At Outward Bound adventure and challenge takes place in the outdoors because we believe it is an amazing environment in which to learn. Students are placed in unfamiliar settings where there are real consequences. This provides students with an opportunity to learn through experience. Outward Bound has a comprehensive and rigorous safety programme and we strive to deliver quality courses in these environments in as safe and supportive a manner as possible. We have our own dedicated Safety Manager plus an External Safety Advisory Committee that includes independent outdoor industry experts. We have a regular programme of external safety audits in place and Outward Bound International carries out its own audits of the New Zealand programme every four years. It currently rates our safety programme as 'exemplary'. The last review of Outward Bound's safety policy was conducted in 2011.

Instructors are integral to safety. We select only the best for the job. We look for people who have the right combination of skills, experience and abilities. On top of their existing experience our instructors are required to complete a rigorous six month training and induction programme.

To ensure the safety of participants our Duty Manager regularly monitors weather warnings from the MetService and communicates these to relevant staff. Potential weather problems are identified in advance and activities are adjusted accordingly.