| |
Alumni Trips | Alumni Courses | Reunions | Seminars
Alumni Trips: Lifelong Learning for Grads, Friends and their Families
 |
NOLS rations are the base of alumni trips' food—then we spiff it up, sometimes with Arctic wild berries.
Photo: Rothberg/Lu |
Are you interested in getting back into the wilderness with NOLS, but you're faced with a calendar too crammed for a long expedition?
Usually one week in length, alumni trips are specifically designed for NOLS graduates and their friends and families. These trips allow busy grads to reconnect with the school, enjoy an outdoor vacation, and have the chance to introduce loved ones to the NOLS experience.
Instruction on alumni trips is informal and the atmosphere relaxed. We review and practice Leave No Trace camping skills, teach technical skills and touch on a host of other NOLS information—depending on interest. We can also create a custom trip if you and your cohorts have a hankering for something eclectic, yet NOLS-flavored. Want to see more ideas? Check out some past trips in the Alumni Trips Photo Album below.
Friends and Family are welcome to join you on all NOLS Alumni trips!
"...a perfect balance of learning and playing... "
—Monnie B. - BVI Sailing Trip |
"It was great to return to the Winds' alpine sights and environment with my sons."
— Mark F., 1981 NOLS Wilderness Course grad and '07 alumni trip participant. |
Free your heel. Photo: Brad Christensen |
Teton Telemark, Snowboard & Avalanche Training
Date: February 22 - 27, 2009
Price: $1175
The Tetons in winter are home to some of the finest powder and most gorgeous mountain scenery that exists. You'll be introduced to winter travel techniques and learn avalanche skills while based at the NOLS Teton Valley branch. Practicing your turns at Grand Targhee Ski area, learning avalanche skills and touring in the Tetons. Education and recreation—it's the perfect combination.
Click the link above for more information.
|
Photo: Pascal Beauvais |
Rock Climbing at Cochise Stronghold, Arizona
Date: February 28 - March 6, 2009
Price: $1395
Join us at Cochise Stronghold, a granite climbing playground south of Tucson. To maximize climbing time, we'll base camp in a rustic area campground. Tailored for climbers of all experience levels, from novice to advanced, this seven-day camp focuses on technical skills.
Bring your camera to record the desert's unique, sun-drenched beauty
Click the link above for more information. |
Photo: Brian Harper |
Sailing in Baja, Mexico
Date: February 28 - March 7, 2009
Price: $1600
Always a favorite, this years Baja Sailing trip explores the islands near Ensenada Blanco Beach near Loreto on the Sea of Cortez. The area is abundant with marine life and beautiful green waters.
Travel will be on 22-foot yawl-rigged Drascombe Longboats; each accomodates 4 people and their gear. Nights will find us camping on desert beaches while days will be spent sailing, snorkeling and exploring.
Click the link above for more information. |
 |
Sailing in the British Virgin Islands
Dates: May 17 - 24 & May 26 - June 2, 2009
Price: $1900
Join us on an 8-day sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands on a five cabin, 50 foot cruiser (Beneteau 50/5/5).
The trip teaches sailing basics with the goal to gain competent crew certification. Some pre-trip homework is required for the certification.
Up to eight students and two NOLS sailing instructors will spend the week exploring the beautiful cays and isles of the archipelago. |
Let the Salmon River float your gear. Photo: Steven Gerwirz |
Family Rafting on Idaho's Salmon River
Dates: June 19 -23, 2009
Price: $1020
Want to improve your kids' memories? Our 86-mile Salmon River rafting trip through Idaho's Frank Church Wilderness provides a chance to build real memories with your family.
|
Let Arty the Llama move your camp.
Photo: Rich Brame |
Family Camping in Wyoming's Wind River Range
Date: July 6 - 11, 2009
Price: $1275
Relive your fondest memories of the Wind River Mountains with your family. This trip will travel into the Winds using llamas to transport the majority of your gear as you shoulder a light daypack of necessities. We'll cover basic wilderness skills, including navigation, walk-up peaks, fly fishing, cooking and Leave No Trace camping techniques. |
Photo: Dave Anderson |
Rock Climbing in Squamish, British Columbia
Date: July 19 - 25, 2009
Price: $1395
You now have a reason to climb with NOLS both summer and winter!
Introducing our rock camp at Squamish, Britsh Columbia, With its 1200+ varied climbs and stunning craigs its the perfect classroom and playground for NOLS Alumni, friends and family. To maximize climbing time, we'll base camp in a rustic area campground. Tailored for climbers of all experience levels, this seven-day camp focuses on technical skills. |
Photo: Todd Anthony |
Double the fun, skills and education!
Bundle the Squamish camp and the Mt. Rainier climb and receive a discount. Imagine honing your rock climbing and glacier mountaineering skills all in one trip!
Email alumni@nols.edu or call 800-332-4280 and ask for extension 2274 |
Photo: Michael Cheek |
Mt. Rainier Climb
Date: July 26 -30, 2009
Price: $1100
Mount Rainier (14,410') covers 35 square miles of ice and glaciers, making it one of the most extensive mountaineering training grounds in Washington State's North Cascades. This expedition spends five days traveling and climbing on Mt. Rainier. You'll work hard moving over steep terrain with your gear on your back, but the stunning scenery will be your reward. |
2008 summit team...picture yourself here! Photo: Andy Blair
|
Gannett Peak Mountaineering
Date: July 25 - August 4, 2009
Price: $2275
At 13,804 feet above sea level, Gannett Peak is the very top of Wyoming. This course will focus on climbing the peak, and you will practice Leave No Trace camping and traveling as we work our way to the summit. You will also receive excellent instruction in the latest mountaineering techniques and learn to enjoy the hard work of alpine climbing. |
Llamas make great backcountry companions who can help carry gear, cameras and fly fishing equipment. Photo: Rich Brame |
Fly Fishing & Travel Photography in Wyoming's Wind River Mountains
Date: August 10 - 16, 2009
Price: TBA
We've combined three great educational elements into one outstanding trip— we'll practice (or learn) fly fishing, add some professional photo instruction to improve your travel photography, and we'll tap llamas to help carry the gear. All in one of the country's most scenic and trout-filled mountain ranges.
We'll help you learn tricks of the trade that will help you better capture the photographic highlights of your travels. We'll work together to create a narrative of our trip through photography. We'll start with the basics— including exposure, focusing, depth of field and composition. By the end of the trip you'll walk away with a new admiration for photography and more confidence in your shutterbug skills.
If fly fishing, exploring the Wind Rivers, or taking pictures is your passion, this is the trip for you, your family and guests.
Stay tuned for more information or drop us a note with questions.
|
Don't just lay around basking in the sun, head to the Galapagos Islands instead. Photo: Lindblad Expedition |
Galapagos Islands Voyage
Date: weekly departures - starting Sept. 2009
Price: varies
Would you like to see the wildlife on Ecuador's Galapagos Islands?
We're organizing an alumni expedition with Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic. It's one of our first "NOLS Alumni Travel" trips—providing grads, friends and families access to some of the few places NOLS doesn't operate. A portion of the tuition comes back to NOLS—broadening the school's educational reach.
This trip happens soon, so drop us a note if travel to the Galapagos interests you. |
Despite the photo, tuxedos are not required. Photo: Lindblad Expeditions |
Antarctica Peninsula Voyage
Date: starts November 15, 2009
Price: varies
Would you consider a 15-day sea journey to the "White Continent"?
We're organizing an alumni expedition with Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic. It'd be our first "NOLS Alumni Travel" trip—providing grads, friends and families access to some of the few places NOLS doesn't operate. A portion of the tuition comes back to NOLS—broadening the school's educational reach.
This trip happens around Halloween 2008, so dust off your penguin costume and drop us a note if an Antarctic adventure with NOLS interests you. |
Stay tuned for more information on other alumni adventures including trips to Alaska's Prince William Sound, Canada's Yukon River, Mount Rainier, and many more...
Past Trips: Let us know what you've liked and what you would like to see offered again.
|
|
