NOLS Blog
Backpacking Among Giants: A Trip Report from Norway’s Jotunheimen Mountains
In August of 2025, the inaugural NOLS Alumni Norway Backpacking Trip ventured into the Jotunheimen Mountains for ten days of challenging hiking amongst stunning scenery. Our group first met in Oslo before traveling about five hours by bus to the Jotunheimen region in western Norway. The bus conveniently dropped us off at our first hut of the trip and…
What a NOLS Risk Review Really Looks Like: A Case Study with NatureBridge
In the same year as NOLS’ 60th anniversary, we are celebrating 20 years since the formation of NOLS ...
Case Study: Dental Emergency while Rafting
Photo by Anvesh Thapa The Setting You are on day three of a 4-day rafting trip on the ...
Case Study: Sea Kayaking Slip
A fall partway through a sea kayak trip deep in the wilderness poses unique issues. How do you apply your wilderness medicine skills to this incident?
Gap Year Pros and Cons: Solo vs. Group
Explore the gap year pros and cons of solo vs. group programs to find the right balance for you between independence and shared experiences.
Trip Report: Inaugural NOLS Alumni Climbing Trip In Greece
In May of 2025, the Inaugural NOLS Alumni Greece Climbing Trip traveled to the Greek island of Kalymnos, one of the most famous climbing destinations in the world. Our small but mighty group of alumni and NOLS instructors climbed, swam, staged breathtaking photo shoots, practiced climbing skills, visited nearby islands, sampled the best spinach pies…
Exploring the World and Finding Yourself: The Power of a Gap Year After High School
Discover the power of taking a gap year after high school—adventure, cultural immersion, and self-reflection highlight this transformative experience.
Case Study: Embedded Tick while Backpacking
In the Appalachian Mountains of New York you friend notices that they have an engorged tick on their leg. How would you apply your wilderness medicine skills in this scenario?
Instructor Spotlight: Caeden Greene
A NOLS experience can truly be a transformative experience for a young person’s life, and that was certainly the case for field instructor Caeden Greene. In high school, Caeden embarked on a 30-day Waddington Range Mountaineering Expedition (WAD), long known as one of NOLS’ most rigorous courses. The WAD expedition had such a profound effect…
Taking a ‘Whole Person’ Approach to Helping At-Risk Students
Summer Search Boston, a nonprofit enrichment program has students take NOLS courses during the summer as part of their participation in the program.
Nadia Carrie’s Summer Semester in Alaska
The 19-year-old recently finished a 75-day expedition in Alaska, kayaking, hiking and mountaineering hundreds of miles. This was part of a summer semester with NOLS.
A Rejected ‘Bachelorette’ Contestant Finds Love
After the Bachelorette, as an escape, he signed up for a three-week National Outdoor Leadership School sailing expedition in Mexico in October 2012.
Journey 4 Renewal: Canoeing from Minnesota to the Hudson Bay
They paddled 1,239 miles over 66 days from Wilderness Canoe Base to Hudson Bay–raising over $40,000 for Wilderness Canoe Base in the process.
First-Aid 101: Tips From Hartley Nature Center
This list was compiled byTiffany Smith, who has been a certified Wilderness Responder for eight years through NOLS Wilderness Medicine.
Sheyna Gifford Completes Year-Long Simulation of Mars Mission
UC Berkeley and NOLS alumna Sheyna Gifford emerged from a year-long simulation of a Mars mission with a new perspective on the universe.
Gans: Wyoming’s Recreational Waters Must Remain Pristine
Stream miles to be impacted are on public lands which are important to Wyoming residents who recreate outdoors and to NOLS for teaching outdoor skills.
NOLS Stewardship Award Presented to Jay Pence
On Saturday, Oct. 8th, NOLS awarded their 2016 Stewardship Award to Jay Pence, who is the Teton Basin District Ranger for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
In a Montana Bear Attack, Lessons on Hope, Survival and First Aid
A 50-year-old man was attacked by a bear in the wilderness of southwest Montana. Alone and injured, he walked — then drove — for miles to save himself. How did he do it?
Learning to Lead at Annapolis: Ally Warnimont
Students of the Naval Academy are expected to participate in training. “NOLS, or National Outdoor Leadership School, is one of our options for summer training.”
Outdoor Education Center Hosts ‘Race and the Outdoors’ Film Screening and Discussion
Pomona College’s Outdoor Education Center hosted a film screening and discussion to create a dialogue around racial representation in the outdoors.
Gap Year Before College Should Be the Norm
Challenge, personal growth, leadership development and environmental stewardship are the hallmarks of these programs. NOLS is among the best known programs,
