All of our 200+ instructors have the qualities that Outward Bound works to promote: self-reliance, adaptability, responsibility, confidence, integrity, and persistence. For these intensive programs to be successful, it's crucial that each instructor be wilderness guide, role model, and teacher rolled into one. Outward Bound instructors are all adventurers in their own right - people who live their dreams both in and out of the wilderness. They come to Outward Bound with life experience in a wide variety of professions, including teaching, health care, business, the arts, and outdoor education.

Outward Bound is the industry leader in wilderness technical expertise, environmental practices, methods of experiential education, and safety procedures. Safety in the backcountry is of paramount importance, and our instructors continually upgrade their training in the latest instructional, safety, and rescue practices. They also continue training to improve their assessment of backcountry conditions. They have industry-standard certification in Wilderness First Aid and, on any white water course, Swift-Water Rescue. Their training prepares them for appropriate field response to a wide variety of medical incidents. Some of our instructors are First Responders for backcountry emergencies.

The bottom line: you'll be in good hands with our instructors. At Outward Bound Canada, safety is our number one priority.

The administrative and support staff at Outward Bound Canada are also dedicated people. West and east, many people work behind the scenes to help make Outward Bound the outstanding organization it is.

Billy Anderson

Instructor since 2001

Billy left a career in advertising in search of something more rewarding. He found it at Outward Bound Canada. The impact of Outward Bound can be summed up in three words: “I did it”. It is something he hears his participants say again and again; from a 64-year old woman rock-climbing for the first time, to a 12-year old portaging a 75-pound canoe. He enjoys watching participants grow, from day one when students are being continually taught, to the final day where the group is doing everything independently and loving every second of it.

He now balances his Outward Bound trips with a career in non-profit management. Added to that is a lot of volunteer work, a little skydiving (he did his 100th jump last summer!!), lots of exercise and traveling the world.

Mike Crowtz

Program and Technical Director

Kelly Henderson

Kelly grew up on the north shore of Lake Superior catching tadpoles and cleaning fish. Time spent at the family’s camp and outdoor experiential education programs helped to shape Kelly’s connection to the natural environment. Combining her love of the outdoors with a keen desire to learn, Kelly completed Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism at Lakehead University and later a degree in Education from Trent University. As an instructor at Outward Bound Canada, Kelly values the opportunity to share her passion for exploring the outdoors with students. She believes deeply in the philosophy of ‘Outward Bound’ and the growth individuals can achieve with dedicated mentors. Had she not entered the outdoor profession, Kelly is certain she would have become a ballerina, or found herself performing in Broadway musicals.

Charlotte Jacklein

Instructor since 2006

For quite a few years, Charlotte travelled and worked in various countries in the outdoor adventure industry, and with youth leadership programs. After completing her teaching degree in Outdoor Ecological Experiential Education in 2006, she began instructing at Outward Bound Canada. On each trip Charlotte looks forward to connecting with new students and working with great co-instructors.

Seeing students challenge themselves and grow as confident, capable young people, travelling through beautiful parts of Canada, and continually learning and developing as an educator and human being, makes working at Outward Bound Canada (OBC) extremely rewarding. During the winter of 2008, Charlotte will be instructing at Outward Bound Australia, but she looks forward to returning to OBC in the summer of 2008.

Beth Johnston

Lead Instructor

Beth began honing her skills as a group facilitator and adventure programmer on the family farm as one of 12 children. Her father, a physician in the small town of St Stephen, NB, wisely purchased an old farm and trained his children to work it. By the age of 12, as well as assisting in all farm operations, she was in charge of the gardens, taking the “Farm Vacation” guests horseback riding and somehow coercing her younger siblings to help her and believe it was all for fun!

Beth went into the field of education and soon became committed to experiential or “hands on “ learning. She first joined Outward Bound Canada in 1978 and has worked with them off and on for close to 30 years. When not working for Outward Bound Canada, Beth has worked as a sheep farmer, handy woman, care giver and ropes course facilitator. She has facilitated adventure programs in the wilderness, community halls, boardrooms, conference centres, schools, camps and parking lots. She is currently with Outward Bound Canada, Atlantic Operations and living in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Terry Knight

Instructor since 1985

In her other professional life, Terry is a high school Physical Education and Science teacher. At OBC, she "specializes" in instructing adult courses, particularly sea kayaking. She is passionate about the environment and about learning. She believes that we are never too old to learn new things about ourselves, each other and the spectacular natural environment we have the privilege of travelling through. She is also passionate about play and laughter being part of every day of her life. The kid inside is never very far from the surface!!

Brianna Sharpe

Lead Instructor

Brianna began working for Outward Bound in the summer of 2003 as a cook - though she quickly recognized that the work she was passionate about in the field, teaching and learning experientially. After finishing her degree in Political Philosophy and English Literature at the University of Toronto, Brianna went on to earn an Education Degree in Ottawa, all the while focusing on building her outdoor and facilitation skills. She loves her job, whether she is on rivers, lakes, hiking trails or a dog sled, working with adults, youth-at-risk, or schools groups. She has also begun a new focus - making our educational contracts the best they can be, through curriculum and program design. In the words of John Muir "the space between every pine tree is the doorway to a new world," and it is the discovery of these ever-possible worlds that keeps her joyous at her work at Outward Bound.

Meg Sheepway

Lead Instructor
HBOR, BSc Lakehead University

Though Meg’s family never did much camping or canoeing, she was fortunate enough to live by the Niagara Escarpment and always went hiking there with her Dad - this is where her passion for being outside really began. Since that point she made her way onto lakes, rivers and cliff sides - sharing, learning, teaching, and discovering her love of the Canadian Wilderness. She has spent time in Central and South America and most recently in the Arctic. In an attempt to bring her passions into her work, she came to work for Outward Bound Canada in the spring of 2006.

Meg loves her job and because of that, she has been able to carry her passion for the environment, outdoor education and social justice with her to work. At Outward Bound Canada we set a progression for our participants that allows everyone to learn exactly what they need and want. Our students have new experiences, learn hard and soft skills and leave with unbelievable memories. Meg finds that she is aligned closely with our Mission: Ignite the Human Spirit, Invite Self-Discovery, Inspire Human Potential. She believe this happens everyday at Outward Bound Canada, both with students and staff , and this is the reason she loves her job.