NOLS Blog
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…
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 ...
Knee Injury While Cross-Country Skiing
Photo courtesy of XCSkiResorts.com The Setting You are cross-country skiing with four of your friends on a beautiful ...
Epistaxis on a Llama Packing Trip
The Setting It’s day two of a guided family llama packing trip deep in the Andes of South America. The scenery is stunning—glacial valleys, high alpine meadows, and dramatic peaks. You’re one of the trip guides, certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The group includes several families, and this morning’s plan is to trek…
Medicine in Orbit
Space, some say, is the final frontier. For N. Stuart Harris, M.D., M.F.A., Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department physician and the NOLS Board of Trustees’ immediate past Chair, it’s very much today’s frontier. Stuart, whose first NOLS course was a Fall Semester in the Rockies, is the Founding Chief of Massachusetts General Hospital’s SPEAR Medicine…
6 Reasons Why You Should Take A WEMT Course (And Tips for How to Prepare)
Here are the top six reasons why one NOLS Wilderness Medicine grad recommends taking a Wilderness EMT course.
Paul Petzold, the U.S. Army, and NOLS
Paul Petzoldt was 36 years old in 1943 when he joined the U.S. Army’s prestigious 10th Mountain Division, an elite group of soldiers who were trained for alpine warfare. Already decades into his career, the future founder of NOLS had worked a slew of jobs, including farmer, waiter, and used car salesman. He was best…
How to Make Hash Browns with Cheese
Hash browns have a well-deserved reputation as a delicious breakfast treat, but this cheesy version is great for lunch or dinner too—and that’s before you add nuggets of ham or bacon and a few shakes of hot sauce into the mix! This recipe requires a little forethought—both the hash browns and dried onions benefit from…
NOLS Picante Sauce
Picante perks up almost any savory recipe—try it on eggs, beans, in soups and coupled with anything on a tortilla. This, our favorite picante recipe, can be made with a little tomato base and a well-stocked spice kit, but don’t shy away from adding your own favorites! NOLS Picante Sauce (makes about 1 cup) 1…
Green Frequency
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) offers programs to wild destinations around the planet, where participants incorporate different skills.
The 10 Best Alternative Summer Trips for College Students
10 alternative summer trips for college students will shake up your vacation.
Every Animal Adopted At BLM–Honor Farm Wild Horse And Burro Adoption
Kelsey Wicks, ranch manager for the NOLS continued the tradition of adopting horses from the Honor Farm to use for NOLS courses.
How Learning Wilderness First Aid Seriously Upped My Hiking Game
I took a NOLS Wilderness First Aid course to learn more about wilderness medicine skills in Monrovia, CA through a partnership with REI.
Backcountry Delight
Sometimes you want a fresh meal when you’ve been hoofing it through the backcountry. Here’s a simple recipe from NOLS for pizza and calzones to try!
Outside’s Gear Guy Shares NOLS Tips on Keeping Camp Kitchens Clean_draft
NOLS field staffing director Marco Johnson offers Outside’s “Gear Guy,” Joe Jackson, some tips on keeping camp kitchens clean.
Building a Useful First Aid Kit for the Backcountry
Tod Schimelpfenig, senior NOLS instructor and curriculum director of NOLS Wilderness Medicine, offers some tips on how to put together a well-stocked first aid kit for the backcountry.
Wharton Executive MBA Alum Reflects on NOLS Mountaineering Expedition
A graduate of UPenn’s Wharton Executive MBA program shares what she learned about leadership on her 2018 NOLS mountaineering expedition in Alaska.
Gear Patrol: Backpacking 101 with Senior Instructor Marco Johnson
In April 2019, Gear Patrol consulted Senior NOLS Instructor Marco Johnson for advice on packing for a backpacking trip.
Facebook’s Former Chief Product Officer Shares Lessons Learned at NOLS
Chris Cox, Facebook’s former Chief Product Officer, shares the lessons he learned on a NOLS semester course in Patagonia.
Southwest Leaders of Color Expedition: Working to Decolonize Outdoor Spaces
The West Michigan Environmental Action Council recognized environmental justice advocate Alice Jasper for her participation in the 2019 NOLS Southwest Leaders of Color expedition.
