Winn, at 19, with her instructor, Buzz Tripp.

This summer, Tess Mahoney was chosen to be one of four Outward Bound California’s Bay Area office interns. She assisted the Program and Development teams on many tasks during the busy season. One of Tess’ projects was to interview someone who was impacted by going on an Outward Bound course. She chose to interview her mother–Winn Ellis, who went on a Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS) sailing course in 1979. Winn has been a supporter of Outward Bound for many years and is now a member of the Outward Bound California Board of Directors.

Tess Mahoney: Who first told you about Outward Bound?

Winn Ellis: When I was a freshman in college, my parents did a 4-day invitational at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Maine and returned home glowing from the experience. They promptly offered the opportunity to their three teenagers.  It was clear to me it was something I needed to do the following summer.

TM: What made you choose Hurricane Island Outward Bound School out of all the other Outward Bound schools in the US?

WE: I liked the idea of sailing and being on the water (and maybe the fact that my parents had raved so much about it) so I chose Hurricane Island.  Also, I grew up in New York, and it was fairly close geographically. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year I spent the first part in NYC having fun and working at Bloomingdale’s and I then headed off to Maine for my 26-day course —  my summer was full of contrasts, needless to say.

TM: What was solo like? (A solo is a portion of course in which each member of the crew is placed away from everyone else–in order to reflect, rest, and experience being alone in the course area. Instructors are close enough to see or hear the students at all times.)

Winn and her crew, smiling after course. Winn is wearing a white sweater, 2nd to the right.

WE: Even if it was 100 years ago, I remember everything about it really distinctly.  Because we were in Maine, there were many small islands around our course area so we were all assigned our own little island for solo which was 3 days.  Mine was called Little Garden Island and clearly other Outward Bound-ers had been there, because there were a few mementos left behind in this little lean-tu that had been simply constructed (was helpful when it rained!).

A couple of tea bags, a little notebook, some fishing wire (now what was I going to do with that? Fish?  Not likely) were some of the items.  I remember dreaming about junk food — Doritos and Tab (dating myself), but managed to survive on beach peas which were growing naturally on the island and the little protein, fruit and nut roll that we were given. We also had water. I slept a lot and every morning put out my flag so when the instructors boated by, they would see I was alright.  I was so hungry when they picked me up and was shocked when they only gave me an orange.  That night we were served the best spaghetti I’d ever tasted.

TM: Did you keep a journal during HIOBS?   

WE: Yes, we all had to keep a journal.  On solo it was our only form of “entertainment”.  We weren’t allowed books or cameras.  I sketched a lot and wrote what I thought at the time were very deep, poignant letters home.  Towards the end of the course, my journal got wet and the ink had run because I had used a felt-tipped pen.  I remember when I got home trying to reconstruct some passages with a ballpoint pen. I didn’t want to forget anything.

TM: What was your initial reaction, directly after your course?

WE: I was very moved by my experience on course and the people on my boat, including my instructors.  They pushed me out of my comfort zone a lot and were very supportive when I got injured (I had bad back spasms for a few days). Everyone pitched in to do my work.  I didn’t want to leave and they didn’t want me to leave so we worked it out and I recovered.

 I felt when I got home that no one could EVER understand what I’d just been through and right away, felt like I was a part of a very special club.  I learned leadership, community, strength, confidence and courage.  I carried all those things with me right away.

TM: When did you first realize the impact Outward Bound was making on you?

WE: Like I mentioned above, I deeply felt it right away, but I suppose the biggest physical change I made that fall when I returned to school was to fill out applications to transfer colleges.  I realized I’d kind of “grown out of” where I was (small liberal arts 3 hours from home with many familiar faces) and wanted more out of my college years.  Outward Bound gave me the courage to make that move and be somewhere brand new where I didn’t know anyone.  It was a transforming choice because it led me to a whole new life in the West.  

TM: When did you first become a part of Outward Bound California (OBCA)?

WE: I have been involved with Outward Bound in some form ever since I moved to San Francisco in the late 1980’s — back then the school was called Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.  Most recently, I have been on the Board of Outward Bound California since 2008.  Of course it was known as Outward Bound Bay Area in the early days and we became OBCA a few years ago.  Lots of changes over the years, but we are definitely in a strong, solid place right now and growing more so everyday.

TM: Talk about Outward Bound’s influence on our family.

WInn volunteering at the City Skyline Challenge

WE: As a mom of two girls, I always knew (as did they!) that an Outward Bound course was in their future.  Kind of a mandatory right of passage if you will.  My husband David and I offered our girls (much like my parents did back in 1979 with me) a chance to participate in Outward Bound and said, choose a school!  They both ended up choosing Hurricane Island and each went on a 22-day sailing course before their junior years in high school.  Each daughter had very different but meaningful experiences, and today we are all involved in some way.  As rappellers/fundraisers for the City Skyline Challenge, in volunteer capacities, as donors, hosts and now Tess as an intern in the office this summer.  

Just last week I attended a course end for the Youth Leadership Corps at the Bay Area office and participated in their circle as they celebrated the conclusion of the wilderness portion of their course. They shared stories and their solo challenges.  Our arms were linked up — proud parents, instructors, office staff and another board member, Topher Solmssen, who is also a HIOBS alum.  

When the circle broke, Topher and I found each other and immediately started blabbering about our experiences like it was yesterday: He talked about when his boat got caught in Hurricane Gloria, and how we both foraged for food on solo with the help of Euell Gibbon’s handbook. How my instructors only gave me an orange when I was so hungry, and when the seal came up to my boat when I was on watch….and, and, and.

Who knew that we were two middle-aged people who’s Outward Bound courses were more than 30 years ago instead of the excited teens we had just linked arms with? Seriously, it was very energizing and was so apparent to me at that moment why I continue my work for Outward Bound California.  OB was one of the best things I ever did for my younger self and I see that carried on in the work OBCA continues to do everyday.

Stay tuned for next month’s post, when you will hear Tess’ course experience!