Astronomy for Outward Bound

The beautiful night skies visible from Rocky Mountain heights or from the dry, dark canyonlands and deserts of the American southwest inspire even the most hardened souls to ponder the whys and wherefores of our Universe. The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a program of excellence in experiential education that conducts more than 100 extended wilderness courses in environments like these each year. In 1994 alone, over 4,000 students of all ages, representing a tremendous diversity of social and economic backgrounds, participated in Outward Bound courses.

The Space Science Institute, in partnership with Colorado's rich amateur and professional communities in astronomy, and the University of Colorado's School of Education, has been conducting and assessing appropriately tailored workshops in astronomy and skywatching for currently active COBS instructors. The workshops are specifically designed to facilitate the instructors' ability to convey useful and interesting information about astronomy to their students during a wilderness experience.