This year marks an exciting time in NOLS history. We celebrate two important anniversaries this year — the school’s 39th year teaching wilderness education and the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

There is a strong and timeless connection between NOLS and the Wilderness Act. It’s no coincidence that NOLS was born in 1965, just a year after Congress passed the Wilderness Act to ensure future generations “the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” NOLS founder Paul Petzoldt testified before Congress in favor of the Act. He had a vision to connect people with wilderness in an enduring way, and today that vision lives on as NOLS students explore the world’s wild places.

Over the years, NOLS has evolved in many ways — techniques have been refined, woolen Army surplus clothing has given way to Capilene and Gore-Tex, and our geographical scope has broadened — but our foundation remains rooted in wilderness and its preservation.

After 39 years teaching wilderness skills and leadership, NOLS graduates have become a population of wilderness advocates — voices in defense of the National Wilderness Preservation System.