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Alumni Trips | Alumni Courses | Reunions | Seminars
Alumni Trips: Lifelong Learning for Grads, Friends and their Families
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NOLS alumni trips are a great way to introduce non-grad friends and family to the school. Photo: Rich Brame
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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. |
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Explore Joshua Tree's granite goodness. |
Rock Climbing at Joshua Tree
Date: Feb. 24 - March 1, 2012
Price: $1495
Join us for six days of intensive climbing instruction in southern California's renowned Joshua Tree National Park.
No matter what your rock climbing background, our instructors can help you polish and practice your movement, techniques, systems, and anchor building.
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Keelboat Sailing in the Grenadines
Date: March 20 - 27, 2012
Price: $1995
Explore the Caribbean with a stalwart group of sailing NOLS grads. Participants can receive International Sail and Power Academy (ISPA) certification.
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Slickrock. Sunshine. Artifacts. Fun. |
Canyon Country Hiking
Date: March 26 - 31, 2012
Price: $995 Explore southern Utah's canyon country and slickrock with a stalwart group of NOLS grads.
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Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
Date: April 17 - 25, 2012
Price: $3475
Explore Tanzania's culture on your way to the top of Africa: Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340'). Porters carry much of the group gear as you wind your way through the rainforest and exotic wildlife on the way to the summit.
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Sailing Navigation in Tahiti
Date: May 17-19, 2012
Price: $475
This hands-on class is an optional tie-in with the sailing trip that immediately follows. Learn charts and navigation in the south Pacific's turquoise waters. Mornings are dedicated to learning navigation, afternoons are filled with boat time and instruction.
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Keelboat Sailing in Tahiti
Date: May 20 - 27, 2012
Price: $2200
The islands of Tahiti are well known as a friendly sailing mecca. There are secluded islands to explore and it's a snorkling paradise. Participants can receive International Sail and Power Academy (ISPA) certification.
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Climbing Mt. Rainier Washington
Date: July 22 - 26, 2012
Price: $1625
Mount Rainier (14,410') boasts 35 square miles of ice and glaciers, making it one of the most extensive mountaineering training grounds in the entire Pacificnorthwest.
Join us for this five-day training and learning expedition.
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Climbing Wyoming's Gannett Peak
Date: July 23- August 2, 2012
Price: $2295
Hidden deep in the Wind River Mountains, Gannett Peak (13,804') is Wyoming's tallest mountain.
This trip is a perfect opportunity to put your NOLS camping and travel skills back to work as you polish mixed snow and rock mountaineering techniques.
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Llamas carry the weight while you and your posse explore the Winds. |
Backpacking with Llamas in Wyoming
Date: July 29 - August 3, 2012
Price: $1295
Wyoming's Wind River Mountains area fantastic area to reconnect with NOLS. Fishing, hiking, llama care, rocky peaks and crystal streams provide a backdrop for camaraderie and exploration. Families are welcome and llamas carry most group gear.
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Horsepacking in Wyoming
Date: August 11 - 20, 2012
Price: $2392
This learning adventure starts at NOLS' Three Peaks Ranch on the west side of the Wind River Mountains. After a few days of practice at the ranch, the group heads into the mountains with a string of pack stock to practice time-honored horsepacking travel and camping techniques.
Stay tuned for details and/or email us with your interest.
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Alumni Service Project Wyoming
Date: August 12 - 18, 2012
Price: $500
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. "
-Rabindranath Tagore
This trip takes NOLS grads and families into Wyoming's beautiul Wind River Mountains for a week of camping, camaraderie and service. We'll team with the US Forest Service and Student Conservation Association to conduct meaningful and challenging projects that protect public lands.
Check out this video on last year's service trip!
Stay tuned for details and/or email us with your interest.
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Backpacking in the Yukon
Date: August 12 - 21, 2012
Price: $2395
Explore Canada's Yukon Territory on an awe-inspiring trek through the Tombstone Mountains. Hiking in the Yukon wilderness is always spectacular, but in late August the tundra will light up with fall reds, yellows and orange foliage on this once-in-a-lifetime backpacking experience in the far North.
Stay tuned for details and/or email us with your interest. |
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Sailing in British Columbia
Date: August 22 - 30, 2012
Price: $1995
Learn the art of keelboat sailing amongst British Columbia's striking Gulf Islands and the Straight of of Georgia. The curriculum focuses on boat handling under power and sail, navigation, seamanship, and on-board living skills on 36' cruising sailboats.
Optional ISPA certifications available on this trip.
Stay tuned for details and/or email us with your interest.
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Participants rave about the scenery, food and their trip cohorts. |
Hiking Italy's Dolomites
Date: September 14-21, 2012
Price: $TBD
Hiking hut-to-hut means light packs, outstanding scenery, alpine trails, fantastic meals and the best of Tyrolean culture.
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Past Trips: Let us know what you've liked and what you would like to see offered again.
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