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…
Getting Ready: Mental and Physical Prep for My Gap Year
Here's what one grad did to prepare for her gap year expedition in Patagonia with NOLS.
7 Ways to Make Coffee While Camping
Need coffee to function? Here are the seven best ways to make your favorite drink while you're out in the great outdoors.
Enjoying the Tiny Life
Get the scoop on what it's like to live in a tiny house—and why you might want to give it a try.
On the Creation of Bears Ears National Monument
The importance of the 2016 designation of Bears Ears National Monument.
How To Keep Your Feet Warm
Advice from the pros on how to take care of your feet when they get cold.
Potential Energy
NOLS alumni Rachel Dranoff explains how to harness the potential energy of a NOLS course.
An Astronaut Candidate’s Take on Goals and Leadership
Astronaut in training Shawna Pandya talks to us about pursuing big goals.
How Can I Support You? The Power of Expedition Behavior
“How can I support you?” It was maybe the best question I had ever been asked. It was expedition behavior in a sentence. Read more from NOLSie and writer Carolyn Highland
Preparing for a Miracle: WFR Training in Family Emergencies
Two parents tell the story of their family's worst day—and the happy ending that came as a result of being prepared.
Climbing Higher: The New NOLS Look
For the past year, we've been developing a new look and logo for NOLS. I'm glad to share the behind-the-scenes action that created this look and what's ahead.
2016 Holiday Gift Guide
Whether you're shopping for your favorite sustainability nerd or a backcountry fashionista, here are some gift ideas for anyone on your list.
