On NOLS courses, teens "unplug" and live simply while having fun and making friends for life. Photo: Mike Colpo

NOLS Teton Valley Facts Year Founded: 1999 Operating Season: December- March, May-August Location: Driggs, Idaho In-town Staff: 6-8 per season Skills offered: Snowboarding, Skiing, Backpacking, Rafting, Whitewater Kayaking, Canoeing, Climbing

Every NOLS location offers an array of core courses and specializes in skills that take advantage of our unique locations. NOLS Teton Valley specializes in winter and combination backpacking and rafting courses.

We are also the hub of the NOLS Adventure programs, offering two weeks of hiking, four weeks of hiking and rafting, and a 50-day expedition for those 14- and 15-year-olds ready for a summer with NOLS.

Based in Driggs, Idaho, we are mere minutes away from our wilderness classroom, sitting snuggly against the base of the famed Tetons. This magnificent range, the mountains extending off its southern and western flanks, and nearby Grand Targhee Resort are renowned for deep powder snow and fantastic skiing and snowboarding.

In the summer, these same slopes come alive in a flurry of wildflowers and NOLS Teton Valley turns its attention to backpacking and river exploration.

From our river base in Salmon, Idaho, we access the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the Lower 48’s largest designated wilderness area. Sliced by the Salmon River, this area is home to our river courses and is known for exciting whitewater and excellent fishing.

On your NOLS Teton Valley course, your tools of exploration will be rafts and backpacks, skis or snowboards, and boots or climbing shoes. Discover the Old West with us in the vast backcountry of Idaho, Montana, and western Wyoming as you also discover your own capabilities of leadership and learning.