Leadership Skills

My 30-day NOLS course was the hardest test of will, teamwork, strength and leadership I’ve ever experienced.

Knowing what needs to be done and how to do it are important parts of expedition behavior.

When you know your tendencies, you can avoid the traps that come with making decisions based on incorrect or incomplete information.

For first-time trip leaders or seasoned explorers, here are some tips to encourage a high-functioning team on your next excursion.

2017 NOLS Summit speaker and instructor Eric Boggs shares how storytelling is a powerful way to teach leadership.

In 1965, Paul Petzoldt founded a wilderness school built on the principles of environmental stewardship, values that continue to guide NOLS today.

The true value of a leadership gap year isn't adding an impressive list of activities to your resume—it's about developing valuable life skills.

NOLS grad Carolyn Highland reflects on how learning tolerance for adversity on an outdoor semester in New Zealand translates to challenges at home.

Check out top staff picks featuring leadership books by inspiring female authors.

A first-generation college student reflects on what she learned on a NOLS sea kayaking expedition for STEP students in Alaska.

Len Zanni, co-owner of Big Agnes, Inc. and NOLS grad, talked with us about what he’s learned from NOLS and from his years of working in the outdoor industry.

The value of getting outside your comfort zone.

Stand out from the crowd by talking about NOLS on your resume

My Playground, My Dad, My Leadership Voice

5 Things You Learn from Climbing (That Also Matter in Real Life)

NOLS alum Erica Levine Weber takes her experience on a NOLS semester and turns it into a lifetime of international travel with her family, taking her daughter to 30 countries before her first birthday.

Take charge of your adventures, your safety, and your life—take a course. Preferably, before you crack your tailbone snowboarding or have a close call with a bear (like I did...)

Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph on Leadership and How to Learn It

A bear encounter leaves you with some first aid to perform, including confirming scene safety and caring for your patient.

Educator Expedition: Assistant Overnight Guide Course - Learning the Ways of the Ocean

Educator Expedition: Paddling at the South Pacific Sea Kayak Symposium

Educator Expedition: A Day in the Waddington Range

AmeriCorps and NOLS grad Travis talks about how combining both programs helped him put leadership experience into practice.

Confessions from the Wilderness [Interview]