More and more, high schoolers are turning their tassels and turning to NOLS--for an opportunity to travel, learn new skills, and see new places. Photo: Dane Sherstad Make NOLS a part your gap year. Take a break from the traditional classroom and add leadership to your résumé while earning college credit. What NOLS teaches cannot be learned in a classroom or on a city street. It takes practice to learn outdoor skills and time to develop leadership. The wilderness provides the ideal setting for this unique education. Tolerance for adversity, vision and action, and expedition behavior are some of the skills you’ll master. Unlike campus or work where some issues can be overlooked, on a NOLS semester the entire group is reliant on one another for safety and comfort. Communication, conflict resolution, motivating yourself, and motivating others cannot be ignored. You’ll return home with leadership skills your family and friends will notice. What NOLS teaches cannot be learned in a classroom or on a city street. It takes practice to learn outdoor skills and time to develop leadership. Photo: Ashley Wise NOLS Gap Year Benefits Gain leadership skills such as resilience, communication, self-motivation and motivating others that will lead to your success in college. Learn wilderness medicine skills that are essential in the backcountry and invaluable in the frontcountry. Earn a NOLS diploma, the leadership credential that employers are looking for. Develop your risk management skills by learning to identify and mitigate hazards. Have fun and earn college credit! Note: This is the only course designed for students between the ages of 17 and 19. Other NOLS semesters open to students 18 and over are great gap-year opportunities. Click here to learn more.