Your Outdoor Classroom

Wild Places.
Real Leadership.

Learn By Doing

With the Leader in Outdoor Education

All NOLS courses, from immersive wilderness expeditions to classroom-based wilderness medicine courses, are designed around learning by experience, mentorship from expert educators, and wilderness. Students finish their outdoor education courses inspired and empowered to act as leaders in their community.

Browse Programs

Programs

Photo by Alex Dymond

Summer Semester in the Rockies

Oscar Manguy

Global Healthcare Semester in Tanzania

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Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester

Serving People & The Environment

Committed to Community and Wilderness

NOLS’ mission is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Our community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence.

Mission & Values
@oscar.manguy SSP 1 and 2 10/2/2018 Location NOLS Patagonia Location Details Tortel, Southern Ice
Oscar Manguy

Featured Expeditions

A group of women wearing sea kayak skirts and PDFs pose together in front of the ocean. They are standing on a beach and it's sunny.

Women’s Baja Sea Kayaking Expedition – Adult

Oscar Manguy

Spring Semester in India

Photo by Karly Gutermuth

Wyoming Backpacking Adventure for Teens 14-15 - 2 Weeks

Karly Gutermuth

Summer Semester in the Rockies

Karly Gutermuth

Yellowstone Wilderness - 18 to 22 only

Rich Brame

Wind River Hiking – Adult

Stories From The Blog

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Current Resources

Mauricio Clauzet

Connect About Your Gap Year

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Online Wilderness Medicine Resources

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Request a Catalog

For Organizations

Matt Hage

Training for Your Team

Your team needs confidence, resilience, and leadership to accomplish their goals. Build your team’s capacity and potential through proven experiential learning. Learn more about NOLS custom expeditions.

David Morgan

Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Risk management planning is valuable for anyone who ventures off the beaten path. Whether you take your family hiking or run an established program, choosing to invest in risk management planning is choosing responsible leadership.