NASA Leadership Expedition

The NASA Leadership Expedition takes you through the unique canyon country of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah.

On this course, you will backpack through red rock canyons in an area characterized by rugged terrain and delicate beauty, with red sandstone, and green junipers adding color to the arid landscape. Relics of the Ancestral Pueblo culture may still be seen in the form of ruins, petroglyphs, and potshards. At times you will travel across the mesa tops with spectacular views in all directions while at others, you’ll wind your way through the labyrinthine depths of deeply incised waterways.

Once in the canyons, you will learn fundamental wilderness and travel skills (e.g., cooking, selecting campsites, setting up tents, navigation & map reading, etc) and be challenged by the difficulty of minimizing your impact in an area where the soil is fragile and the water you previously took for granted is hard to find. You will also be provided opportunities to practice self-leadership, peer leadership, designated leadership, and active followership in a remote, austere environment. NOLS Faculty will play evolving roles in response to route challenges and unfolding weather conditions, and you should expect to assert an active role in team decision-making processes and actively manage group dynamics to create a positive team atmosphere.