NOLS Blog
Instructor Spotlight: Caeden Greene
A NOLS experience can truly be a transformative experience for a young person’s life, and that was certainly the case for field instructor Caeden Greene. In high school, Caeden embarked on a 30-day Waddington Range Mountaineering Expedition (WAD), long known as one of NOLS’ most rigorous courses. The WAD expedition had such a profound effect…
Case Study: Jellyfish Sting in Paradise
Photo by Molly Hagbrand The setting You and your friend are enjoying some early morning sunshine and perfect ...
Through the Diamond Heart of Brazil: Our Next Alumni Adventure!
Lush valleys, waterfalls, ancient ruins, and diamonds can all be found in Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina National Park, the ...
Kickstart your Summer: A NOLS-Inspired Guide to Outdoor Adventure
Summer is a season of possibility—new places to explore, skills to sharpen, and friendships to deepen. At NOLS, we believe that thoughtful preparation, intentional choices, and community connection lay the foundation for safe, rewarding, and meaningful adventures. Whether you’re planning a long expedition or a weekend hike, here are key ideas to guide your summer…
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Expedition Isla Wager y Mas
With dreams of personal adventures in Patagonian Chile, Dave Watson asked Nacho Aguilera and me to join him paddling in the archipelago south of the Golfo De Penas. Almost a year before we put our paddles in the water, we started talking and planning. Tasks were delegated to be ready to begin our expedition in…
NOLS 1965 • 2025 • 2085
NOLS winter camping in the 1970s. It was December 1973, in the midst of a two-week winter course somewhere in the Winds. With our 70+-pound packs, we used seal skins on our wooden Army-issue skis to ascend a steep ridge. The day was clear and very cold. The snow was almost to our knees, as…
How to Make Deluxe Mac and Cheese (and Fried Macs too!) in the Backcountry
Photo by Jordan Cranch Cheesy pasta is a staple for any expedition. This recipe for macaroni and cheese, made deluxe by the addition of butter and dried veggies, is hot and delicious and transitions well from the backcountry to your kitchen at home. Be sure to check out the recipe for NOLS Famous Fried Macs!…
Navigating the Path: the U.S. NOLS Instructor in Training Program
2024 US Instructor In Training Cohort at the start of their instructor course: top, left to right, NOLS field instructor Jerick Lee, NOLS field instructor Elsie Freland, Matt Medina, Dane Gare, Amber Davis, and bottom left to right, Alison Sikowitz, Vicky Albores, Yessi Aguilar, and Jianna Kaufman The U.S. NOLS Instructor-in-Training (IIT) Program is a…
Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund: Mountaineering in Rwenzori Mountains
This 15-day expedition began with an interest to take on a challenge we had not encountered before. One day, after working a contract in East Africa, James “KG” Kagambi, Evan Kuria, and I began discussing enhancing our outdoor skills. Evan suggested we explore the Rwenzori Mountains, the nearest mountains with easy access to a glacier.…
Our Public Lands Are More Than Easy Money
In the spring of 1991 I headed south to Utah to work my first canyon hiking course for the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Why You Must Try Mountaineering At Least Once In Your Life
If you want to give this activity a chance, be prepared to either hate it, or be consumed by it. Start with either taking a course at like NOLS.
NASA Sending First African-American Astronaut to International Space Station
The roster includes Jeanette Epps, the first African-American to be sent to the ISS. She is aNational Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) graduate.
First African-American Crewmember To Join The International Space Station
Jeanette Epps will be the first African-AmericancCrewmember to join the International Space Station. Epps is a NOLS graduate.
Teens in the backcountry
Mayers took a multi-week National Outdoor Leadership School backcountry skiing and winter camping course as well as a Wilderness First Responder course.
Ladakhi Women’s Welfare Network Founder Thinlas Chorol to Speak at Yale
Thinlas traveled to attend Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and then the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where she became a credentialed guide.
Meet Thinlas Chorol: Mountaineer and more
She attended the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where she became a credentialed guide. She returned to Ladakh to open Ladakhi Women Travel Company.
How Gap Years Can Prepare You For College: A Semester in Patagonia
After several months and many reiterations of the Common App passed, I decided to defer from Colorado College and apply for a semester in Patagonia with NOLS.
Yarn Registry – I am a Grand Canyon park ranger
I obtained wilderness first aid and CPR certifications. I did a NOLS course and a American Red Cross class before starting to work at the National Park Service.
In Wyoming, a cautious public lands victory
Aaron Bannon, the stewardship and sustainability director at NOLS, said the crowd at the hearings included hunters and anglers next to conservationists.
Molly Graham is taking on a top ops role at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Molly Graham has also worked at Google and the Council on Foreign Relations, and was a wilderness instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Steamboat Springs graduate completes Patagonia expedition
Jackson Perry, a 2014 Steamboat Springs High School graduate spent 80 days during fall term on a NOLS Semester in Patagonia.
