A Transformative Power: Life-Changing Outdoor Experiences with Outward Bound Canada
In a city surrounded by mountains and outdoor adventure opportunities, one might assume that accessing Vancouver, British Columbia’s wild surroundings is easy. However, for teenagers like Mace Carnahan, navigating access to certain outdoor experiences can prove to be a challenge.
Enter Outward Bound Canada (OBC), a charitable organization on a mission to empower youth through experiential adventures in nature. In pursuit of eliminating barriers that prevent youth from accessing quality outdoor activities and education, OBC helps bridge the gap for young people who, like Mace, are hungry for time spent outdoors. In fact, the organization’s commitment to breaking down barriers and providing funded programs for youth underserved with outdoor education is the core of its mission.
OBC’s inclusive ethos played a pivotal role in enabling Mace to secure the RBC Future Launch Leadership Award for BIPOC Youth, granting him the opportunity to embark on a life-changing three-week ocean-based adventure with Outward Bound Canada.
“When I got [the RBC Future Launch Leadership Award], it was like, ‘Oh my God! I’m going on this 21-day sea kayaking and surfing trip,’” Mace recalls.
OBC’s Epic 3-Week Sea Kayaking & Surfing Adventure takes youth through Clayoquot Sound and involves sea kayaking through Class II waters. Expert instructors guide the exploration, teaching essential skills such as paddle strokes, self-rescue and basic nautical navigation. The program also includes a surfing segment, followed by increased leadership opportunities through a transfer of responsibilities from instructors to students. Throughout the journey, OBC commits to building students’ resilience, physical and social skills, emotional intelligence and environmental leadership.
“It was the most transformative experience of my life,” reflects Mace. “I learned a lot more about myself on the trip—like how far I can push myself.”
In the heart of Clayoquot Sound, Mace and his peers paddled against relentless 15-knot headwinds, navigating 11 kilometres of challenging waves for over eight hours. Despite the potential for discouragement, Mace recalls the resilience that emerged through the encouragement of instructors and the shared determination of his peers: “We all kind of yelled encouragement at each other and talked each other through it.”
Mastering communication skills became a cornerstone for Mace and his peers. As they navigated long days on the water and faced ever-changing weather conditions, they formed a resilient and tightly knit team, intuitively understanding their roles and tasks. With newfound skills, students gradually received more responsibility. The instructors empowered them to dictate departure times, paddling distances and routes. This shift instilled confidence in decision-making, emphasizing consideration for the entire team and fostering a sense of collective responsibility.
“At the start, I couldn’t figure out where we were. By the end, I could just look at a chart and know where to go.”
Beyond hands-on knowledge, Mace also benefited from OBC’s commitment to Indigenous learning. Travelling through the traditional territory of three Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, Mace and his peers engaged with local history, hearing narratives from Indigenous voices, learning about land disputes, battles and the resilience of the Ahousaht people. This immersive approach not only imparts knowledge but also fosters a deeper connection to the land and its Indigenous history.
“As an Indigenous youth, it felt great to be learning from and about the land,” says Mace.
Upon completing his three-week West Coast adventure, Mace was filled with humility and a newfound sense of self: “I had experiences that I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and I wouldn’t change a thing even if I could.”
Mace’s story exemplifies the transformative power of OBC programs, where every youth can experience personal empowerment, cultural connection, heightened environmental awareness and discover their own potential.
This article was sponsored by Outward Bound Canada
Meet Mace and learn more about how Outward Bound Canada changed his life.
