NOLS Blog
Case Study: Bug Bite or Blister on a Trail Crew Project
The Setting You are working as part of a backcountry trail crew in the Nantahala National Forest near the North Carolina-Tennessee border. The project involves brushing and tread work in steep, densely vegetated terrain with long approaches and limited access points. Summer conditions are hot and humid, and the crew has been in the field…
Love and EB: a NOLS Valentine Story
Photo by Tracy Baines Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, is the one day on the calendar dedicated solely to ...
Case Study: An Unexpected Illness on a Ski Trip
The Setting You’re on day 2 of a 4-day hut to hut ski trip in the 100 Mile ...
Outdoor Leadership Programs for High School Students: Why Wilderness Matters
Parents searching for summer opportunities face an overwhelming marketplace of camps, programs, and experiences. Sports camps, academic enrichment, traditional summer camps, leadership programs—the options seem endless. But among all the choices, one category consistently produces deeper, longer-lasting outcomes than the rest: outdoor leadership programs for high school students. These programs combine the transformative power of…
Why Teens Need Leadership Skills: A Guide for Parents
Every parent wants their teenager to succeed—good grades, college acceptance, a fulfilling career. But there’s something that predicts success more reliably than test scores or academic credentials—and most schools barely address it. Leadership skills for teens aren’t about being in charge of others. They’re about being in charge of yourself: making decisions under pressure, communicating…
Ship’s Log: Sailing in Greece’s Ionian Sea Alumni Trip
After a few days of moderate winds, good introductory sailing and island exploring while making our way to the north coast of Kerkyra along the southern border of Albania, a change in the weather was on the horizon. With the forecast in mind, we tucked into the protected harbor of Gouvia just north of Old…
Teen Gap Year Programs: Adventure-Based Options for Before College
The traditional path says: graduate high school, start college immediately, don’t look back. But a growing number of families and college admissions advisors are questioning this formula—and discovering that what looks like a detour often becomes the most valuable part of the journey. Gap year programs for teens have moved from the fringe to the…
Best Backpacking Trips for Teens: Wilderness Adventures That Build Character
Something happens when a teenager shoulders a pack, leaves cell service behind, and walks into the wilderness. Something that organized sports, academic programs, and traditional summer camps—though these experiences have their benefits—simply cannot replicate. Backpacking trips for teens offer more than adventure. They offer transformation. And for parents searching for experiences that genuinely change their…
Leadership Programs for High School Students: What Parents Need to Know
Your teenager stands at a pivotal moment. The skills they develop now—how they handle challenges, work with others, and step up when it matters—will shape their path through college, careers, and life. But here’s what many parents discover too late: traditional classroom settings rarely build the kind of leadership that matters in the real world.…
Meeting the Unexpected on a NOLS Gap Year Expedition
NOLS gap year expedition grad Luna Rosal gives insight into both the fun and challenges she experienced on a NOLS gap year.
How One Outdoor Educator Builds Sense of Place (and How You Can, Too)
NOLS Instructor Oscar Manguy shares the way he carefully builds a framework for sense of place in order to connect students to nature while on expeditions.
Climbing and the Four Basic Needs: Tuning Into the “Why” Behind the Activity
The more I understand my reasons for rock climbing, the better I can transfer the lessons to the rest of my life.
How to Poop, Pee, and Manage a Period in the Outdoors
What happens if you have to use the bathroom far from a toilet? Read how to do this with minimum impact on the landscape to stay happy, healthy, and clean.
Lightning Safety for Anglers
Summer means it’s time to grab your fishing gear and head outside. But have you checked the forecast—and do you know how to manage risk from a lightning strike?
How Risk Management Training Improved Our Programming at Move United
Program Manager at Move United Julianne Mills shares how Risk Management Training creates opportunities to expand programming to people of all abilities
Grad Set to Tackle 58 Peaks as NOLS Fundraiser
An intrepid WFR graduate sets to climb 58 peaks to raise money for NOLS
The Road Less Traveled: How a NOLS Course Changed my life
A snap, hasty decision in college led me to attend NOLS. Usually a calculated person, l changed my life course in about 60 seconds.
An Artist. An Adventurer. A Q&A with NOLS Grad Dori Bergman
National Outdoor Leadership School graduate and artist, Dori Bergman, talks about how her outdoor adventures inspire her artwork.
Learning Resources for Earth Day (And Every Day)
Join us in reading books, downloading apps, and following influencers who can help self-educate on all topics connected to Earth Day
Turning My NOLS Experience Into a Minimalist Lifestyle
Camper life comes with some challenges; however, it’s the most freeing thing I have experienced since my gap year, and I can’t recommend the experience highly enough to anyone interested.
Why I Trusted a NOLS Course during COVID
When I say 2020, what comes to mind? Pandemic, quarantine, fear, loneliness, job loss, online overload. It was February 2020 when I began my journey with NOLS, and I’m so glad that I did.
