NOLS Blog
Case Study: Dental Emergency while RaftingÂ
A member of your rafting party loses a tooth partway through a 4-day trip. How do you respond?
Case Study: Sea Kayaking SlipÂ
photo credit: Liz Schultz The Setting You are enjoying an amazing day of paddling on Prince William Sound ...
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…
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…
13 Signs You’re Having Trouble Getting Back into City Life
13 Signs You’re Having Trouble Getting Back into City Life
Putting Leadership into Practice: AmeriCorps and NOLS
AmeriCorps and NOLS grad Travis talks about how combining both programs helped him put leadership experience into practice.
Ready for the Challenge: How I Became a Wilderness EMT
Ready for the Challenge: How I Became a Wilderness EMT
Backcountry Chilling Over Oil Drilling [Book Review]
Backcountry Chilling Over Oil Drilling [Book Review]
How I Became a NOLS Nerd
Swedish master mariner and ships’ pilot Jonas Alexanderson tells stories from his 50th birthday present, a NOLS sea kayaking course in Prince William Sound
Bruce Palmer On the Value of a Gap Year
I caught up with Bruce Palmer. We talked about the importance of outdoor education, Gap Years and the value of this experience in the life of a young person.
Beyond Limits and Proud: LGBT & NOLS Wilderness Medicine Experience
River guide Emily Ambrose shares lessons learned about building confidence as a leader and in her identity during a WFR course
Thanking the Wilderness for Letting Me In
NOLS grad Maya Johnston shares the lessons she learned on a life-changing semester in the wilderness.
10 Classic Health and Safety Risks Among First-Time Campers
Read ten health and safety tips for first time campers. Marco Johnson, a senior field instructor at NOLS offers his tips for beginners.
