Brian Hensien
Come learn how to teach in the world’s best classroom—the outdoors. This course is designed for people from all walks of life who are ready to take the next step in their career and immerse themselves in outdoor education. Whether you're aiming to become a full-time outdoor educator or looking to enrich your current path with new skills, the experience and knowledge you gain here will stay with you for life.
Go from the high peaks of Wyoming to the red canyons of Utah while backpacking, skiing, or climbing. Immerse yourself in a range of environments from camping in snow shelters to climbing granite or sandstone cliffs. As the semester progresses, you’ll learn techniques for teaching in large and small groups, including facilitation and debrief skills. Other topics include; risk management for groups in remote places, Leave No Trace principles, and first aid, with the opportunity to earn a Wilderness First Responder certification.
Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for experiential education organizations, outdoor recreation at schools and universities, and as wilderness guides.
Leadership will also be a key focus of this course. Giving and receiving feedback after teaching a class becomes a lesson in communication. Learning to navigate off-trail is your opportunity to practice risk management and develop judgment. Reflecting on the different environments you travel through deepens your sense of place and sense of stewardship. You’ll form a tight network of peers who share your goals and passion for education. If teaching in the outdoors is your goal, then there’s no better way to gain real-world experience than by spending time learning and teaching in the wilderness.
Upon graduation, you will have certifications and key skills in:
High-level leadership skills inclusive of:
Each of these skills and certifications helps to make graduates more employable in outdoor education.
A NOLS graduate is unlike any other. Having NOLS on your résumé opens doors; having the skills we teach helps our students to become successful in outdoor careers.
Veteran Affairs Benefits and AmeriCorps funds can be used toward the cost of this course; please contact us to learn more.
“I feel more comfortable making tough decisions, a sense of ease while teaching topics to a group and the ability to interact with my peers more effectively. Most importantly I feel like I can leave this course and take the knowledge I have gained and put it to use by leading trips into the backcountry professionally.”