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…
Top 10 Resume Boosting Gap Year Ideas: A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Your Gap Year
Discover the 10 best gap year ideas to enhance your professional skill set, gain valuable experiences, and make your resume stand out to future employers.
What Gap Year Statistics Tell Us About The Impact of Gap Year Programs on College Success
Dive into gap year statistics to explore how a gap year fosters personal development, cultural immersion, academic momentum, and career success.
Leadership Lived: a Tribute to Peter Simer
Celebrating the life of Peter Simer, Executive Director of NOLS from 1975 to 1983, we reflect on a leader, a mountaineer, and a friend.
Astronaut Reid Wiseman on Expedition Behavior
Astronaut and U.S. Navy Commander Reid Wiseman wrote this missive about expedition behavior from low earth orbit to be read to the astronaut class of 2013 on their NOLS course.
Skiing in Japan: Hot Springs and Cold Powder!
NOLS' first foray into backcountry skiing in Japan with an Alumni Trip.
The Summit Experience – Notes from Aconcagua
Summiting Aconcagua, the tallest peak outside of Asia, is an impressive accomplishment. Learn how you can achieve this with our NOLS Alumni course!
Learning to Slow Down in the Winds
Nate had taken lots of adventures in wild places, but nine days traversing with Winds on a NOLS Alumni Trip taught him to slow down and enjoy the view.
Watercolors: Worth the Weight
When packing for a journey into the backcountry, every ounce matters. Knowing this, Isabelle faced a dilemma: is taking my watercolor kit worth the weight?
Lessons We Carry Forward
With the help of her strong female instructors, Bella gained the skills and confidence that she carries far beyond her wilderness experience.
Opportunity to Engage
As a queer person of color, Lauren shares her journey to discover the programs NOLS implements on affinity expeditions and instructor-in-training programs.
