Semester
My Path to Outdoor Education from a Semester in Alaska
NOLS grad-turned-instructor Katiya Gombar says that not a single day goes by without thinking of her expedition in Alaska and the lessons she learned there.
Brave, Not Perfect
NOLS grad Mairin Rogers shares what she learned on her Semester in Baja about being brave rather than constantly trying to achieve perfection.
What You Learn on a NOLS Semester
On outdoor semester with NOLS, you'll learn to find navigate in the wilderness—which might just help you find clarity on your journey through life as well.
Research Connects Wilderness Experience with Stronger Problem-solving Skills
Research shows that NOLS semesters better equip students for real-world problem solving than traditional classroom-based courses.
Tolerance for Uncertainty: Sea, Mountains, and Culture on a Patagonia Semester
Chilean NOLS grad Ignacio Martínez shares stories and advice from his Semester in Patagonia.
Pay It Forward: How My NOLS Semester Helped Me Lead My Own Backcountry Trips
Carolyn Highland reflects on one of her favorite days ever—ascending an unnamed peak with a student-only team on her NOLS semester—and its lasting impact.
Lessons from Escalante’s Desert Canyons
Outdoor educator Erin Phillips shares reflections on the time she spent exploring the Utah desert on a NOLS semester expedition.
A Letter to My Future Self
Carolyn shares the letter she wrote to herself on a one-night solo near the end of her Semester in New Zealand.
Tolerance for Uncertainty & Adversity
NOLS grad Carolyn Highland reflects on how learning tolerance for adversity on an outdoor semester in New Zealand translates to challenges at home.
The Big Picture: How I Found My Grit on a Semester in Baja
A NOLS alum reflects on the life-changing experiences he had while hiking, kayaking, and sailing on a semester in Baja California, Mexico.
Any Year Can Be a Gap Year
Best Time to Take a Gap Year: Discover how any year can be transformed into an impactful and transformative gap year.
Thanking the Wilderness for Letting Me In
NOLS grad Maya Johnston shares the lessons she learned on a life-changing semester in the wilderness.
How to Plan for Your Gap Year
Not sure where to start with gap year planning? Check out these 8 steps to help you plan for your gap year.
Why You Should Get Outside for Your Gap Year
An outdoor gap year teaches you things that you would never learn in a traditional classroom.
I Belong in the Woods: Spring Semester in New Zealand
NOLS grad Natalie Beittel reflects on why she chose to travel to New Zealand for her study abroad semester with NOLS and what she learned from her experience.
Take Your Cooking Outdoors: Interview with Expedition Chef Mary Brent Galyean
An interview with Expedition Chef and NOLS Grad Mary Brent Galyean
What I Learned from My Child’s Gap Year [Interview]
Should my child take a gap year? Gain insights from a parent's perspective and get great advice on why a gap year is a powerful learning tool.
Pathfinding on an Outdoor Semester
Read how Matt used his veterans benefits to fund a semester in the Rockies and found the space and direction to consider a career in the natural sciences.
Gap Year: An Incredible Opportunity
Why take a NOLS gap year? NOLS grad Molly Hunt reflects on what she learned during her NOLS gap semester in New Zealand.
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