Outward Bound's Slogans & Taglines

Outward Bound is a dedicated champion of character forging, compassionate service, and the relentless belief that adversity is the crucible of human potential, built on a Welsh heritage that treats wilderness expeditions not as recreational escapism, but as the vital laboratory where self-imposed limits are shattered and leadership is born. Since 1941, when Kurt Hahn and Lawrence Holt established the first school at Aberdovey to prepare young merchant mariners for survival in the Battle of the Atlantic, the organization has evolved from a wartime seamanship course into a global educational movement spanning over thirty countries. Its enduring motto "To serve, to strive and not to yield"—adapted from Tennyson's Ulysses—crystallizes a philosophy that physical fitness, self-discovery beyond comfort zones, and service to others are the three pillars of genuine character. The portfolio spans wilderness expeditions, mountaineering, kayaking, rock climbing, and urban challenge programs for youth, adults, and professionals. Today, Outward Bound continues to prove that the most profound education is not found in classrooms, but in the moment when a fellow traveler needs help and a young person discovers they are equal to the task.