NOLS Blog

Case Study: Dental Emergency while Rafting 

A member of your rafting party loses a tooth partway through a 4-day trip. How do you respond?

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Photo by Liz Schultz
Case Study: Sea Kayaking Slip 
photo credit: Liz Schultz The Setting You are enjoying an amazing day of paddling on Prince William Sound ...
Matt Hage
Gap Year Pros and Cons: Solo vs. Group
Taking a gap year can be a transformative experience that expands your horizons, fosters personal growth, and unlocks ...
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…
Molly Hagbrand
Case Study: Jellyfish Sting in Paradise
Ouch! Your friend gets stung by a jellyfish while you're out surfing. How do you respond?
Through the Diamond Heart of Brazil: Our Next Alumni Adventure!
Lush valleys, waterfalls, ancient ruins, and diamonds can all be found in Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina National Park, the backdrop for one of NOLS’ newest alumni trips. Murilo Bellese and Moaci Dantas, the trip’s primary architects, share a little more about the trip and what makes it special. Looking out over Chapada Diamantina National Park. Photo…
Why Yellowstone and Other Parks Come to the WRMC
Why Yellowstone and Other Parks Come to the WRMC
Educator Expedition: Paddling at the South Pacific Sea Kayak Symposium
Educator Expedition: Paddling at the South Pacific Sea Kayak Symposium
Jared Steinman
7 Materials That Can Be Used To Improvise a Splint
An important part of managing emergencies in the backcountry is coming up with first aid solutions using the supplies you have on hand, and this includes improvising splints
WY Not: Students of the Wilderness – Problem
Where the wilderness becomes a classroom and students become leaders. Relying heavily on experiential education, NOLS works with over 24,000 students a year.
Educator Expedition: A Day in the Waddington Range
Educator Expedition: A Day in the Waddington Range
NOLS
Why Conservation Crews Benefit from the WRMC
Why Conservation Crews Benefit from the WRMC
The Backpacker’s Guide to Happy Feet
The Backpacker’s Guide to Happy Feet
Reasons to Take a Longer Trip
Reasons to Take a Longer Trip
7 Simple Items to Upgrade Your Backcountry Setup
7 Simple Items to Upgrade Your Backcountry Setup
Todd Cravens
Tips for Visiting 12 Iconic National Parks
Tips for Visiting 12 Iconic National Parks
When Urban Environments Go Wild: Wilderness Medicine in the Aftermath of Disaster
When Urban Environments Go Wild: Wilderness Medicine in the Aftermath of Disaster
10 Junk Foods to Indulge in after Your Expedition
10 Junk Foods to Indulge in after Your Expedition