For some University students, spending a week battling the elements, swinging over gaping canyons on ropes and coursing down raging rivers, does not sound like the ideal way to spend spring break.

But to the 12 students -- seven men and five women -- and three instructors who will spend next week learning to survive in the wilderness of southwestern Texas with Outward Bound, it is a challenge.

Outward Bound is an adventure-based education organization that conducts wildnerness programs, said program instructor Steve Burr. The organization is divided into five schools which offer various programs, he said. The Texas program is part of the Voyageur Outward Bound School, he said.

"The main philosophy of Outward Bound is to get a group of strangers together, remove all their dependencies, and put them in a natural environment," Burr said. It is designed to "open people to the possible so they can go back to their world and do the impossible," he added.

Some activities include hiking in the Chihuahuan desert, canoeing in white water rapids on the Rio Grande and scaling canyon walls in Big Bend National Park, Burr said. The students must have all necessities in their backpacks before leaving the base in Redford, Texas, because they will not return to "civilization" until the end of the week, he said.

Burr said he thinks students gain individual benefits as well as form close ties with other group members.

"I'm constantly amazed at what people get out of this. It's such a powerful experience," he said.

This year is the second time Penn State students have participated in the Texas program, Burr said.

The participants earn three University credits, but this is not the main reason most sign up, Burr said.

"I'd already done the Fort Lauderdale routine and wanted to do something different for spring break," said Brian Ambrose (senior-recreational parks), who participated in the program last year. "The credits only made it more appealing."

A participant this year, LeeAnne Sebastian (senior-advertising) said, "Two of my sorority sisters went last year and really liked it, so I decided to try it, too."

The program costs $800, which includes transportation in Texas, food, equipment and instructors' fees, Burr said. Transportation to Texas from State College is not included, he added.

"It's not cheap, but it was definitely worth the money," Ambrose said.

Several pre-trip meetings were held to give participants basic safety instructions, Burr said. The group attended sessions on canoe paddling in the McCoy Natatorium and rock-climbing techniques in the Intramural Building, he said. But for the most part, students learn once they get there, he added.

"I'm a little apprehensive," Sebastian said. "We learned the basics, but I've never done any of this before."

But Burr said Outward Bound has an excellent general safety record. He said few accidents occur because safety consciousness and equipment quality are a priority.

"Sure there's risk involved, but we try to minimize it," Burr said.

One challenge for the students is the "solo experience," when they have to spend a night apart from the rest of the group, Burr said.

"It wouldn't be natural if they weren't a little hesitant, but it's an adventure," Burr said.

Sebastian said she is ready for this task.

"It's a little scary, but I have confidence," she said.