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 RaftingÂ
Photo by Anvesh Thapa The Setting You are on day three of a 4-day rafting trip on the ...
Case Study: Sea Kayaking SlipÂ
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…
Easing Back Into Your Frontcountry Life
The post author learned that stepping into life back home is as important a skill as living in the wilderness.
Your Favorite Stories from 2017
We hope you enjoy taking a look back at the seven most-read stories from 2017.
From the Office to the Wild: How I Became a Naturalist
Adventuring in nature has the ability to open our hearts and interpretive learning opens our minds.
Leaving a Legacy: Learning and Leading Risk Management Collaboration and Dialogue in Seoul
Director of Teaching and Learning at the Korea International School (KIS) talks about lessons learned from a risk management training.
Case Study: How to Manage Frostbite
Test how you would respond to possible frostbite with this wilderness medicine case study.
55 and Climbing
I had registered for the women's climbing course for many reasons, but my essential motive was to be in a positive, supportive, and encouraging environment.
9 Wilderness Medicine Jobs You Can Get With A Wilderness Medicine Certification
Check out the top 9 wilderness medicine jobs you can score with a wilderness medicine certification.
Enhancing Student Experience and Inclusion through Risk Management
Cal Poly recreation and adventure education staff talk about how risk management adds perspective and growth for their students and programs.
Transform Your Backcountry Cooking with the New NOLS Cookery
To help students learn about backcountry cooking, we started collecting recipes and published the first cookery in 1974. The 7th edition comes out this year.
A Letter to My Future Self
Carolyn shares the letter she wrote to herself on a one-night solo near the end of her Semester in New Zealand.
Embracing Acceptable Risk in the Non-Traditional Classroom: Marin Academy & the WRMC
NOLS caught up with Marin Academy Director of Outings Julie Barnes to find out why she values risk taking, risk management, and wilderness-based education.
Q&A with a NOLS Parent
Parent Shelli Johnson writes about what it was like for her son to go on a 30-day NOLS course
