NOLS Blog
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 ...
Ship’s Log: Sailing in Greece’s Ionian Sea Alumni Trip
Photo by Nick Braun After a few days of moderate winds, good introductory sailing and island exploring while ...
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…
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 tools NOLS instructors use to incorporate leadership ideas and activities into courses. What is the Leadership Educator Notebook?Filled with activities, lessons, prompts, frameworks and quotes, and edited by Zach Taylor, Liz Tuohy, Phoebe Gebright, and other members…
Simple Views Teach Profound Lessons: Sunrise in the Himalaya
A NOLS alumni reflects on the lessons of watching a sunrise in the Himalaya Mountains.
Quiz: Sprains, Strains, and Athletic Injuries
Sprains and strains are some of the most common injuries you'll encounter in the outdoors. Are you prepared to recognize and treat them?
Why Car Camping With Kids Was Harder Than My NOLS Course
NOLS grad Alyssa Walker concludes that camping with her two young children was magical—and also one of the hardest things she's ever done as a parent.
What You Learn on a NOLS Semester
On outdoor semester with NOLS, you'll learn to find navigate in the wilderness—which might just help you find clarity on your journey through life as well.
Research Connects Wilderness Experience with Stronger Problem-solving Skills
Research shows that NOLS semesters better equip students for real-world problem solving than traditional classroom-based courses.
Gender-inclusive Communication for First Responders
When gender or sex is relevant to treating a patient, it's important to communicate respectfully and not make assumptions.
How to Make Cinnamon Rolls when You’re Camping
Master the art of baking cinnamon rolls on a camp stove with this tasty recipe.
Case Study: Finding a Sick Person High in the Mountains
You find a hiker who you think might be suffering from altitude illness - after introducing yourselves, and with the patient's permission, you and the SAR team members begin an assessment. Test your knowledge with this case study
How Climate Change Might Impact Your Next Backpacking Trip
The world is already starting to feel the effects of climate change. Here's some examples of how your next outdoor trip might be affected and how to plan for it.
Quiz: Managing Altitude Illness
Take this wilderness medicine quiz to find out what you really know about the symptoms and treatment for altitude illness.
Tolerance for Uncertainty: Sea, Mountains, and Culture on a Patagonia Semester
Chilean NOLS grad Ignacio Martínez shares stories and advice from his Semester in Patagonia.
NOLS and the Wilderness Risk Management Conference: 25 Years of Facing Challenges Together
For the last 25 years NOLS has worked with partners across the outdoor industry to improve risk management awareness, standards, and practices.
