創辦人的話

十二年前，內人和我一起參加完新加坡體驗教育會議之後，決定搭一艘小船臨時拜訪新加坡的Outward Bound學校，以獲得第一手的認識。在那艘小船上，還有一位來自台灣的年輕同仁，是我們之前在美國佛蒙特州的冒險課程中就見過面的，這就是我對現任台灣外展教育基金會執行長廖炳煌先生最初的認識與共事經驗。廖先生在台灣和中國等地所舉辦的冒險訓練活動中，也擔任我的口譯人員，我很高興不只擁有這麼一位有活力、有遠見的口譯人員，更高興擁有一位這麼好的朋友與文化嚮導。

1967 年，我在緬因州的Outward Bound颶風島學校（Hurricane OB School）擔任看守人員，其後在 1968 至1971 這三年，我調往北卡羅納外展學校擔任主要講師。在Outward Bound服務這麼多年，我很熟悉Outward Bound的精神與課程，有一些原則是不會改變的，而我所看到（其實絕大部分是「聽」到）的台灣外展教育基金會情形，都是Outward Bound長久以來所堅持的正確之道。未來若有機會的話，我很榮幸提供炳煌及台灣同仁需要的協助。 雖然我已經到達一個「服務、奮鬥、〝逼不得已放棄〞」的年紀，但我知道台灣外展教育基金會有值得信賴的專業人員和領導者，總是要求達到最好、放棄最少，並提供最棒的活動課程給台灣人。

About twelve years ago my wife and I, after having jointly participated in an experiential education conference in Singapore, found ourselves on a small boat headed out to The Singapore Outward Bound School for a fact finding visit. Also on that boat was a young Taiwanese fellow I had previously met at an adventure curriculum training in Vermont, (North East America).

That was the beginning of a business and personal affiliation with Ping Huang Liao, currently the man who makes things happen at Gung Ho and Outward Bound Taiwan (CEO). He has also served as my interpreter at various adventure training situations in both Taiwan and China. I am pleased and honored to not only have him as a dynamic, insightful interpreter but also as good friend and cultural guide.

In 1967 I worked as a Watch Officer at The Hurricane OB School in Maine, and for the years 1968-71 served as Chief Instructor at North Carolina Outward Bound. I know Outward Bound well; some things don't change, and what I see (mostly hear) happening at Taiwan OB sounds like the "right stuff." I will be most happy and honored to do whatever I can in the future to support what Ping Huang and his OB staff are attempting to bring to Taiwan.

Although I have reached an age where my personal mantra has become To Serve, Strive and Yield on a regular basis, I know that OB Taiwan has the staff and leadership to demand the best, yield the least, and provide the most for the youth and adults of Taiwan.