NOLS Blog
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 ...
Ship’s Log: Sailing in Greece’s Ionian Sea Alumni Trip
Photo by Nick Braun After a few days of moderate winds, good introductory sailing and island exploring while ...
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.…
The Poley-Poley: A Chronicle in the Himalayas
It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop. —Confucius The air was thick. My strides were slow and purposeful, careful not to disrupt the group’s cadence. The thrill of spotting Everest Base Camp, still two hours away, motivated me to maintain the syncopated rhythm of deep breathing. Hypoxia…
Case Study: Injury on the Grand Canyon
The Setting You’re on day 12 of a 21-day Grand Canyon expedition, enjoying a well deserved stretch of flat water, staring at the canyon walls and not paying attention to what’s downstream. While enjoying the last of your morning coffee, you hear someone cry out from a nearby raft. You look over and see a…
NOLS Releases Newest Edition of Leadership Educator Notebook, an Instructor’s Toolbox
NOLS is pleased to introduce the newest edition of the Leadership Educator Notebook, a collection of the educational tools NOLS instructors use to incorporate leadership ideas and activities into courses. What is the Leadership Educator Notebook?Filled with activities, lessons, prompts, frameworks and quotes, and edited by Zach Taylor, Liz Tuohy, Phoebe Gebright, and other members…
NOLS Wilderness Medicine: A Genius Way to Use Your PTO
The RV rental company Outdoorsy recommends NOLS Wilderness Medicine training as one of their top five picks for using paid time off.
What You Learn from Living Outdoors for Three Months
Environmental journalist Sara Sneath reflects on the life-changing three months she spent in the Rockies on a NOLS outdoor educator semester in fall 2019.
Outside Magazine Recognizes NOLS Instructor Liza Howard for Ultrarunning Wins
In February 2019, Outside recognized NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor Liza Howard for her outstanding ultrarunning performances. She says balancing a busy schedule of work, running, and parenting is key to her success.
UC Santa Cruz Students Recognized for Completing WFR Training
The Mercury News recognized 30 UC Santa Cruz students who completed a NOLS Wilderness First Responder recertification in January 2019.
Learning Leadership above the Arctic Circle
Evan Marie Allison, associate director of the University of Michigan’s Sanger Leadership Center, reflects on the lessons she learned on a NOLS Alaska backpacking course in summer 2018.
Georgetown MBA Students Reflect on Rocky Mountain Leadership Trek
In August 2018, nine Georgetown MBA students backpacked through Wyoming’s Wind River Range on a NOLS Custom Education expedition, gaining valuable leadership experience.
Naval Academy Midshipman and NOLS Grad Receives Marshall Scholarship
U.S. Naval Academy senior and NOLS Yukon grad Anne Richter recently received a Marshall Scholarship to pursue a master’s at Sheffield University before training as a naval submariner.
Joe Austin Receives AEE Servant Leader Award
At the 2018 Association for Experiential Education (AEE) conference, NOLS Health Review Manager Joe Austin received the Servant Leader Award in recognition of his excellent leadership during nine years of service on the Accreditation Council.
Naval Academy Midshipman and NOLS Grad Receives Rhodes Scholarship
U.S. Naval Academy senior and NOLS Alaska grad Margaret Dods recently received a Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a masters at Oxford before her service in the Marine Corps.
The Power of Active Followership—On the Ocean and in the Office
NOLS semester grad Meredith Lind discovered the power of active followership while sea kayaking in New Zealand. As a software consultant and developer, Meredith frequently applies the concept of active followership in the office.
Branksome Hall Students Build Character and Climb Mountains with NOLS
During their 2018 summer break, two rising seniors at Branksome Hall girls’ school received scholarships to fund NOLS expeditions of their choice, returning home with newfound leadership skills.
Winterline Students Reflect on Their NOLS Experience
Winterline gap year students share reflections on an eight-day NOLS expedition spent backpacking through Gila National Forest in September 2018.
