| From the moment you arrive in the mountain West, until three months later when you leave, you will be able to create an education unlike anything you've ever experienced. NOLS is the inventor of the outdoor semester, and the Semester in the Rockies is where it all began. The Rockies semester holds great appeal for anyone who wants a good general outdoor education, leadership training and skill development. The emphasis on a variety of skills also means this semester is excellent preparation for you if you are considering a career in outdoor education. Each semester in the Rockies is made up of three or four sections. These sections are described below. Wilderness Travel (summer and fall)
Wyoming's legendary Wind River Range, famed for its sheer mountains, dazzling lakes and good fishing, will be your classroom. This is a backpacking section where you'll learn things like how to travel comfortably carrying all your own gear on your back, how to build a Leave No Trace campfire and how to stay warm and comfortable in a timberline mountain climate. Mountaineering (optional fall)
This section takes place in Wyoming's spectacular Wind River Range. This land of rock and ice is an ideal venue for learning backcountry rock climbing. In addition to an array of mountaineering techniques, you will also develop solid travel and camping skills that will provide you a lifetime of recreational enjoyment. Caving (optional fall and spring)
There aren't many cavers out there, but you'll be one of them when you finish this section. You'll learn the basics of exploring caves with such topics as cave surveying and mapping, geology, biology, movement techniques, underground rescue and equipment use/care. Many of our students consider the caving section the highlight of their entire semester. Rock Climbing (summer, optional fall and spring)
We'll travel to a base camp where we'll stay for several days. Classes will include basic safety and movement on rock, rope handling, knots, belay mechanics, signals, protection placement, anchors, and rappelling. River Travel (summer, optional fall and spring)
Utah's Dolores and Green rivers will be your classroom. Your instructors will introduce you to basic kayaking, rafting or canoeing skills. You'll move into how to read the water, negotiate rapids and identify hazards. Your education will also include rescue scenarios and techniques. Winter Camping and Skiing (optional fall and spring)
You'll explore the mountains in winter, learning how to cross-country ski and telemark turn. Winter camping is challenging, but we'll teach you the techniques to be comfortable in this harsh environment. In your wilderness classroom, you'll learn things like snow physics and avalanche assessment, cold-weather physiology and winter ecology. Horsepacking (optional fall and spring)
We'll explore the backcountry from the back of a horse. At our ranch on the west side of the Wind River Range, we'll introduce you to the basics of horsepacking, from grooming to saddling. Then we'll move into the backcountry for more advanced topics such as packing a packhorse, Leave No Trace camping and outdoor living skills. Canyon (fall and spring)
The slick red rock country of Utah and Arizona will be your school. You'll learn how to move through canyons and camp in a desert without leaving scars on the land. You'll also study things like desert ecology, and visit sites where ancient man once lived and worked. Wilderness First Aid (fall and spring)
This 16-hour section, specific to wilderness emergencies, is offered by the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) of NOLS. The course is the approved certification for the American Camping Association, the United States Forest Service and many other governmental agencies and outdoor programs. Wilderness First Responder (optional fall and spring)
The 80 hours Wilderness First Responder (WFR) section is for outdoor professionals and is the minimum required for NOLS instructors. You will gain the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote settings. Half of your time will be spent completing practical skills, case studies, and scenarios designed to challenge your decision making abilities. Offered by WMI of NOLS. Catch a glimpse of each Spring Semester in the Rockies and the sections included. Meet NOLS Semester in the Rockies alumni - Chris Gergen -- Memories of Chris' 1989 spring semester in the Rockies refuse to fade, even though a decade has passed. Today, Chris is still exploring, learning all he can and leading others, although not always in the backcountry.
- Sue Miller -- Sue came to NOLS on a spring semester in the Rockies in 1981. Like so many others, the course set the direction of Sue's life. Nearly 20 years later, she still works four or five courses a year for NOLS.
- Kitty Phillips -- Kitty says her 1999 spring semester in the Rockies "made me better at the things I love to do."
- Liz Alva Rosa -- Quebec native, Liz Alva Rosa, spent three months learning caving, climbing, winter camping and backpacking on a NOLS Fall Semester in the Rockies. She also learned that she wanted to work in the outdoors.
- Tom Scott -- As co-founder of Nantucket Nectars, Tom attributes a lot of his success to those 90 days he spent climbing, hiking, rafting, skiing and caving on his NOLS spring semester in the Rockies.
- Tom Turley -- After nearly six years of working in places like North Korea, Azerbaijan, Ufa (an obscure Russian republic), the Honduras, and Rwanda, Tom took a few months off to explore the wilderness of the Rockies on a NOLS spring semester in the Rockies.
Read an article featuring NOLS Leadership Semesters | |
