Troup County Educators Go Outward Bound in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Eight middle school and high school teachers from Troup County Schools completed a four-day backpacking and rock climbing course in the Blue Ridge Mountains with North Carolina Outward Bound School. District administrators selected all-star educators to participate in the professional development expedition. Like all Outward Bound experiences, the course proved mentally and physically challenging, while also very rewarding.

Beyond technical skills like navigation and Leave-No-Trace ethics, participants learned valuable lessons about themselves. One teacher remarked, “This course is a wonderful experience to truly work on self-discovery, teamwork, and pushing yourself to succeed in new challenges.” Another considered how the course will impact his work in the classroom reflecting, “I will be able to take back what my instructors taught me and use it in my classroom to show my students interesting ways to reflect upon their learning and their communication.” Next spring, the teachers will select high-achieving, rising ninth graders from across the district to embark on their own backpacking and rock climbing expedition.

The educators’ expedition was made possible thanks to the generosity of a Troup County family who are proponents of impactful educational opportunities in LaGrange and beyond.

North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) is a nonprofit educational organization that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through challenging learning expeditions that focus on character development, leadership, and service. As the pioneer and leading provider of experiential and outdoor education, NCOBS helps individuals and teams discover strength of character and an aptitude for leadership needed to serve others in their community and care for the world around them.