cases. Applicants will receive prorated credit as follows.

• < 25% Course Completed: Full tuition credit
• 25-75% Course Completed: Prorated tuition credit
• 75-100% Course Completed: No tuition credit

• 60+ days prior to course start: 
• ONE complimentary transfer to another course
• $100 transfer fee for subsequent transfers 
• 31-59 days prior to course start: Forfeit 50% of your paid tuition and fees, apply the remainder to your new course  
• < 30 days before course start: Transfers within 30 days of course start will forfeit payment of full tuition and fees

Tuition and Fees Payments

The $150 deposit you paid upon enrollment is a non-refundable application fee. After review of your application and financial need statement, any balance due of tuition and fees is due 90 days prior to course start regardless of your student’s application status. Late materials and past-due payment may be considered a cancellation and you will forfeit both your space on course and your deposit.

Payment Plans

We can offer payment plans to make the course more accessible to more applicants. Please ask your course advisor for more information.

Cancellations:

If you cancel:

• 90-75 days from the course start date: OBCA will retain the $150 non-refundable application fee
• 74-45 days from the course start date: OBCA will retain the $150 non-refundable application fee plus 50% of remaining tuition
• Fewer than 44 days from the course start date: OBCA will retain full tuition
• Early departure from course: OBCA will retain full tuition (see insurance options below)

*If you are not medically cleared to participate on the course, Outward Bound California will refund paid tuition and fees with the exception of the $150 non-refundable application fee.

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you research travel insurance options (see options below) and purchase one that will protect your investment in this course.