2020 marks the 55th anniversary of the founding of NOLS and the 30th anniversary of NOLS Wilderness Medicine. And in 2020, a NOLS education remains more relevant than ever.
In 1965, the world was a tumultuous place, with massive social change happening at a breakneck pace.
In this atmosphere of chaos and youth-powered upheaval, a charismatic mountaineer founded the National Outdoor Leadership School. In a small cabin in the mountains near Lander, Wyoming, Paul Petzoldt set out to nurture leaders who knew how to live responsibly in the wilderness and could teach others how to do the same.
Now, as we teach students on mountaintops and on water, in canyons and in classrooms, we celebrate the grit and passion that made NOLS the leader in outdoor education for the last 55 years.
Read More NOLS HistoryIn another small Rocky Mountain town in 1990, two people moved to Pitkin, Colorado and opened a business: the Wilderness Medicine Institute.
Wilderness medicine was still a new idea in 1990, but innovators and lovers of wilderness supported its growth and believed in its impact.
To date, NOLS Wilderness Medicine has provided education to students in all 50 U.S. states and 46 countries around the world. This translates to more than 200,000 individuals educated in the foundations to provide care for the ill and injured in remote, resource-scarce environments. For 30 years of wilderness medicine education, that’s a legacy to be proud of and celebrate.
NOLS is a nonprofit and relies on the energy and generosity of donors to support scholarships, further wildland protection, and develop cutting-edge curriculum, especially in these tumultuous times.
We invite you to give to NOLS today. No matter the size, you make a difference.
Whether it’s a $5-dollar donation in honor of the 55th anniversary or a planned gift over time, your gift helps ensure the world has the leaders it needs for these times.
Donate TodayNOLS | November 13, 2020
In 1990, two people started a business that was remarkable for 2 reasons—most important because the business was dedicated to teaching wilderness medicine. Read on and celebrate NOLS' anniversary with 30 years of wilderness medicine history.
NOLS | August 31, 2020
Tolerance for adversity and uncertainty is something all of us practice every single day. To conclude our series The Leadership Project, NOLS President Terri Watson tells stories from her experiences while teaching and putting this skill into practice.
NOLS is not just a culture but a mindset preparing you to step in and act. To care for others with no relation to yourself. To prepare with respect to the craft. To practice as a member of your community.
Geena Ramirez Wilderness EMT
