The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 675: The Outdoors Rebuilds a Person | Ginger Naylor, Outward Bound
Jan 10, 2026
Ginger Naylor, CEO of Outward Bound USA and a champion of experiential learning, joins the conversation to explore the transformative power of the outdoors. She emphasizes how real-world adventures foster resilience, confidence, and essential interpersonal skills often neglected in classrooms. Ginger discusses the importance of unstructured outdoor experiences, healthy risks, and play in developing adaptability. Plus, she introduces the Nationwide Reset Day, encouraging families to unplug and reconnect with nature's calming effects.
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Adventure As A Classroom
- Outward Bound uses outdoor adventure as a deliberate classroom to teach character skills like communication, resilience, and leadership.
- These interpersonal skills often matter more for long-term success than traditional academics.
Dog Sledding Breakthrough
- Ginger recounted a dog-sled expedition that was one of her hardest physical and emotional challenges.
- Completing it left her feeling empowered and confident in her capabilities.
Critical Windows For Play
- Childhood windows exist for social and play skills similar to language; missing them can have long-term effects.
- Nurturing unstructured play and failure opportunities prevents pruning of those developmental capacities.
