| Forum Home | ||||
| PC World Chat | ||||
| Thread ID: 83843 | 2007-10-15 05:23:00 | Outward Bound controversy? | Greg (193) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 601678 | 2007-10-15 05:23:00 | I have a friend who's investigating a three week course with Outward Bound for his 17 year old daughter. But I've heard of problems from two people about their experiences, who complained of lack of privacy for washing and ablutions, and male instructors actually taking advantage of this. Has anyone else heard evidence of these worries? I'm concerned because there's a heck of a lot of trust put into these people while they're away in the wilderness - they're expressly forbidden to take cellphones with them. |
Greg (193) | ||
| 601679 | 2007-10-15 07:55:00 | Not like in that movie Space cadets huh | Ho Chi Minh (11121) | ||
| 601680 | 2007-10-15 07:58:00 | I doubt whether your friends worries are justified, but as a matter of personal assurance he could mention his concern with the management of Outward Bound who will without doubt assure him his concerns are unfounded. In the bush ablution and toilet facilities are obviously elementary, as they are anywhere in NZ outback or high country. When I was an Air Force Officer back in the sixties, and leader of the RNZAF Mountain Rescue Team in Marlborough, I had a close association with Outward Bound and they were an excellent organisation, and if they are only half as good now as they were back then, it will be be an excellent experience for your friends daughter. The Course develops self confidence, and reliance, as well as helping people to become active team members in challenging situations. |
KenESmith (6287) | ||
| 601681 | 2007-10-16 03:52:00 | ...or they could be horribly right, she could get abused and scarred for life. If I had any doubts I would want to be very re-assured by a lot of people that nothing like that had EVER happened. | pine-o-cleen (2955) | ||
| 601682 | 2007-10-16 03:56:00 | I doubt whether your friends worries are justified, but as a matter of personal assurance he could mention his concern with the management of Outward Bound who will without doubt assure him his concerns are unfounded. In the bush ablution and toilet facilities are obviously elementary, as they are anywhere in NZ outback or high country. When I was an Air Force Officer back in the sixties, and leader of the RNZAF Mountain Rescue Team in Marlborough, I had a close association with Outward Bound and they were an excellent organisation, and if they are only half as good now as they were back then, it will be be an excellent experience for your friends daughter. The Course develops self confidence, and reliance, as well as helping people to become active team members in challenging situations. I'm with you an that one Ken:thumbs: |
winmacguy (3367) | ||
| 601683 | 2007-10-16 05:54:00 | ...or they could be horribly right, she could get abused and scarred for life. If I had any doubts I would want to be very re-assured by a lot of people that nothing like that had EVER happened. You are probably right,she should stay home. There are some horrid people out about. |
Cicero (40) | ||
| 601684 | 2007-10-16 07:17:00 | These 2 people who had problems - are they real city girls or outdoors inclined? What were their expectations? A friend of mine took his wife canoeing down the Wanganui River many years ago. Being very much a city girl she wouldn't believe him when he said the huts didn't have power. So she took her hairdrier. Mind you, that was the trip where they broke up after destroying the canoe on a rock (one paddled one way, the other the opposite and they hit the rock side on). Took 10 years for them to get back together again. My nephew, at the age of about 12, went on a scout camp. A group of them were all set to complain about the fact they had to use portaloos rather than real toilets. Washing in a stream can be a bit of a culture shock to those who are city born and bred. |
Mercury (1316) | ||
| 601685 | 2007-10-16 07:19:00 | Yeah sounds like the complainers were too soft tbh. Tell your mate not to send his daughter if she's from Auckland imo. | roddy_boy (4115) | ||
| 601686 | 2007-10-16 07:40:00 | Hmm. Most of the replies so far seem to suggest an acceptance of innapropriate behaviour in circumstances beyond a young person's control. No f****** wonder this country has such a record of abuse. | Greg (193) | ||
| 601687 | 2007-10-16 08:32:00 | Which replies indicate an acceptance of inappropriate behaviour? Most seem to be condeming it. For your information, many years ago I was a very active member of a tech tramping club. Nothing quite like washing one's hair in a glacier fed river and trying to keep clean for 10 days at a time in the mountains or bush. Some of the bathing experiences were in open country with minimal shelter and our groups were always mixed. Far more boys than girls. Generally the girls would head off to bathe as a group. Safety in numbers type thing. Sometimes, by accident, one ended up seeing a little more than one intended to. Perhaps someone squatting behind a tree in a more exposed area than intended, or a secluded spot by a river not quite so secluded from the track as thought. When that happened eyes were averted or a hasty retreat was made with a muttered apology. Some people take this in their stride, others can be offended and read more into it. Were your two friends likely to be offended in such circumstances? Tramping, mountaineering etc are fantastic opportunities with wonderful memories and are to be highly recommended. If your friend has doubts get him to send his daughter to a woman's self defense course - they are often provided by community centres. The courses teach a few self defense moves but also give good ideas as to what course of action to be taken in difficult situations. And yes, I'm female and would have loved to have been on an Outward Bound course when I was younger. |
Mercury (1316) | ||
| 1 2 3 | |||||