As a student at one of our partner organizations, you are a VOBS Scholar in 2025. We have a scholarship waiting for you! 

The VOBS Scholar Program provides you with a FULL Scholarship to go on an Outward Bound course in Minnesota in 2025 with the Voyageur Outward Bound School. This scholarship is valued between $3,000 - $10,000 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we have awarded all our funds, we will close the program until next year. 

The VOBS Scholar Program is open to students who are people of color or people who experience economic need who attend one of our partner organizations.

You can choose between courses that are 8, 10, 15, 22, or 30 days long and have activities like canoeing, backpacking, and rock climbing. You will join a crew of 7 students from around the country, along with 2 Outward Bound instructors for your course. Courses start and end in Duluth, MN, and take place in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The scholarship covers the tuition cost for the course and provides most of the clothing and gear from the packing list. The only cost to students & their families is getting to Duluth, MN. Your school or organization may be able to help offset that cost for you.

About the Program

No experience necessary. 

Two Outward Bound instructors will lead your expedition and teach you everything you need to know about surviving, thriving, and having fun in the wilderness. You’ll learn practical skills, like paddling a canoe and pitching a tent, and you’ll practice vital leadership skills with a new crew of friends. YOU will make decisions, YOU will solve real-life problems and YOU will care for others. YOU will get to use your unique skills and identify where you want to grow. Discover belonging through peers, strength through challenge, and purpose in goals. 

An Outward Bound experience is life-changing.

Outward Bound is great for your leadership. It can help you grow confidence, make friends, connect with nature, get ready for college, get into college, get a job, or just have an excellent adventure.

#1 Explore our canoeing courses on the Outward Bound Website

Courses in the Boundary Waters are part of the VOBS Scholars Program. Please do not sign up for anything through the website. Look at options and dates, and then fill out the form to meet with Megan to talk about what course you would like to do! Click here to explore the Outward Bound Website

#2 Fill out this simple form

VOBS Scholar Interest Form

#3 Look for our invite to chat

After you fill out the above form, you’ll get an email invite to schedule a 30-minute chat with our super-friendly enrollment expert, Megan. During your conversation, Megan will learn a little about you, and then help you choose your Outward Bound adventure. 

Come to this conversation with dates that you have available this summer, and what type of expedition you are interested in. 

You will complete your course registration and learn about the next steps during this conversation. If you are under 18, please invite your parent or guardian to join the chat.

#4 Complete enrollment paperwork and finalize your plans to participate in the course

**Students who commit to coming on a course through the VOBS Scholar Program are expected to participate and complete the course. Last-minute cancellations prevent us from allocating the scholarship to another student.**

Remember, your course will cost $0 through this Scholar Program. 

Outward Bound is for everybody. Our goal is to provide access to leadership learning. Please join us in thanking the VOBS donors and supporters who make Outward Bound possible for hundreds of students every year. 

The VOBS Scholars Program is a one-time scholarship. If you have already completed a course through the VOBS Scholars Program and would like to do another course, please reach out to Megan at megan.sisson@vobs.org to learn about other scholarship opportunities!