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The young ladies of Course F498 learned tools that not only helped them to navigate the Florida rivers and waterways but also the rivers of life.
NAVIGATING THROUGH LIFE
A Families In Need of Services (FINS) Outward Bound course creates an environment where learning is an essential part of the journey. The instructors put a lot of time in the beginning and throughout course teaching course tools to help the students develop new skills and one of those skill sets is navigation. Learning how to find your location on a map, orient yourself with a compass and determine where you want to be at the end of the day’s journey is not an easy task for our students and, in fact, many struggle finding themselves and utilizing tools to get to where they want to be in their everyday lives as well. FINS courses use the outdoor education model to help youth develop in different areas of their life i.e. how to communicate more effectively, set goals and cope with anger and frustration.
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
"As soon as my son hit 17, we started having serious issues with him. In looking for alternatives, someone recommended Outward Bound. I called right away and we made arrangements to send him on the 20-day wilderness expedition. I knew he enjoyed the outdoors, and we were in desperate need of a break as well.
We attended the parent meetings and received valuable information as well as meeting other parents with the same struggles. When he returned he had a burst of respectfulness and then we had a period of ups and downs and he hit rock bottom. Topacio Marrero and I decided to have one last push and met with the Vice-Principal at school in what seemed like an intervention. Something clicked! He managed to graduate four months earlier, with excellent grades; working day and night on his ultimate goal of joining the Marines.
He's been gone over a month now at basic training for the United States Marine Corps and my biggest challenge has become my biggest pride. Every update I get, I'm reminded that everything he learned at Outward Bound is now serving him well."
-Jennifer H., Mother of FINS Program Alumni
FIRST EVER FINS PARTNER INVITATIONAL TAKES OFF
Community partnerships are a huge part of the FINS program. Many of the students that go on these life-changing expeditions, come to us by way of referral from one of our many wonderful community partners.
To further strengthen those partner relationships, the FINS program has launched a Partner Invitational Course to further educate community leaders about the benefits of these specialized Florida courses. The inaugural course brought together four staff members from the Triple P Parenting Program of Palm Beach County, the director of the FINS Family Programs and External Relations, and two amazing Outward Bound Instructors. Triple P Parenting Program staffers, were great candidates for the Invitational, as many of them serve youth that could benefit from a FINS 20-day course and its Case Management Follow Up Services.
Together, the group embarked on a five-day canoeing course and returned home with not only a better understanding of the impact of FINS, but a deeper understanding of themselves and what they are able to accomplish when they set goals, work as a team, and view obstacles as a pathway to success instead of a barrier to it. Congratulations to the first FINS Partner Invitational Crew, affectionately named “Crew Final Destination”. May your successes on the river carry over to the families and the community that you serve.
Want to become a community partner of the FINS Program? Contact us: fins@ncobs.org
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
By Samantha G., FINS Program Alumni
Here I am on day 20 of Outward Bound, after paddling for miles and ending at different campsites each night. It was quite an experience to have such amazing girls and instructors. I think my favorite experience had to be the last day paddling on the Suwannee River. On day 16, my team and I decided to paddle a whole 30 miles in one day. Being able to drive myself and my team to paddle that many miles shows a lot of encouragement. It felt good to challenge myself and actually follow through with it. Just like I challenged myself to do honors. I went for honors not only to make my mom proud, but to actually strive and prove to myself that I can push myself in any obstacle that I take. As in, no matter what, I will always come out of a situation stronger than I was before. On this course, you learn and gain a lot but I think the biggest learning I will take back with me is that there is no bending rules or getting out of something. Sometimes, actually, most times you have to push yourself and get through any obstacle.
The Families In Need of Services (FINS) Program is part of the North Carolina Outward Bound School. This program is in partnership with:
