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.…
Outing Clubs: Risk Management and Leadership on Student Trips
In the wake of Penn State Outing Club’s controversial decision to prohibit its student-led outing club from organizing outdoor trips, NOLS Risk Manager Katie Baum Mettenbrink suggests that student leaders complete leadership, risk management, and wilderness first aid training before heading out.
NOLS Grad Advocates for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Lucas St. Clair, NOLS semester grad and son of the Burt’s Bees founder, played a key role in preserving Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. He's currently the Democratic candidate for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
NOLS and Girls, Inc. Partner to Get Santa Fe Teens Outside
Since 2004, NOLS and Girls, Inc. have worked together to give Santa Fe teens an opportunity to participate in outdoor leadership programs. So far, 22 girls have received scholarships to fund NOLS courses of their choice.
Abby Warner: Leading by Example
One of the school’s longest-serving directors, Abby Warner has the led the team at NOLS Teton Valley since 2003. She was featured in the Summer 2018 edition of the JH Style magazine for her work.
Instructor Marco Johnson Gives Gear Patrol Tips on Building Snow Shelters
In December 2018, Gear Patrol consulted senior NOLS instructor Marco Johnson on how to build snow shelters in the backcountry.
Wilderness Risk Management Conference Welcomes Three New Steering Committee Members and Appoints New Committee Chair
Ahead of the 27th annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC), the conference Steering Committee appointed Mike Pigg, Outward Bound USA National Safety Director, as the new chair and welcomed three new members; Elyse Rylander, Partnership Manager at Camber Outdoors and founder of OUT There Adventures and LGBTQ Outdoor Summit; Moleek Busby, Field Operations Senior Manager for the Washington Trails Association (WTA); and Michael Davis, YMCA BOLD & GOLD National Program Manager.
Exploring the Backcountry with a Mule
In an article for Sierra, Stacey McKenna consults NOLS horsepacking instructor Ari Hertz on the history of wilderness exploration with stock animals in the U.S.
Bainbridge Island Review: Goodlin completes New Zealand expedition
Bainbridge Island Review: Goodlin completes New Zealand expedition
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Resident Completes 76-Day Fall Course
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Resident Completes 76-Day Fall Course
Ridgefield Press: Resident Completes Spring Southwest Course
Ridgefield resident completes 80-day Spring Southwest Course
‘An American Ascent’ Takes Home Best Doc., Best Director
'An American Ascent' Takes Home Best Doc., Best Director
Adventure Medical Kits Helps Fund NOLS Scholarships
Adventure Medical Kits Helps Fund NOLS Scholarships
