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.…
WRMC Announces 2017 Charles (Reb) Gregg Award Recipient
Shana Tarter, founding member of the WRMC and assistant director of NOLS Wilderness Medicine, received the Charles (Reb) Gregg Award at the 2017 WRMC.
Michael Foale, astronaut extraordinaire teaches on leadership and teamwork
We used an approach, starting quite recently in the year 2000 or so, where we adopted the outdoor leadership models of NOLS.
Drilling Near Dinosaur National Monument Draws Criticism
Changes loom near remote Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. It’s a rough region of 1,000-foot cliffs and canyons, and two wild rivers, the Green and the Yampa.
Medicine in the Middle of Nowhere
The course, led by instructors from NOLS and a fourth-year medical resident from Harvard, also introduced them to wilderness medicine.
How to Keep Your Camp Kitchen Clean
I spoke with Marco Johnson, who’s been teaching wilderness skills and first aid as the field staffing director at NOLS in Lander, Wyoming.
Working With Difficult Teammates You Didn’t Choose
When Cady became concerned that their crisis preparation training wasn't going well enough, she pushed to have the three of them do a short NOLS program.
“Exploration Film Tour” challenges stereotypical norms on the outdoors
NOLS will bring a series of eight independent films to the big screen for this year's Exploration Film Tour at Ohio State University.
My Drowning (And Other Inconveniences)
Thrown from a raft in Grand Canyon’s Lava Falls, Tim Cahill was trapped underwater. His heart stopped for several minutes. He decided to try Lava again.
Why it’s a Real Mistake To Count on a Cellphone When You Go Hiking
“The classic behavior when you get lost is to speed up,” said Jamie O’Donnell, a field instructor with NOLS, a nonprofit based in Wyoming.
Recreation economy accounts for 50,000 Wyoming jobs
Recreation continues to play an important and growing role in Wyoming’s economy, according to a report released July 26 by the Outdoor Industry Association.
Renowned Astronomer Jill Tarter Says Eclipse Reminds Us We’re Earthlings
Tarter said she’s seen two other total solar eclipses in her life but she chose to see this one in Wyoming because her daughter works for the NOLS in Lander.
Genius Tips to Master Campsite Baking
A week into her NOLS class in the wilderness, Katherine Boehrer experienced the biggest shock of the trip, at dinnertime. "They made this chocolate cake."
