Join us next summer on the west coast of France for a life-elevating outdoor leadership course, designed especially for teenagers!
It’s where young adults find the inspiration to learn and the skills to become lifelong changemakers.
The QBE European Leadership School offers summer outdoor leadership courses for high-school students in a spectacularly beautiful corner of Europe. Our iconic, Insta-worthy boats take crew members to off-the-beaten-path ports and anchorages along the magical coastlines of western France and the Channel Islands.
QBE’s finely honed personal development strategies really do change young lives. And nothing beats the camaraderie, daily adrenaline rushes, and life-affirming personal satisfaction of small-yacht team sailing. So why not feel the wind in your hair next summer? Grab your deck shoes, bring some friends, and join us on the French Atlantic coast for an adventure sailing expedition that out-delivers most other outdoor leadership alternatives hands down. Apply now!
Here’s how we evaluate crew members as their leadership skills progress on our expeditions:
“It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter of reference for QBE Sailing Camp. Ironically, now our son, who is 17 years old, has attended the camp for several years, and we have witnessed first-hand the remarkable impact it has had on his personal growth and development.
Each summer, he has returned more confident, independent, and self-reliant. The camp environment fosters responsibility and maturity, while also providing an extraordinary opportunity to connect with others from diverse backgrounds. He has gained a meaningful understanding of European cultures, developed lifelong friendships, and learned to navigate new experiences with poise and curiosity.
Among the vast nautical and sailing instruction, the travel experiences along the French Atlantic coast have been nothing short of incredible. The combination of adventure, exploration, and cultural immersion has enriched his outlook in ways that few programs could offer. We are especially grateful for the dedicated staff at QBE who create such a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment for young people to thrive.
We wholeheartedly recommend QBE Sailing Camp as a transformative experience that not only builds sailing skills but also shapes character, independence, and a true appreciation for global connections.”
Parents:
QBE (Qualified By Experience) is a top-shelf outdoor leadership initiative supported by a group of like-minded adventure enthusiasts who taught at or attended the same Swiss international school. Outdoor and cultural expeditions were always mandatory for us, and through the years, skiing, mountaineering, cycling, and sailing were the outdoor activities of choice. So when one of our expedition masters came across two eye-popping pilot cutters on the market a number of years ago, he immediately started working the phone to raise funds to purchase them. His idea was to make the school’s transformative outdoor leadership experiences available to a larger market.
When it comes to boosting self-esteem and teaching leadership skills, challenging outdoor adventures (like small-yacht open-water sailing) can be the secret sauce, especially when participants are given the reins to make many of their own expedition decisions. There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of cutting through the water with a strong breeze in your sails, unless it’s the pride you feel when pulling into port after a challenging day on the water. It’s simply a fact that self-esteem is a proven catalyst for academic and career success. Parents and educators are constantly amazed at the difference a great adventure can make in a teenager’s life trajectory. And what’s more, youngsters love it. In fact, many of our crew members come back and do it again—some as many as four times!
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We’re always happy to provide references. We want you to feel confident you’re making a terrific investment in your teen’s future.
new skills • new perspectives • new confidence
Direct access by train from Charles de Gaulle airport, in Paris | No sailing experience necessary | Instruction is in English