NOLS Blog
Love and EB: a NOLS Valentine Story
Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, is the one day on the calendar dedicated solely to love and connection. It conjures up cards and gifts, candy and flowers, time spent together, and—in some circles—questions about relationships’ origin stories. At NOLS, I learned when I sat down with a few couples, more than a few romantic partnerships begin…
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, ...
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
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.…
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…
Mountaineering Courses Promise Epic Treks
Backpack through Washington’s North Cascades for 29 days, on a mountaineering course offered through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Raúl Castro, Director of NOLS Patagonia [Interview]
In 1993, Raúl Castro was living in Santiago. He attended a presentation by National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Eight Month-Long Adventures You Can’t Miss
Perhaps you’ve decided to take a year off from the daily grind. or maybe your career allows you to work from anywhere.
Students Learn Wilderness First Aid
Students and community members at Luther College took a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course, led by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Expedition Denali Completes Climb Safely, with Good Style
Expedition Denali Completes Climb Safely, with Good Style
National Park Service and Denali National Park Support Expedition Denali
National Park Service and Denali National Park Support Expedition Denali
NOLS Partners with Sierra Club in Support of Veterans
NOLS Partners with Sierra Club in Support of Veterans
Rocky Mountain Power Grant Supports the Lander Valley Leadership Expedition
NOLS received a $4,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation to give scholarships for the Lander Valley Leadership Expedition.
Spend Your Bonus on Experiences, Not Things, This Year
The National Outdoor Leadership School offers trips, of all lengths and focuses, so you can ditch the suit and get in touch with mother nature.
Sierra Club’s Military Family & Veterans Initiative Supports Expedition Denali
Sierra Club's Military Family & Veterans Initiative Supports Expedition Denali
Oregon Native Returns from 75-day Alaska Expedition
After spending several days marooned in a whiteout atop a distant Alaskan mountain, 21-year-old Katiya Gombar ventured outside her tent and was immediately stunned by what she saw.
