Desde 1965 cuando la escuela fue fundada por Paul Petzolt, NOLS ha enseñado técnicas de vida al aire libre, conservación práctica y liderazgo, a más de 50,000 alumnos. La casa matriz de NOLS está ubicada en Lander, Wyoming, Estados Unidos y además tenemos programas en Arizona, Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, Chile, India, Canadá, México y Australia.
Los cursos de NOLS se desarrollan en un formato de expedición por lugares aislados, remotos y poco visitados; su duración varía desde 7 hasta 95 días. Se realizan una amplia gama de cursos incluyendo: excursionismo, montañismo, kayak de mar y de río, espeleología, cabalgatas, escalada en roca, esquí y navegación a vela. Ofrecemos cursos para personas desde los 14 años hasta programas diseñados para adultos mayores de 50 años. Los cursos tienen un cupo que varía de 10 a 17 alumnos. Cada curso está supervisado por un equipo con experiencia en el área, compuesto de 2 a 4 de instructores. Todavía lo que hacemos esta muy ligado a expediciones de larga duración en áreas silvestres, pero a la vez contamos con los departamentos de publicaciones e investigación científica para informar el curriculum de los cursos, adelantar la misión de la escuela y difundir información a una mayor audiencia.
Promovemos la protección de nuestras aulas (la áreas silvestres) enseñando a través de publicaciones, investigación científica y seminarios especializados en técnicas para minimizar los impactos debidos al uso recreativo en áreas naturales.
A Worthy Expedition: The History of NOLS begins with the story of NOLS founder Paul Petzoldt and tells the story of the school through its challenging formative years, its successes and explorations of new wild places, and the stories of the people at the heart of the school.
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NOLS completes a two-year branding initiative. This includes redesign of visual and voice elements, website, logo, as well as renaming of NOLS pillars:
NOLS celebrates the 25th anniversary of WMI and the 50th anniversary of NOLS as an organization, remembering our history and preparing for the future.
Graduates of wilderness medicine courses begin receiving certifications electronically, increasing student service while saving the school thousands of dollars and hours.
NOLS designs, develops, and leads Expedition Denali, the first all-African American team to attempt to climb Denali (Mt. McKinley), the United States’ highest peak at 20,320 feet. Learn more about Expedition Denali and the film telling their story, An American Ascent.
The Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus earns LEED Platinum certification.
NOLS opens the Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus in Red Canyon outside of Lander, WY.
NOLS starts Gateway Partnerships and fellowship programs, initiatives that aim to provide education and pathways of access to underserved populations.
NOLS opens NOLS Northeast in the Adirondacks.
NOLS signs an agreement with REI to deliver wilderness medicine courses through REI Outdoor Schools and markets throughout the United States.
NOLS enters into a 20-year agreement with the Government Services Administration to facilitate course delivery to federal agencies.
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WMI and Landmark Learning partner, expanding NOLS’ course offerings in the southeastern United States.
NOLS launches our new sustainability initiative, with the goal of creating a comprehensive, long-term plan to reduce the school’s global environmental footprint
Students head out for the first Year in Patagonia course, the first ever yearlong program in outdoor education.
NOLS celebrates our 40th anniversary and receives the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for our fair, honest and ethical business practices.
NOLS began offering courses that combine wilderness medicine training in an expedition format.
WMI moves its staff and offices from Pitkin, CO to NOLS Headquarters in Lander, WY.
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Thelma Young, beloved NOLS equipment seamstress and the longest tenured NOLS employee, dies at the age of 69.
Paul Petzoldt, founder of NOLS, dies at the age of 91.
NOLS purchases the Wilderness Medicine Institute, Inc. (WMI), now NOLS Wilderness Medicine , to better serve students by broadening educational opportunities and expanding its geographic reach.
NOLS launches NOLS Professional Training, now NOLS Custom Education, to provide customized experiences to our audience, including NASA astronauts, MBA programs, and other non-profits.
NOLS conducts its first formal review of an outdoor program’s risk management practices, which eventually leads to other risk management offerings and the launch of NOLS Risk Management Services, now NOLS Risk Services. Earlier pro bono reviews of peer programs and participation in the Association of Experiential Education (AEE) accreditation process paved the way for this development.
Joanne Hurley becomes the first woman to be named Chair of the NOLS Board of Trustees.
NOLS coordinates the first Wilderness Risk Management Conference at NOLS Pacific Northwest in Conway, WA.
NOLS runs the first Leave No Trace (LNT) course in the Wind River Range near Lander. We collaborate with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service to develop the curriculum for these courses. This curriculum is now internationally known and used.
NOLS starts the Department of Public Policy, later named Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, to help maintain the integrity of and access to wild places.
NOLS Wilderness First Aid by Tod Schimelpfenig and Linda Lindsey, now NOLS Wilderness Medicine, is first published.
The Wilderness Medicine Institute, Inc. (WMI) is founded by Melissa Gray and Buck Tilton in Pitkin, CO. WMI runs three courses with 83 students.
Soft Paths, by instructor Bruce Hampton and researcher David Cole, is published. The book was NOLS’ definitive statement on backcountry conservation and minimum impact practices. It was later adapted into several popular educational videos.
The first computers are installed in the NOLS international administrative offices at the Noble Hotel in Lander.
NOLS hosts its first alumni reunion.
The Instructor Development Fund is established to help instructors seek further development in leadership and outdoor skills.
Joan Chitiea becomes the first woman elected to NOLS Board of Trustees. University of Utah and NOLS form a partnership to offer students academic credit.
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NOLS offers its first course in wilderness first aid, called Backcountry Emergency Care.
Petzoldt is removed as executive director and named senior advisor. The NOLS Instructor Association (NIA) forms in response and to advocate for instructor interests.
NOLS is the first in the outdoor industry to run a semester-length outdoor education expedition.
The Wilderness Handbook, written by Paul Petzoldt, is published. This was the first NOLS publication for national distribution.
The first edition of the NOLS Cookery is published. This was the first NOLS publication for public distribution.
Alcoa Hour presents “Thirty Days to Survival,” a television show that got the word about NOLS out to a wider audience.
The first women enrolled on NOLS courses.
College credit became available to students.
Thelma Young is hired as a seamstress to make equipment and clothing that was not available commercially. She invented tents, wind shirts, sleeping bags, and more that provided the basis for many innovations in outdoor gear, and that NOLS still uses today!
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is founded in Lander, Wyoming by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt.
Our first course sets out from Sinks Canyon wearing Army surplus wool clothes, carrying heavy external frame backpacks, and ready for the challenges awaiting them.
