NOTE: CBOBS will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and will adjust policies and procedures as the situation evolves. Students applying for summer programs will be advised of updated travel information, testing requirements, and physical distancing and hygiene practices as we move closer to next summer. Please review our standard information below with the knowledge that there may be some updates/changes throughout the year. For COVID Course Practices on Outward Bound Expeditions, click here. 

ADMISSIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

Our investment in planning, staffing, and provisioning cannot be recovered in the event of short-notice cancellations and transfers. Penalties do apply and are described below. By applying for an Outward Bound course you are accountable for and subject to the information contained on these pages.

DEPOSIT

Outward Bound requires a $500 deposit submitted with a completed enrollment form to reserve your spot on course. The $500 deposit is applied toward the total cost of tuition and fees for the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.

DEPOSIT REFUND POLICY

The deposit includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee and the remaining $350 deposit is refundable if you cancel your enrollment more than 90 days from the course start date.

• In the event you are not cleared to participate on the course, Outward Bound will retain the $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee and refund $350 of the deposit.
• If you are cleared to participate and cancel less than 90 days from the course start date, Outward Bound will retain the full $500 deposit.
• If you are more than 30 days past due on paying the balance of your course, Outward Bound will cancel your enrollment and retain the full $500 deposit.

TUITION & FEES

The total cost includes all tuition and fees for the course. Tuition covers the cost of food, instructors, permits, gear, and equipment while on course. Not included in this total cost are personal expenses such as clothing, insurance (health and travel), airfare, and baggage fees.
Fees for the course include a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee and a $150 transportation fee covering costs to and from the course start and end location and travel between course activities during the course.

Full payment is due 90 days before the course start date. Be prepared to pay the balance due at this time even if you have yet to submit your completed enrollment packet or have yet to be cleared to participate on the course.

If your payment is not received by the deadline, this may be considered a cancellation and you will risk losing your spot on the course and your $500 deposit.

TUITION & FEES REFUND POLICY

In the event your enrollment packet is not cleared for participation on the course, Outward Bound will refund your payment for the course with the exception of the $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.

The $150 enrollment processing fee is refundable only if:

• Outward Bound cancels your course
• You do not receive a requested scholarship award and therefore, need to withdraw your enrollment on the course

CANCELLATION POLICY

Outward Bound cannot refund the cost of the course in the event you are unable to attend or complete the course due to unexpected events, illness or injury.

There are no penalties if you cancel more than 90 days before the course start date. With the exception of the $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee, Outward Bound will refund $350 of your deposit and 100% of your payment.

There are penalties for canceling less than 90 days before the course start date and a graduated system of penalties apply.

For cancellations between:

• 89 and 75 days from the course start date, Outward Bound will retain the full $500 deposit and refund the remaining balance.
• 74 and 60 days from course start, Outward Bound will retain the $500 deposit and refund 75% of the remaining balance.
• 59 and 45 days from course start, Outward Bound will retain the $500 deposit and refund 50% of the remaining balance.
• 44 days and less from course start, Outward Bound will not issue a refund

WAITLIST POLICY

Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist spots become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open spot does not become available. If a spot does become available, the applicant will move from “waitlist” status, to “applied” status and the Application and Cancellation Policies of CBOBS will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.

Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications.

COURSE TRANSFER POLICY

You may transfer from one course to another one time for no penalty provided it is more than 60 days from the course start date. A $100 Transfer Fee will apply to subsequent transfers more than 60 days from the course start date.

For transfers less than 60 days from the course start date, 50% of the payment is transferrable and you will forfeit 50% of your payment. Outward Bound will not issue refund for any transfers less than 30 days of the course start date.

TRIP AND TUITION RELATED INSURANCE

Airfare, related travel costs, and non-refundable tuition payments are expensive. Insurance to protect your trip and course is not required but strongly recommended.  If you choose not to purchase insurance and cancel your course or leave your course early, you will be held to the terms of the Cancellation Policy  (See above).

Outward Bound offers an option for insuring these costs from the third-party provider InsureMyTrip through its Academic Explorer Program.  This program has coverage options that include your travel costs and the non-refundable tuition costs. A link to that program’s insurance coverage options is below. Alternatively, you may choose to purchase trip related insurance through a different insurance provider. In either case, the amount and type of coverage you choose is your responsibility and must be discussed directly with the provider.

insuremytrip.com/CBOBS

EMERGENCY EVACUATION INSURANCE

You may also want to consider insurance for the cost of Emergency Evacuation.  Health insurance often does not cover the cost of emergency evacuation by air or other means and these costs can be very expensive.   Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School will not be financially responsible for these costs in the event that your student requires evacuation. 

The Academic Explorer Program offered through InsureMyTrip does not offer coverage for emergency evacuation. You will need to purchase that coverage from a different insurance provider.  Outward Bound makes no representations or warranties about these insurance options or how they handle claims.

PAPERWORK TIMELINE

In order to be fully enrolled, full-tuition must be paid AND the student medical record and required forms must be submitted, reviewed, and accepted. Deadline for complete enrollment is 90 days before course start. Outward Bound requires timely return of all paperwork. Late return of any paperwork will delay the review of other customers’ applications and will jeopardize your spot on course. Return all your paperwork by the due date assigned. If any paperwork is past due, your spot may be made available to other applicants and course deposit withheld.

ACCURATE INFORMATION

Failure to provide accurate complete information could compromise your or other participant’s safety and course quality. Our goal is for every student to have a successful course. By sharing all physical, emotional, or behavioral conditions we can help you choose the course that will provide you with the highest chance for success. Additionally, undisclosed conditions that result in early departure are not eligible for a refund (see Early Departures section).

Please report injuries, illnesses, new medications or changes to your prescription to the Admissions Department. If you arrive on course with an unreported medical condition, other diagnosis, or if you have changed the type or amount of medications since submitting your application without informing the Admissions Department you may be dismissed from course.

EARLY DEPARTURES

If you are expelled from course, leave due to an undisclosed pre-existing condition or choose to leave voluntarily, there is no refund or course credit.

COURSE EXPULSIONS

Our purpose and intent is to help and support students so they can successfully complete their course. However, if a student is determined to leave the course we simply cannot make them stay. We are committed to coordinating the effort to keep the student on course through our instructional staff, administrative support, and parents. After these avenues are exhausted and if we find the student or the other students in physically or emotionally unsafe situations parents will be contacted to arrange for their child’s travel home.

Example Expulsion Situations:

• Unwilling or unmotivated to participate and shoulder responsibility as a member of a wilderness expedition team
• Posing a danger, through misconduct or unsafe practices, to yourself or others
• Defiant, harassing or otherwise compromising the emotional safety of others
• Using alcohol, drugs (including prescription medication not prescribed to you or sharing your medication) or tobacco products while on their course
• Engaging in sexual activity or sexual harassment of any kind
• Bullying, chronic lying, stealing, or other negative behaviors

If a student is exhibiting these behaviors on course, instructors typically start by working with the student individually, then contacting the base camp for additional resources or calling a parent, then, if the problems persist, removing the students from the course. However, students who break the law, threaten, or endanger others will be expelled immediately.

TRAVEL TO COURSE

Outward Bound recommends the following two criteria are met prior to you making travel arrangements:

1. You are fully enrolled for course which includes: full-tuition must be paid AND the student medical record and required forms must be submitted, reviewed, and accepted.
2. We’ve met adequate enrollment to meet our minimum group size (typically 5 participants). Outward Bound Baltimore will notify you as soon as we are able regarding course cancellation due to low enrollment.

You may elect to purchase tickets before receiving that information BUT if you do and your course is cancelled, Outward Bound will not be responsible for your unused airline ticket.