Outward Bound  was the foundation by which the adventure-based, experiential education movement was developed.  Outward Bound was founded in the tumultuous waters of the North Sea.  The first Outward Bound program was inspired by, Dr. Kurt Hahn, a German educator, who responded to the needs of Lawrence Holt, head of the Blue Funnel Shipping Line, a merchant shipping company, to provide young sailors with the experiences and skills necessary to survive at sea.  Holt's problem was that during World War II, young merchant seamen were not surviving as well as their older counterparts in lifeboat situations, after their ships had been torpedoed by German U-boats.  Hahn figured that the reason for this is that the younger sailors had not enough life experience.  Hahn also recognized that the old sailors had been brought up in an age of sail, and learnt lots of practical skills and dealt with difficult situations before, giving them more confidence and ability to cope with demanding challenges.

The style of education, or “learning by doing” was the underlying education method for long Outward Bound expeditions in the outdoors.  The messages sink in better after experiential training because a majority of the population learns better when “doing something” rather than just hearing about it.  This style of education resulted in conflict resolution, leadership abilities, and increased morale for the individuals participating in the experience.  The activities created artificial stresses and challenges to help participants gain an increase in their self perception and abilities.  The idea behind the design of Outward Bound courses is that by creating a series of intense, mini-life experiences, young people's self-belief and capacity to cope with life could be enhanced.   Over the years, studies have been performed that document these benefits.

The Outward Bound principles gave way to Ropes Challenge Courses in the 1960’s.  The Ropes Challenge Courses filled the need for open, natural spaces that presented challenging ways in which adventurous physical and psychological play and learning could take place for children, youth and adults.  These courses were constructed of wood, rope, wire cable, trees, and utility poles.  Elements are built both close to the ground or high up in treetops, which coined the present day names of “Low and High Ropes Courses” or “Ropes Course.”  Studies were conducted and began to show that the shorter experiences, usually 1 to 5 days in length, could provide some of the same benefits as the longer 30-day Outward Bound experience generated. 

In 2003, LifeQuest created an attractive series of ropes course elements and related fun, educational and training activities which is delivered in a beautiful setting on the shores of the Tennessee River in Guntersville, Alabama.  The mission behind LifeQuest is to provide expeditionary training that promotes teamwork.  Participants work together and share ideas to solve obstacles which may consist of ropes, cables, and logs.  The course includes a Low Course (events low to the ground) and a High Course (events on cables up to 60 feet in the air).  Instructors promote valuable interpersonal skills while team training such as: problem solving, decision making, leadership, communications, and trust are instilled in the participants. 

LifeQuest is a member of Association for Challenge Course Technology and is the South’s leading Expeditionary Training Center.  LifeQuest has currently served over 4000 youth and adults in various activities.  The course is a community based project available to everyone and serves to provide a self esteem building event.  LifeQuest offers trained facilitators who are effective leaders that possess not only technical abilities, but the balance of the equation-interpersonal communication and the ability to facilitate group dynamics as well.