Wilderness Expedition for Emerging School Leaders

Grow as a Leader and Educator While Exploring the Heart of Yellowstone National Park!

Join an inspiring cohort of emerging middle and secondary school leaders for a transformative 8-day journey through the remote wilderness of Yellowstone National Park. This immersive expedition combines outdoor adventure with reflective leadership development, connecting you with other growth-minded educators committed to growing as leaders in their classroom and school communities. Together, you’ll learn essential backcountry skills, deepen your leadership toolkit, and reconnect with the power of nature to inspire personal and professional growth for you and your students.

Who Is This Course For?

• Middle and secondary school educators who are eager to:
  • Dive into the theory and application of experiential education in the wilderness classroom.
  • Explore what it means to teach leadership, and how you can facilitate leadership development amongst your students.
  • Build leadership skills that transcend the classroom, allowing you to confidently take on new leadership roles and opportunities in your broader school and community.
• The course would be an excellent fit for educators in the following roles:
  • Teachers looking to take on more leadership roles in their school community.
  • Department and class chairs.
  • Directors of outdoor/experiential leadership.
  • Directors of global programming.
  • College counselors.
  • Other student-facing leadership roles.

Why This Training Will Shape Your Leadership and Personal Growth

The Wilderness Expedition for Emerging School Leaders is more than a wilderness trip—it is a catalyst for transformation. Set in one of North America’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, this expedition challenges you to examine how you lead in the face of uncertainty, adversity, and change. As you navigate rugged terrain and emerging group dynamics, you’ll hone your leadership style, strengthen your decision-making, and develop communication skills that transcend the trail and directly impact your school community.

By the end of the course you’ll leave with:

• A renewed sense of purpose and confidence in your leadership.
• A trusted network of fellow school leaders.
• The clarity to lead intentionally through complexity and challenge.

Explore the Untamed Beauty of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is home to pristine rivers, alpine meadows, thermal features, and dramatic peaks. As you hike through this breathtaking landscape, you may spot elk or moose at sunrise, cross glacial streams, or pause to reflect in the quiet of a subalpine pass. Each day of this self-contained expedition will bring new challenges and experiences, from moving and setting up camp in remote terrain to navigating with map and compass, to cooking meals with your fellow students, all while deepening your respect for the natural world and all its inhabitants.

What You’ll Learn: From Wilderness Skills to Leadership Development

On this expedition, you will not only learn the skills to live comfortably in the wilderness, you will deep dive into experiential leadership frameworks and practices, giving you time and space to reflect and plan how you want to show up as a leader for your students and school community.

Some of the core skills you’ll develop on your expedition include:

Leadership skills that transfer to the field, classroom, and school community: Throughout your expedition, you will practice key leadership skills for school leaders, such as: facilitating and debriefing, delivering and receiving growth-oriented feedback, managing subjective and objective risks, and thriving and adapting in uncertainty.

Define Yourself as a Leader: Reflect on what skills you possess as a leader in the field and back home, and how you show up in times of adversity. Practice new skills amidst true challenges, giving yourself confidence in how you can show up for those you serve.

Wilderness Navigation: Master backcountry navigation techniques using maps, compasses, and GPS, allowing you to travel confidently through remote landscapes.

Backcountry Camping and Cooking: Learn to set up efficient camps, cook nourishing meals in the wild, and practice Leave No Trace Principles to protect fragile environments.

Managing Group Dynamics: Explore your leadership skills by taking on real-time decision making roles during group travel and collaborative tasks. Experiment with different communication styles as you take on emerging challenges throughout the expedition.

Personal Growth: Stretch your physical and mental limits, gaining new perspectives on your abilities, your team, and the natural world. Daily, you’ll debrief with your peers and have the opportunity to give and receive feedback on you and your team’s leadership strengths.

Course Structure: What to Expect Each Day on your Expedition

Day 0: Arrive at NOLS Teton Valley Campus. Meet your instructors and fellow participants. Set intentions, review course objectives, and receive an orientation on gear.

Day 1: Issue gear and rations, travel to the trailhead and begin your journey.

Day 2: First full day in the field. Dive into theoretical experiential education frameworks and the NOLS 4-7-1 leadership model. Your instructors will teach the fundamentals of outdoor travel, and model leading a small hiking group.

Day 3-7: The heart of your expedition! Participants will cycle through opportunities to lead small hiking groups and facilitate conversations on leadership in both the expedition and secondary school environments.

Day 8: Return to the NOLS campus for a final debrief and celebration. Share key takeaways, enjoy a graduation dinner, and return to Jackson, WY for departure.

A New Spin on Professional Development

Drawing from NOLS’ time-tested leadership curriculum and world-class faculty, this course is designed to help participants further develop the skills they need to step into expanded leadership roles in their school community. We encourage you to see if your school will fund you in this unique professional development opportunity.Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions about how this expedition can serve as a part of your yearly professional development

Become Part of the NOLS Legacy: Join a Global Community of Leaders

When you complete your NOLS expedition, you’ll join a global network of leaders in the educational space. NOLS alumni are known for their resilience, adaptability, and leadership skills- qualities forged through immersive wilderness experiences like this one. As a graduate you’ll have access to a supportive community that extends far beyond the course, providing opportunities for further professional development, networking, and lifelong friendships.

Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey? Sign up today and take the first step toward mastering the skills that will help guide you as a leader in the wilderness- and your school.