NOLS Blog

Love and EB: a NOLS Valentine Story

Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, is the one day on the calendar dedicated solely to love and connection. It conjures up cards and gifts, candy and flowers, time spent together, and—in some circles—questions about relationships’ origin stories. At NOLS, I learned when I sat down with a few couples, more than a few romantic partnerships begin…

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Case Study: An Unexpected Illness on a Ski Trip
The Setting You’re on day 2 of a 4-day hut to hut ski trip in the 100 Mile ...
Two young backpackers study a topographic map together in a lush green forest, one wearing a tan baseball cap and dark jacket, the other in a maroon shirt with a hiking pack, practicing navigation skills.
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, ...
Six smiling backpackers pose together on a hillside in Alaska, wearing full expedition packs and holding trekking poles, with dramatic mountain peaks and moody clouds in the background.
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 success more reliably than test scores or academic credentials—and most schools barely address it. Leadership skills for teens aren’t about being in charge of others. They’re about being in charge of yourself: making decisions under pressure, communicating…
Ship’s Log: Sailing in Greece’s Ionian Sea Alumni Trip
After a few days of moderate winds, good introductory sailing and island exploring while making our way to the north coast of Kerkyra along the southern border of Albania, a change in the weather was on the horizon. With the forecast in mind, we tucked into the protected harbor of Gouvia just north of Old…
Three young women in rain jackets and sun hats sit together on an open grassland, laughing and leaning into each other, with rolling green hills and stormy skies in the background.
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…
Group of teen backpackers hikes single-file through desert scrubland at golden hour, carrying full packs up a trail with arid mountains and scattered vegetation in the warm afternoon light.
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…
Four teen backpackers with large expedition packs stand at the edge of a lake in the Rocky Mountains, with snow-patched granite peaks and dramatic clouds reflected in the still water behind them.
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…
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.
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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
NOLS Courses Are So Much Pun!
NOLS Courses Are So Much Pun!
How to Find the Best Campsites in the US
Marco Johnson, Field Staffing Director at NOLS outlines how to pick the best campsite. His tips include: explore the nearby area, go in the off-season and more.
Forest Kindergarten Teacher Trained at NOLS
She pursued continuing education courses with the National Outdoor Leadership School. That coalesced into the Kindergarten Forest program at Antioch School.
Ugly Boxes Doing Beautiful Things: How You Can Do Sustainability
Ugly Boxes Doing Beautiful Things: How You Can Do Sustainability
Quantifying the Unquantifiable: What I Learned after a Week in the Wilderness with the Archer School for Girls
Quantifying the Unquantifiable: What I Learned after a Week in the Wilderness with the Archer School for Girls
Filling the Gap
For the newest high school generation, some students have decided that taking a year before starting college is in their best interests.
Self-Care in the Backcountry: Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore
Self-care, any action or behavior that helps us avoid triggering health problems, is totally necessary but often goes ignored.