Trade your teen's screen time for wilderness time

Photo Credit: Lukas Hallberg

Reconnect with what matters

In a world dominated by screens, NOLS gives teens a rare chance to unplug. No phones. No notifications. Just face-to-face connections, hands-on learning, and the quiet space to think for themselves. 

Four girls sitting in river kayaks and wearing red helmets and sunglasses pose together, smiling. They are covered in red mud

“I thought the camping and hiking would be the experience...not the learning, growth and self awareness along the way of what type of leader he is and where he can improve/growth opportunity."

– Parent of a NOLS Teen Expedition graduate

A girl holds up a pizza in a fry pan. She is sitting on the ground, surrounded by granite peaks.
More than an adventure

Life doesn’t come with a roadmap. But at NOLS, teens practice navigating both wilderness trails and real-world challenges. They: 

✅ Develop leadership and independence.
✅ Build strategies for staying organized.
✅ Gain confidence by facing challenges without shortcuts and learning they can persevere.
✅ Strengthen collaboration and address conflict productively by living and working with diverse peers in a tight-knit group.
✅ Sharpen problem-solving and critical thinking by making real decisions in a dynamic environment.
✅ Increase self-awareness away from the noise of technology and social media.
✅ Find new inspiration that sparks lifelong interests.

A woman in an orange drysuit and a yellow helmet sits on the bank of a river. She is pointing to a diagram. There are three people with wetsuits and helmets watching her.
Learn from the Best

NOLS sets the standard for instructor excellence.

From sharing the skills to live comfortably in the elements to teaching the art of baking on a camp stove, NOLS instructors create a safe space for students to try new things while learning from mistakes. Our instructors role model effective leadership and support students as they develop their own leadership style.

  • The average age of our instructors is 39.
  • The average NOLS instructor has worked 89 weeks (1.7 years) in the field.
  • Our expedition instructor pool includes individuals from 26 different countries.
  • All expedition instructors take the NOLS instructor course, a rigorous training considered to be the gold standard in the field of outdoor education.
  • All expedition instructors hold current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certifications. Many instructors are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

Learn More About Our Teen Expeditions

Financial Aid

NOLS offers need-based scholarships for summer courses. Learn more about how to apply.

Risk Management

We believe that risk is manageable and that no organization is better equipped to manage risk than NOLS.

High School Credit

High school credit—and college credit for those who qualify—is available on all our teen summer courses.