BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Penny Christie, a student at Bernards High School in Bernardsville, has completed the Outward Bound Backpacking, Canoeing & Leadership Program where students trade screens and schedules for the silence of the woods: a stretch of time meant to strip away comfort and teach what resilience really feels like.
Each summer, the New Jersey Youth Leadership Corps (NJYLC) selects 24 high school students for a scholarship-backed adventure through the Delaware Water Gap. Over the course of two weeks, participants backpack along scenic mountain trails and canoe the winding S-curves of the Delaware River, the longest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, on a Philadelphia Outward Bound School expedition.
On the trail, students learn to trust their footing on rocky slopes, to rely on one another when the map and compass don’t agree, and to make choices when the wrong one could mean a long trek in the rain. They master essential skills like Leave No Trace ethics, open-air camping, and confident decision-making under pressure. The route climbs the 1,400-foot Kittatinny Ridge, home to one of the largest winter populations of bald and golden eagles in the region, providing a dramatic natural classroom for growth and reflection.
For this year’s scholarship recipients, the experience was transformative. Each day ended the same way: shoulders sore, boots caked in mud, tents rising like small islands in the hush of dark forest. Far removed from modern conveniences, students were encouraged to unplug, live in the moment, and commit fully to the physical and emotional challenges of the expedition.
“This opportunity was about so much more than exploring the outdoors,” Christie said. “It taught me who I am when things get hard, how to support the people around me, and how to grow through discomfort. I’m so grateful to my parents and teachers for encouraging me to take on this challenge.”
Outward Bound has an international reputation for shaping young leaders who navigate uncertainty with confidence, lead with empathy, and give back to their communities. Graduates emerge with a renewed sense of purpose, a stronger belief in their own abilities, and the skills to inspire others by example. This fall, Penny Christie will carry those lessons forward as she represents Outward Bound at Bernards High School.