Our History
Outward Bound was founded in 1941 in Aberdyfi, Wales by Kurt Hahn and Laurence Holt. Hahn was an educationalist who was instrumental in founding a number of institutions: Salem School (1920), Gordonstoun (1934), Outward Bound (1941), Duke of Edinburgh Award (1956), Atlantic College and United World Colleges (1962), Round Square Schools (1966), and the International Baccalaureate (1968). The value of expeditions was revealed to him by Salem co-founder Marina Ewald, and they both made them a central part of their ‘learning though experience’ philosophy. Hahn used his privileged background, and connections to support his organisations and tried to introduce his philosophy outside of the ‘economic elite’. He developed the ‘County Badge’; a 28-day course, with a goal of reaching 1 million students nationwide, funded by Counties.