FAQ

“It’s impossible,” said pride.

“It’s risky,” said experience.

“It’s pointless,” said reason.

“Give it a try,” whispered the heart. 

– Anonymous

Frequently Asked Questions

North Carolina Outward Bound Trip

These trips are designed with breast cancer survivors in mind. Our goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for you to rediscover your own power. A basic amount of physical conditioning is necessary as many days we’ll be hiking at least five miles our own supplies in backpacks.

You may not be able to do everything and that’s OK. Each trip facilitates self-discovery through a variety of activities designed to safely challenge participants in different ways.

The event itself is free to participants. We ask for a $200 deposit that is refunded upon completion of your trip. Each person is responsible for personal gear, transportation to and from Asheville, North Carolina, and any hotel stays before and after the trip.

All technical equipment is provided by North Carolina Outward Bound (tarps, backpacks, sleeping bags, cooking equipment). Personal gear (clothing, boots, trekking poles, headlamps) are the responsibility of the participants. Please see the North Carolina Outward Bound website for a full list.

Please notify us as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to fill your spot. If we are unable to find a replacement, we will keep your deposit in order to offset some of our costs.

We ask that participants leave their cell phones at basecamp during the trip. In the even of an emergency, family members can contact North Carolina Outward Bound who will be able to reach us on the trip.

All instructors are certified in Wilderness First Aid. In addition, we will be close to roads and easily accessible for the North Carolina Outward Bound basecamp team.

The short answer is: Yep

The long answer is:   Correct

As part of the outdoor experience, we will teach you a variety of sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to go to the bathroom in the outdoors. If you’d like to get a head start on this skill, “How to S#&t In the Woods” by Kathleen Meyer is an excellent read.

We will be carrying the food and equipment we need for the trip. Although this is distributed evenly among all participants, carrying 40-50lbs for 4-5 miles is a realistic expectation.

Just like we want all aspects of medical treatment to go smoothly, we would love to have perfect weather every day of every trip. Unfortunately, variations of weather is part of the unpredictability of each trip. Participants should be prepared for all types of weather. In the event of truly dangerous weather systems, we can be evacuated.

One and Two Day Experiences

Bringing yourself is the only requirement. All necessary technical gear is provided. 

We recommend that you check with your physician prior to participating in any of our experiences. We do not require proof of physician clearance. 

You are welcome to bring your own lunch, however, a light meal(s) will be provided. 

There is not cost to participants of our experiences other than providing your own transportation.

Yes. The goal of these experiences is to provide you with a safe and supportive environment in which to explore and expand your capabilities. 

Although we understand it would be fun to share these experiences, participation is limited to breast cancer survivors (those who have completed treatment with no evidence of disease).

To register for an event, click on the link in the Upcoming Experience Section on our website.

All instructors are Wilderness First Aid  trained and can manage most common injuries. In addition, most experiences will have other medical personnel present. 

Yes, currently you may register for as many experiences as you’d like (spots are limited for each event).

Selection is first come first served.

Experiences will include activities such as kayaking, ropes courses, hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing.

Our experiences are designed for everyone, including those with no experience. Instructors will be present and guiding participants.

Our one and two day experiences will be held within approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Greater Cincinnati. 

We will notify you if an experience is postponed due to weather conditions.