Articles

Discover gap year benefits and get tips to support your child's gap year decision with insights from a parent's perspective.

Two days into a picture-perfect autumn backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains, your companion slips and falls on rocky terrain. His chief complaint: pain in his swollen and tender knee. You’re at mile 5 of a planned 20-mile loop. What do you do?

Interview with NOLS Alumni Trip leader, Sam Talucci

Storks, sardines, and sand! A behind the scenes look at a recent Alumni trip: hiking Portugal's Fishermen's Trail.

Asking yourself, "Why take a gap year?" NOLS has 8 answers to that question that will help you take the plunge toward a truly transformative gap year!

In early June, six NOLS Alumni, two NOLS Instructors, and one incredible local partner set forth on NOLS’ first hiking trip in Croatia.

Looking for affordable gap year programs? Here's how to find programs that offer incredible yet budget-friendly experiences and learning opportunities.

Yearning to dive deep into the heart of global cultures? Uncover the best destinations for an authentic cultural immersion during your gap year abroad.

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.

NOLS Alumni trip explores new, less visited, route in Iceland.

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.

NOLS' first foray into backcountry skiing in Japan with an Alumni Trip.

NOLS Alumni trips announces the closing of our Bahamas program.

Summiting Aconcagua, the tallest peak outside of Asia, is an impressive accomplishment. Learn how you can achieve this with our NOLS Alumni course!

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.

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?

With the help of her strong female instructors, Bella gained the skills and confidence that she carries far beyond her wilderness experience.

As a queer person of color, Lauren shares her journey to discover the programs NOLS implements on affinity expeditions and instructor-in-training programs.

NOLS semester graduate reflects on the lessons learned and the lasting impact of his experience.

Jay Clark's fall NOLS Outdoor Educator semester started with questions looming for their senior year. Inspiration struck while traveling in Utah's desert.

To reduce the strain on local health care facilities during a global crisis, you can step up and use your first aid training to treat some injuries at home.

Test your knowledge with this case study about a patient with an ankle injury on a backcountry hunt.

Test your knowledge with this case study about a patient having breathing difficulty in a remote mountain setting

This case study focuses on how responders must be creative and thoughtful to adapt plans as they care for patients on a wilderness—not city—timeframe.