NOLS Blog
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
Photo by Jonathan Weaver The Setting You’re on day 12 of a 21-day Grand Canyon expedition, enjoying 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 ...
Knee Injury While Cross-Country Skiing
The Setting You are cross-country skiing with four of your friends on a beautiful December day. The sun is shining, the temperature is a balmy 25℉, and you’re enjoying feeling the wind against your cheeks as you ski. You are roughly 3 miles into your 6-mile loop. Your moment of enjoyment is broken when, out…
Epistaxis on a Llama Packing Trip
The Setting It’s day two of a guided family llama packing trip deep in the Andes of South America. The scenery is stunning—glacial valleys, high alpine meadows, and dramatic peaks. You’re one of the trip guides, certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The group includes several families, and this morning’s plan is to trek…
Medicine in Orbit
Space, some say, is the final frontier. For N. Stuart Harris, M.D., M.F.A., Massachusetts General Hospital Emergency Department physician and the NOLS Board of Trustees’ immediate past Chair, it’s very much today’s frontier. Stuart, whose first NOLS course was a Fall Semester in the Rockies, is the Founding Chief of Massachusetts General Hospital’s SPEAR Medicine…
6 Reasons Why You Should Take A WEMT Course (And Tips for How to Prepare)
Here are the top six reasons why one NOLS Wilderness Medicine grad recommends taking a Wilderness EMT course.
Paul Petzold, the U.S. Army, and NOLS
Paul Petzoldt was 36 years old in 1943 when he joined the U.S. Army’s prestigious 10th Mountain Division, an elite group of soldiers who were trained for alpine warfare. Already decades into his career, the future founder of NOLS had worked a slew of jobs, including farmer, waiter, and used car salesman. He was best…
How to Make Hash Browns with Cheese
Hash browns have a well-deserved reputation as a delicious breakfast treat, but this cheesy version is great for lunch or dinner too—and that’s before you add nuggets of ham or bacon and a few shakes of hot sauce into the mix! This recipe requires a little forethought—both the hash browns and dried onions benefit from…
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.
27 Considerations for a Wilderness First Aid Kit
There’s no such thing as the perfect first aid kit, so you should consider your needs and build a kit that meets them.
DIY Composting
Instead of contributing organic matter to a landfill, try composting with a few simple steps. It’s easier than you’d think!
Gap Years: Why Most Adults Say, ‘I Wish I’d Done That’
A gap year with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), has a focus on leadership and outdoors skills in the most awe-inspiring locations in the world.
Kayakers Finish Expedition Down Elk River
Kearns went on a trip with the National Outdoor Leadership School down Utah’s Green River. There, he met Swisher and the two hit it off.
Thriving as Women Boaters on the Main Salmon River
Thriving as Women Boaters on the Main Salmon River
NOLS to Match AmeriCorps Education Awards (Americorps – 2016)
NOLS to match AmeriCorps Education Awards
