NOLS Blog
When Everything Came Into Focus — Hiking Patagonia’s Torres del Paine O Circuit Alumni Trip
I first learned about the O Circuit in 2025, a year before I actually did it. My wife and I were in Patagonia on a Road Scholar trip. It started with a cruise through the Strait of Magellan and the Darwin Passage, followed by a few days in Torres del Paine National Park doing short…
Rothberg-Birdwhistel Expedition Fund: Panchachuli III Peak Climb
Team selfie. In May 2025, Bharat Bhushan, Prerna Dangi, and I took on a challenge to climb Panchachuli ...
Case Study: Non-Freezing Cold Injury on a Canoe Trip
Two people paddle a canoe on a calm river. Photo by Craig Muderlak The Setting You are leading ...
Lou Gordon: Three Decades of Influence
Louise “Lou” Gordon’s office in the Wilderness Medicine wing of NOLS Headquarters is tucked into the perpendicular intersection of two banks of offices, in the center of the activity but quiet and a little reserved. Like Lou herself. After more than 30 years, the last 6 1/2 as NOLS Wilderness Medicine’s Wilderness EMT Supervisor, Lou is cleaning and packing up her office in preparation for her retirement. Her last day is May 1.
Climate Medicine: Where Climate Change and Healthcare Meet
Springtime has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. Trees and grasses are greening up, flowers are blooming, and birds have returned to greet the morning with song. As many of Earth’s residents head into boreal summer, they know to expect rising temperatures. But what does that heat mean for human health? What happens when infectious diseases…
Summer Travel Programs for Teens: Why Wilderness Expeditions Offer More Than a Passport Stamp
Most summer travel programs for teens promise adventure. A select few actually deliver it. There is a difference between traveling through a place and learning to move through it with skill and intention. That difference is worth understanding before you commit to any program, and before your teen boards a plane. This guide breaks down…
Staying Power
Shari Kearney didn’t just find a place at NOLS—as our longest serving female instructor, she has worked over 424 weeks in the field and influenced generations of students. Shari Kearney is checking on Three Peaks Ranch’s stable of horses, kept on pastures outside of Lander, Wyoming in the offseason. Each autumn, the horses—dozens of them—are…
Connection, Resilience, and Dal Bhat: Manaslu Circuit Alumni Trip 2025
In November 2025, five gentlemen, one lady, three guides, and three support staff met in Kathmandu in preparation for a two-week NOLS alumni trek on the Manaslu Circuit in Nepal. Although we were all strangers coming from different parts of the world, our shared excitement for setting foot in the Himalayas was palpable. During those…
Best Summer Programs for Teens: Outdoor Adventures That Build Leaders
Most teens will spend this summer doing something fun, but maybe not so meaningful. Not because they lack ambition, but because the summer camps available to them were designed to center around fun, rather than building long-lasting skills. The difference between a summer that fades and one that becomes a reference point — something your…
Snowboarding for Beginners: Tips, Terms, and Techniques to Get You Started
Dive into snowboarding for beginners and learn fundamentals, terminology, and gear essentials.
‘Society of the Snow’ and Roberto Canessa’s Life-Changing Experience
NOLS had the opportunity to chat with Roberto Canessa, one of the survivors of the Andes plane crash in 1978.
Skiing for Beginners: What to Know at the Start of Your Skiing Journey
Learn the essentials of skiing for beginners. Your guide to skiing terms, gear, and techniques for backcountry adventures.
Skiing vs. Snowboarding: Which one is for you?
Dive into the skiing vs. snowboarding debate and explore the unique challenges, rewards, and equipment differences between these popular winter activities.
Case Study: Slip Sliding Away
A skier hits a terrain feature and goes flying. They land hard and don't immediately reply when you ask if they are ok. How do you respond?
Sea Kayak Self-Rescue Techniques: Essential Guidance for Sea Kayakers
Develop essential kayak self-rescue skills with NOLS – from wet exits to advanced techniques. Gain confidence for your next coastal adventure.
Sea Kayaking for Beginners with NOLS: Essential Tips and Techniques
Sea Kayaking for Beginners: Learn essential tips and techniques, from paddling skills to coastal navigation.
Donation of $4 Million Paves the Way for Innovation and Growth at NOLS
Thanks to three anonymous donors, NOLS has secured $4 million in new support. These gifts will be used to match every dollar donated up to $4 million.
Cultivating a Risk Management Culture in Outdoor Organizations: The Importance of Sound Incident Reporting
Enhance your outdoor organization's risk culture with NOLS. Learn the importance of sound incident reporting and effective risk management processes for safer, enriching adventures.
Securing Gap Year Scholarships: Financial Aid Opportunities at NOLS
Explore gap year scholarships, financial aid, and other funding options. Invest in your future today with NOLS.
