Outside Magazine Names NOLS One of America’s Best Places to Work in 2011

Lander, Wyo. – The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) was named to Outside Magazine’s fourth annual “Best Places to Work” list for the fourth year in a row. NOLS was ranked No. 28 out of 50 selected companies. The full list and related story will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands now.

Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in the United States. Participating companies were then sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs.

All of the results were analyzed by Best Companies Group experts, who selected the 50 companies that strive to enhance their employees’ enjoyment of active endeavors, and environmental and social involvement.

NOLS Executive Director John Gans said, “What lands us on the list is that we have a great group of people working together to built a great community involved in a very important mission. We have a very driven workforce trying to do good for the world,”

“These 50 companies are successful precisely because they support a proper work-life balance,” says Michael Roberts, Executive Editor of Outside. “Happy workers that feel part of a active community are guaranteed to be more engaged and productive. And the companies on our list are offering amazing benefits: organic cafeterias, on-site fitness classes, reimbursements for gym memberships and ski passes, opportunities for on-the-clock community service, and much more.”