National Outdoor Leadership School

284 Lincoln Street Lander, Wyoming 82520-2848 www.nols.edu | admissions@nols.edu Phone: (800) 710-NOLS | Fax: (307) 332-1220

THE LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION

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NOLS Facts {p.34}

NOLS Scandinavia NOLS Alaska NOLS Yukon

Grads Tell Their Stories {p.514}

NOLS Pacic Northwest NOLS Northeast NOLS Rocky Mountain Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus NOLS India NOLS Mexico

Winter & Spring Courses {p. 1550}

NOLS Teton Valley NOLS Southwest

NOLS Semesters Lead the Way {p.2930} Winter & Spring Semester Course Offerings {p.3150}

Summer Courses {p.51}

NOLS Amazon NOLS East Africa NOLS Australia

Fall Courses {p.52}

NOLS Professional Training {p.5354} NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute {p.5556}

NOLS New Zealand NOLS Patagonia

Join NOLS! {p.5758}

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NOLS, a 501(c)(3) nonprot educational institution, operates under permit and in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, state organizations, and international land management agencies. See a complete list of our operating areas online at: www.nols.edu/operatingareas.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
With NOLS you can UNPLUG and set forth on new ADVENTURES.

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EST. 1965

ADVENTURE FUN

97% JOIN NOLS.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

OF NOLS GRADUATES WOULD RECOMMEND NOLS TO A FRIEND

TRAVEL the world and immerse yourself in awe-inspiring WILDERNESS and diverse CULTURES.

CENTRALLY ADMINISTERED

In 2012, we had over 17,500 students from all 50 states and 37 countries!

Locally Operated

Learn the LEADERSHIP and TECHNICAL SKILLS necessary to become SELF-RELIANT in remote wilderness settings.

Staffing, admissions and curriculum development all happen at our headquarters in Lander, Wyo., meaning you get the same high quality experience wherever you take your course. Course logistics, outfitting and planning are done at the location, by staff who understand the culture and nuances of that place.

MISSION
The mission of the National Outdoor Leadership School is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment.

NOLS STAFF
NOLS instructors are experienced wilderness expedition leaders, and they are passionate educators. They have all been trained in the NOLS leadership curriculum, outdoor ethics, and wilderness skills to help every student become the strongest leader he or she can be.
The average student ratio is 6:1. This provides our students with the personal instruction they need to be successful.

FLY Rafting

horsepacking

SKILLS

OUTDOOR

NOLS

At course end, your JOURNEY has only just begun. Graduates transfer the skills learned and DIRECTION found to their careers and passions for the rest of their lives.

PACK RAFTING

FISHING

People thrive when challenged.

Alumni are welcomed into the NOLS COMMUNITY and often return for more courses, alumni trips, or CAREERS in outdoor education.

Living in nature teaches responsibility. Leadership can be learned. Learning should be fun.

No matter your path, youll carry the NOLS DIPLOMA, a recognized certification awarded to outstanding leaders.

LEADERSHIP
We believe that leadership can be learned. We facilitate the development of key leadership skills as students progress through the NOLS leadership curriculum with experience and feedback.

Backpacking
CANOEING
Canyoneering

rock SPLITBOARDING climbing SAILING

Leave No Trace

KAYAKING

NOLS Professional Training offers innovative, customized NOLS courses for businesses and organizations ranging from NASA to The Archer School for Girls.

wilderness medicine

MOUNTAINEERING

SKIING

RESEARCH and

Curriculum
JUDGMENT & DECISION MAKING Demonstrate situationally appropriate decision making, use your experience to develop good judgment. SELF-AWARENESS Know your strengths and weaknesses, your leadership style, and how you influence or affect others. EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR Be a strong team member by keeping yourself and others motivated and exercising good conflict resolution. COMMUNICATION Be a clear communicator, an understanding and invested listener, and give and receive feedback well. COMPETENCE Possess and use knowledge, skills, and technical ability, as well as organization and management. TOLERANCE FOR ADVERSITY & UNCERTAINTY Learn to endure, even enjoy, hard work and challenge, and adapt to changes and challenges with focus and a sense of humor. VISION & ACTION See the possibility in any situation and find creative ways to move your team toward it. Have initiation and motivate others.

Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, NOLS takes students of all ages on remote wilderness expeditions and teaches them technical outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. NOLS unrivaled curriculum is informed by nearly 50 years of development and dedicated research in a wide range of topics, including experiential education, risk management practices, and wilderness ecology.
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NOLS from Generation to Generation

ARIEL AIKEN / 2004 Spring Semester in the Rockies

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Wyomings Rocky Mountains are where it all began for NOLS. BRAD CHRISTENSEN

Learn to brave and delight in the cold nights of springtime in the Rockies. BRAD CHRISTENSEN

Spring Semester in the Rockies

NOLS invented the outdoor semester, and this is where it all began. Youll see some of the great American Wests most treasured spots, carving turns in winter wilderness powder and jamming your hands into cracks while climbing one of Wyomings world-class crags. The Rockies are a hotspot for outdoor activities. Every spring semester consists of a combination of four different field activities winter/backcountry skiing, canyon travel, rock climbing, river travel, or horse packing and one wilderness medicine course from NOLS Wilderness Medicine InstituteWilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Learn more on page 45.

Spring Semesters in the Rockies feature a rock climbing section.

DAVID ANDERSON

As long I can remember, I have stared at my mother sitting on top of Mount Sacagawea in Wyoming. The photo aged as the years passed, but the look of complete belonging and happiness on my mothers face didnt. I came along after two more courses: a Wind River Wilderness Course in 81 and the Winter Skills Course in Yellowstone in 85. There is no doubt that the things she learned inuenced how I was raised. The seven-day canoe trip my parents took me on when I was 4 led the way to climbing Mount Elbert in Colorado as a mother/daughter team by the time I was 14. All my adventures were laced with stories and skills she had learned at NOLS. Setting up camp was held to the strictest standards of Leave No Trace. For a child it was a game, like hide and seek. Instead of seek, erase all evidence we had been there. It was destined that NOLS was in my future. I saw it as a rite of passagemy coming of age. Flipping through the NOLS catalog and trying to decide which course I wanted to take was worse than waiting for Santa to slide down the chimney. After much deliberation, I decided on a spring Semester in the Rockies. My 18th birthday gifts were the necessary items on my NOLS equipment list. Checking off gear strewn across the living room oor, my mom and I bonded in a way that only adventure can offer. As mother and daughter, we walked arm-in-arm through the doors of the historic Noble Hotel in Lander. Memories played

out for her; mine were just about to begin. NOLS had evolved; a new headquarters building and new equipment for me to pack. From her two pairs of wool socks to my Smartwool and a liner, she left me, knowing the daughter she would pick up would be a woman. Our pictures span decades, but we We gained understanding have the same look on our faces. We have of who we were and excitement and belonging glistening in our achieved clarity with the eyes, the hard work that produces satisfaction world while staring out evident in each of our smiles. Our journal into the wilderness. entries document times we wanted to cry and the glee of having persevered. We gained understanding of who we were and achieved clarity with the world while staring out into the wilderness. We developed friendships with strangers and trusted them with our lives. The ink on my journals pages is slowly fading, as her journal is turning yellow with age, but never will the lessons be forgotten or the memories become dull. I ip through them with fondness, eager for the moment my mom and I walk arm-in-arm once again through the Noble Hotel doors to drop my daughter off for her NOLS course. Ariel currently is traveling around the Southwest, working for Starbucks, coaching Crosst, and working on her degree in journalism and her third book.

The winter section of untouched powder is a hallmark of a NOLS spring Semester in the Rockies. FREDRIK NORRSELL

SNOW KITCHEN
By shoveling snow into a pile and digging down into it, you can carve out cooking platforms, tables, storage shelves, ice boxes and even benches to sit on. Youre only limited by your imaginationor lack of shovel. NOLS students learn techniques like this to thrive in comfort in even the harshest conditions. TIP: Make benches deep enough to use a sleeping pad as an insulating cushion!
Take in the views of the Rockies during the river travel section of a spring semester.
BRAD CHRISTENSEN

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JOHN STODDARD

WMIs Unique Facility

TATE HIGGINS / NOLS Instructor

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Completed in the fall of 2012, the Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus hosts WEMT courses, as well as annual staff meetings.

Realistic scenarios with mock patients deepen the learning experience.

GATES RICHARDS

Wilderness medicine courses cover medicine as well as incident command and leadership. BRAD CHRISTENSEN

I was honored to teach the rst Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) course at our new Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus with fellow instructors and a whole team of wilderness medicine educators. We had a blast exploring the new space with the campus inaugural WEMT students. There was plenty of simulated trauma, fake blood, classroom learning, and multi-patient rescues. Even during the intense moments, I couldnt help grinning at the magnicence of our new home. The classrooms are state of the art, and the hundreds of acres of varying campus terrain make an ideal spot to put learning into action. Its beautiful, but more than that, its functional, efcient, and designed to optimize students learning and experience. The Wyss Campus is an investment in our students success and a physical reection of the value and importance we place in our courses. NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institutes (WMI) experienced instructors can be effective educators in almost any setting. Just give us a white board and

some scenario space, and we can get the job done, but combine our focus on effective educating with a premier wilderness medicine campus, and you get a WEMT experience not duplicated anywhere else in the world. Standing in front of a new group of WEMT students, Im always reminded that this is where I started. My experience as a WEMT student was challenging, rewarding, and empowering. I left my course with more skills and knowledge than I could ever imagine picking up in a months timeand condence that I could respond to an emergency. The course exposed new passions in medicine, and I began working on an ambulance immediately. The training also helped open doors in my work as an international expedition leader and river guide. As an instructor, I hope to give some of that magic back to my students, and the Wyss Campus is an ideal place to do just that. Tate Higgins is based out of Bozeman, Mont., and leads river and mountain expeditions in East Africa, Nepal, and the American West.

Wilderness EMT

This month-long intensive course combines wilderness medicine with urban medical care practices. After four weeks of classroom education, clinical rotations with real patients, scenarios, and full-scale mock rescues, you will be ready to handle medical emergencies in the wilderness or right in town. Successful completion of the course and both written and practical examinations will certify you as a National Registry of EMTs Basic EMT and as a Wilderness EMT. Learn more on page 55.

Basic First Aid Kit

There is no such thing as the perfect rst aid kit, so you should consider your needs and build a kit that meets them. Some items to consider are: Trauma shears Tweezers Safety pins Patient Assessment Forms Oral thermometer Rescue mask Emergency Blanket 2nd Skin dressings Antibiotic ointment packages Knuckle and fingertip fabric bandages 3x4 non-stick gauze pads Coban wrap (7.6cm by 4.6m) 1-inch cloth tape Wire or SAM splint Gloves 12cc irrigation syringe Moleskin bandages Povidone-iodine solution Antiseptic towelettes Sterile scrub brush Wound closure strips Tincture of benzoin swabs 1 x 3 fabric bandages 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads 3-inch conforming roll gauze Transparent film dressing 4-6 inch elastic wrap (10.2-15.2 cm) Triangular bandages Specialized or personal items you or your teammates may need in an emergency. Repack your first aid kit for each trip. Check for expiration dates on medications, for sterile items that have been torn open or damaged, and for specific needs that special trips might require (e.g. high altitude). Do not pack anything in your first aid kit you do not know how to use. Before you go into the wilderness, go through each item in your kit and familiarize yourself with whats there and how to use it.

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Business School in Patagonia

JESI CRAWFORD / NOLS Professional Training Administrative Assistant

Design your NOLS course

NOLS Professional Training is here to meet your learning objectives! We work with you to determine your needs and provide a format specially designed just for your group, whether you want to focus on leadership and teamwork or develop solid outdoor skills. Learn more on page 53. We will design your custom course around the following: Course dates & group size Course location Activity or learning objective Course length

Cornell students on a NOLS Professional Training course review their route.

ALEX CHANG CORNELL LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

Last December, 11 Columbia Business School (CBS) students completed the rst 10-day CBS Leadership Expedition to Patagonia. The expedition, a custom course created by NOLS Professional Training, consisted of 10 days spent in the remote northern Patagonia Mountains. We had the opportunity to focus on the simple things in life, to receive (and give) sincere feedback from teammates, to face and overcome obstacles never faced before, to practice all kinds of leadership, to laugh, to explore, to reect, to challenge, to conquer, to support, Maya Mandel, president of the Outdoor Adventures Club and a second year MBA student from Israel, reected. Maya was responsible for bringing the course to fruition. Initially introduced to NOLS through a Bloomberg Businessweek article, she investigated and determined an expedition to Patagonia would best suit the CBS students.

I was eager to push myself outside my comfort zone, Maya said. I wanted to create meaningful relationships with new colleagues. This expedition is just one of many courses NOLS Professional Training has created for MBA programs, NASA, the United States Naval Academy, Google, and a diverse group of other businesses, schools, and organizations. NOLS Professional Training works with clients to determine their needs and offers innovative, customized NOLS courses. The inaugural CBS Leadership Expedition to Patagonia was everything I was hoping my MBA experience would be, Maya concluded. Jesi currently works at NOLS Professional Training, and when not in the ofce, she enjoys exploring the mountains aided by pack, bike, rope, or oating vessel, painting in her art studio, and blowing her paychecks on plane tickets to foreign countries.

To receive (and give) sincere feedback from teammates, to face and overcome obstacles never faced before, to practice all kinds of leadership, to laugh, to explore, to reect, to challenge, to conquer, to support.

Time spent in the backcountry imparts invaluable lessons for life in the frontcountry. ALEX CHANG
CORNELL LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

Before leaving NOLS Patagonia, students review the region and planned route with an instructor.
ALEX CHANG CORNELL LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

Communication:
FEEDBACK
Within the leadership curriculum the Columbia Business School students were taught key communication skills, including feedback. All NOLS students learn to give and receive feedback on their courses.

Language & Ownership Active Listening

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Use I statements, not everyone thinks statements. Be ready to learn how your own actions impacted the receiver.

Make It Timely

Act soon (not interrupting the event). Wait for a time and place when the person is ready and able to hear your feedback.

Actively listen to the senders experience and paraphrase what you have heard. Stay open to additional learning.

Focus on Growth

Make it growth-oriented. Emphasize the next-time, future outlook. Help the other person focus on their strengths.

Skills learned in some of the most aweinspiring locations in the world can be applied anywhere in the world.
BETSY WINSTON

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Spring Outdoor Educator Semester

The NOLS Semester for Outdoor Educators is a chance for aspiring and practicing professional educators and students studying outdoor education to get into the wilderness and out of the classroom. This 89-day semester is jam-packed with an entire curriculum dedicated to the field of outdoor education. Youll be with other professionals and students ages 21 and over who want to learn outdoor skills and leadership as they further develop their teaching skills. Learn more on page 41.

Inspiration, Meet Education

MICHAEL FROEHLY / 2011 Outdoor Educator Semester
Go beyond outdoor education to become a strong teacher of those skills.
APARNA RAJAGOPAL-DURBIN

Instructors hold regular classes throughout a course. CASS COLMAN

Shortly before my NOLS course, I founded a club at my college, the Unity College Outdoor Leadership Council. I had always thought Id be interested in adventure education; thats why I was studying adventure education leadership and adventure therapy. My NOLS course afrmed those beliefs and gave me more drive to seek out as many opportunities as possible while Im at college. Coupled with learning the importance of professionalism, preparedness, and stepping up to be a leader, I returned with the inspiration and skills to make the Outdoor Leadership Council an invaluable presence on campus. When I returned from my NOLS course, I recognized there werent affordable professional development opportunities for Unity College students.

So a friend and fellow NOLS graduate and I organized a scholarship fund within the Outdoor Leadership Council to assist Unity College students with the cost of certications, trainings, and other professional development opportunities. This was a new direction for the club, one inspired by my NOLS experience and facilitated by my NOLS education. The Student Drive Fund has been a huge success, and not only with outdoors majors. By the time I graduate, we will have awarded $4,000 to deserving students on student budgets. Michael just nished a summer working for City Kids Wilderness Project in Jackson, Wyo. He is currently nishing up his last semester at Unity College. On weekends you can either nd him rock climbing with friends or leading trips for his school.

This was a new direction for the club, one inspired by my NOLS experience and facilitated by my NOLS education.

Practice makes perfect, and eventually instructors are able to step back as students progress. BECCA
PARKINSON

SPF

A
Availability The top section, or the brain, of your backpack should have the items you will need access to throughout your day: water treatment, maps, snacks, compass, sunscreen, and first-aid kit.

B
Balance For comfort and your protection, the heaviest items should always sit close to the spine in the middle of your back. Match items on the right with items of equal weight on the left.

C
Compression Use all the space your backpack has to offer. Stuff socks into shoes, food into pots, and your clothing or tent into any small holes or empty spaces that develop as you pack for your trip.

D
Dry The best way to keep all of your gear dry is with a heavy garbage bag liner inside your pack. Fold the garbage bag over at the top and youre ready to hit the trail in wet weather.

E
Everything Inside The more gear hanging from your pack, the more will get wet when it rains. Any protruding item has the potential to be caught by a tree branch, resulting in damage, or lost gear.

F
Food Above Fuel Should your fuel bottle leak, it could contaminate your food supply, potentially leaving you without sustenance. To help mitigate this risk, always pack fuel below your food supply.

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NOLS instructors employ ingenuity in the eld to teach skills, such as topographic map reading. ALEX CHANG CORNELL
LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

PACK PACKING

When packed properly, a backpack can hold much more than it would appear and can be comfortable despite weight. Achieve comfort and efficiency by following the A-B-Cs.

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Patagonias terrain and weather demands students develop tolerance for adversity and uncertainty. BETSY WINSTON

Leadership Lessons from Uncertainty

COREY FERNANDEZ / 2011 Semester in Patagonia

I was co-leader to our next X on the map, alongside Felipe, our courses native Chilean student. We nally paddled into a camp and saw this beautiful area that was well protected, and, for the rst time in days, it was sunny. But by the time we woke the next morning, it Its in times of yellow lights, was pouring rain with high winds. rather than clear red or green We werent going anywhere. lights that groups can begin Felipe and I knew that when the to splinter, jump to inaccurate weather broke, the entire group conclusions, or lose faith in would need to act quickly to make leadership if decisions arent as much progress as possible; we also clearly communicated. knew we needed to avoid slumping morale. So we established a rhythm of connecting with one another to assess the conditions and then communicating our decisions to the team. By setting a routine, we enabled our team to relax. We were cognizant of our coursemates daily desire to know if they needed to gear up to go on or settle in for another day. Accordingly, each morning for four mornings, Felipe and I met as early as possible to assess the conditions. After reaching our decision, we pulled the

group together. It was established that the purpose of these meetings was to clearly answer the question of move or stay? When conditions are uncertain, it is particularly important to communicate frequently. Its in times of yellow lights, rather than clear red or green lights that groups can begin to splinter, jump to inaccurate conclusions, or lose faith in leadership if decisions arent clearly communicated. Throughout the economically challenging years of 2008 to 2010, I watched the CEO of my company take a highly communicative approach. This helped circumvent water-cooler conversations and speculation. In the same way, Felipe and I learned to deliver direction in ways that didnt leave room for differing interpretations or time for assumptions among tent groups. By the time the sun rose on a promising day, the fth day, we were all thrilled to be back in our kayaks. We reached our X with new comfort and condence in holding a leadership position in times of adversity and uncertainty. Corey currently works at Root, Inc., enjoys food and concerts in Ann Arbor, Mich., kayaks Michigan rivers, and is taking up paddle boarding on the Great Lakes.

A semester in Patagonia covers beautiful and diverse country. BETSY WINSTON

Teamwork skills essential in the backcountry are directly transferable to careers. RAINBOW WEINSTOCK

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Spring Semester in Patagonia

This semester has strong leadership outcomes forged by adapting to and operating in harsh weather. Teamwork, communication, and problem solving are critical to success. Hike in Patagonias valleys and mountains and sea kayak in breathtaking archipelagos, visiting locals along the way. The grand finale is the independent student expedition if you and a small group of your peers earn the privilege of planning and traveling a route on your own. Learn more on page 43.

change

Choosing Your Course is Simple...

WHAT

Putting Your Experience into Words is the Hard Part.

No matter where you take your course, youll leave with life skills, life lessons, and lifelong friends. ALEX CHANG CORNELL
LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

WHERE
With over 15 operating locations in 10 countries, the cultural component of NOLS semesters around the globe is powerful and informative.

WHEN
Expedition course durations span from 14 days to an academic year. We have something to t the schedule of most spring break, summer, semester off campus, Jan. term, and gap year students.

Offering a wide variety of skills, each course has its own combination ranging from mountaineering and rock climbing to rafting and horsepacking. There is something for everyone. 13

Location
PHOTOGRAPHER

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Rocky Mountain
MATT MCARDLE

Southwest
DAVID ANDERSON

India
MADHU CHIKKARAJU

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New Zealand
FREDRIK NORRSELL

Mexico
BRAD CHRISTENSEN

Teton Valley
HEIDI HATCHER

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Rocky Mountain
FREDRIK NORRSELL

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MADHU CHIKKARAJU

AMES BROWN

NOLS India

MADHU CHIKKARAJU

KEVIN EMERY

Himalaya Backpacking
The Kumaon and Eastern Garhwal regions of the Indian Himalaya are rugged glacially carved ranges famous for climbing and trekking. Youll make your way up high mountain passes, some reaching 15,000 feet above sea level, and travel through lush river valleys. Youll visit teahouses and hike past fields that are still worked with water buffalo. Youll accumulate backcountry skills and learn the core NOLS curriculum while experiencing the land and culture on an intimate level. 35 days Optional academic credit: 6 hours 18 and over $7,200

Himalaya Mountaineering
The remote and spectacular Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand is the setting for this course. In these surroundings, youll focus on topics such as expedition planning, cultural awareness, high altitude physiology, and mountaineering. Beginning your trek into the mountains at 5,500 feet, there is potential for camping as high as 18,000 feet. The breathtaking scenery, variety of terrain and travel, and tremendous opportunities for cultural interactions make this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 40 days Optional academic credit: 8 hours 18 and over $7,850

Semester in India
Details on p. 37. 17
ALEXIS ALLOWAY

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Baja Coastal Sailing

A NOLS sailing course will get you well on your way to sailing on your own and being a competent crew member. Youll be aboard a unique yawl-rigged open boat, the Drascombe Longboata light, maneuverable craft perfect for learning sailing basics, exploring shallow coves, or hauling onto desert beaches. Youll learn coastal navigation on waters rich with marine life and read winds and waves with confidence. On windless days, youll practice rowing and towing. The boat will be your home on the water, but youll also practice Leave No Trace camping on shore. 22 days Optional academic credit: 4 hours 16 and over $4,300

Baja Sea Kayaking

Technical skills, incredible scenery, leadership practice, and cultural exchanges. On this course youll navigate the Sea of Cortez, carrying everything you need for your journey inside the hull of your sea kayak and learning how to maneuver this craft onto remote beaches and paddle well when wind and waves pick up. Free diving is a special part of this course, and youll often spend afternoons exploring coastal reefs and their vast array of multi-colored fish. 22 days Optional academic credit: 4 hours 16 and over $3,725

23-and-over Baja Sea Kayaking

Nothings lost in this shortened format for adults. Same great scenery and great leadership lessons of Baja Sea Kayaking, just a timeframe more conducive to busy schedules. 14 days Optional academic credit: 2 hours $3,525

NOLS Mexico

Semester in Baja
Details on p. 33.

CASS COLMAN

BRAD CHRISTENSEN

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NICK HALL SAMANTHA BAKER

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NOLS New Zealand

JAMIE ODONNELL ROO RILEY

JAMIE ODONNELL

LESLIE PALOTAS

New Zealand Backpacking

This tramping adventure takes you into the South Islands rugged interior: a land of mountains, rivers, waterfalls, tundra, and forests. The routes here are demanding, but the rewards are great. You can expect challenging travel, as well as plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. The mountains are precipitous, and the rivers are prone to sudden rises after a rain. Learn the skills required to travel efficiently and comfortably in this environmentskills that will serve you later in life wherever you may go. 30 days Optional academic credit: 6 hours 18 and over $6,590, including New Zealands 15% goods and services tax

Semester in New Zealand

Details on p. 39. 21
RACHEL CURTIS

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NACHO GREZ

NOLS Patagonia
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ALEX CHANG CORNELL LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION BETSY WINSTON

DIEGO ALLOLIO

BETSY WINSTON

Patagonia Mountaineering
The Patagonian Andes are the site of your mountaineering expedition. Among the peaks, expansive rivers, and thick forests, youll learn the techniques of alpine bigglacier mountaineering and camping in challenging weather. Teamwork, motivation, leadership, and communication are critical components of the course, as are meticulous glacier travel, hazard evaluation, and technical ropework. This course will offer you the challenges of unknown terrain and fierce Andean weather, preparing you for travel in any mountain area in the world. 34 days Optional academic credit: 6 hours 18 and over $6,750

23-and-over Patagonia Sea Kayaking

While sea kayaking in Patagonia, youll encounter lush temperate rain forests, numerous waterfalls, sweeping granite walls, and glimpses of glaciers in the distance. You will develop seamanship and kayaking skills traveling along the verdant Patagonia coast. As you encounter subsistence fishermen trapping crab or diving for shellfish, youll gain insight into a way of life that has changed little over the last century, in stark contrast to the modern developments of salmon farming, a prolific industry for Chile. 14 days Optional academic credit: 2 hours $3,650

Semester in Patagonia
Details on p. 43.
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Southwest Outdoor Educator: Backpacking and Rock Climbing

If youre an active or aspiring outdoor educator, this is your opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for teaching and leading field-based wilderness education programs. Youll learn outdoor living skills in addition to the fundamentals of running wilderness courses, including program supervision, risk management, and NOLS administrative practicesall in the context of backpacking in the desert landscape and rock climbing awe-inspiring walls. There will also be an opportunity to talk with the NOLS Southwest program and operations staff about the organization and logistical aspects of our programs. We can discuss everything from federal land permits to equipment planning and rations and give you a perspective on running an outdoor program. Eligibility: Qualified practicing or aspiring outdoor educators 31 days Optional academic credit: 6 hours 18 and over $4,625

NOLS Southwest

Semester in the Southwest Details on p. 47. Semester on the Borders Details on p. 35.
LINDSAY NOHL

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KYLE DUBA

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DAVID ANDERSON

BENJAMIN LESTER

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Winter Outdoor Educator

Designed for practicing and aspiring winter outdoor educators, this course includes two days of professional ski instruction at Grand Targhee and Recreation Level 1 Avalanch certification. This backcountry section is the longest winter expedition at NOLS and includes miles of skiing in pristine powder, constructing and living in elaborate snow shelters, and taking turns teaching pertinent winter topics. This course provides some of the best expedition training available, preparing you to camp and lead well in any environment. Eligibility: Qualified practicing or aspiring outdoor educators, moderate skiing ability. 21 days Optional academic credit: 4 hours 18 and over $2,860

LINDSAY YOST

TONY JEWELL

NOLS Teton Valley

Splitboarding
Are you seeking the exhilaration of a perfect ride in untracked powder? Want to transition from being an area rider to a backcountry boarder? On this course, youll venture through the mountains, improve your backcountry shredding skills, learn to assess and travel responsibly in avalanche terrain, and learn to thrive outside in the winter. The adventure starts with snowboarding instruction at Grand Targhee Resort. Once in the backcountry, youll construct elaborate snow shelters, learn about teamwork, and carve turns in fresh powder. Camping and traveling in the winter is a lot of hard work, but surfing down the mountain in knee-deep powder is a very cool reward. 14 days Optional academic credit: 2 hours 17 and over $2,400

MATT BURKE

23-and-over Splitboarding
Combining professional splitboard instruction at Grand Targhee Resort, two nights in the relative luxury of a backcountry yurt, and one dig-in snow shelter camp, this course caters to adult splitboarders who want a real adventure and need to fit it into a busy schedule. From the yurt, you gain access to untracked powder and set up for your next move into snow shelters that you construct. This course also covers avalanche and terrain assessment. 12 days Optional academic credit: 2 hours $2,515

Backcountry Skiing
Start with two feet of fresh powder. Add the solitude of a winter night and the sky blanketed in endless stars. This is a NOLS backcountry skiing course. Living and traveling in this wild environment requires new skills and offers new challenges. We will explore terrain where you need to make real decisions, using your avalanche assessment skills to access and evaluate untracked backcountry powder slopes. This course is also excellent preparation for any big mountain expedition where snow and cold are everyday factors. 14 days Optional academic credit: 2 hours 17 and over $2,015

MATT MCARDLE

23-and-over Backcountry Skiing

This 12-day course is designed for adults seeking a real adventure in a short amount of time. Start with professional instruction at Grand Targhee Resort, continue to two nights in a cozy backcountry yurt, and move deeper into the backcountry to build show shelters and continue seeking fresh powder turns. Since the focus is skiing, this course also teaches avalanche and terrain assessment. 12 days Optional academic credit: 2 hours $2,340 27 28

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

ALEXIS ALLOWAY

MATT MCARDLE

WHAT SETS NOLS

SEMESTERS APART
Where the Outdoor Semester was born.

When we saw our eldest daughter Heather off for her semester, we put a child on the plane and picked up a young woman.
Fred Kleisner, NOLS parent, two-time NOLS grad, former Chairman of the NOLS Board of Trustees

the

Semester Tuition
263.45

COMPARISON
i
Data was acquired through the College Boards national average college costs for 2012-13.

COST PER DAY (AVG 75 DAYS)

ROOM & BOARD

ALASKA

SCANDINAVIA

$5,231

YUKON

COST PER DAY (AVG 75 DAYS)

206.07

ROOM & BOARD

$4,602

The

TUITION, FEES, ROOM & BOARD

NOLS values the importance of learning from locals about their history, their environment, and their culture. All NOLS semesters cover both human and natural history and environmental studies specific to the region, and some include homestays and service projects.

Culture

PACIFIC NORTHWEST TETON VALLEY ROCKY MOUNTAIN SOUTHWEST MEXICO

NORTHEAST

COST PER DAY (87 DAYS LONG)

148.85

INDIA

$700
GEAR DEPOSIT
( ROOM & BOARD = FREE )

AMAZON EAST AFRICA

TUITION & FEES TUITION & FEES

AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND

PATAGONIA

NOLS international student ratio grows each year, providing the valuable experience of learning alongside locals on your course.

PRIVATE FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE SEMESTER $19,759

PUBLIC FOUR-YEAR OUT OF STATE SEMESTER $15,455

NOLS SEMESTER IN THE ROCKIES $12,950

Tolerance for Adversity & Uncertainty Adventure

Vision & Action SUSTAINABILITY

healthy lifestyle PROFESSIONAL

Self CONFIDENCE COLLEGE CREDIT Awareness scholarships ECOLOGY GROWTH APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu outdoor classroom communication
EXPERIENTIAL

LEARN BY DOING

RELEVANT

Judgment and Decision Making

life-changing LEAVE NO TRACE teamwork

ENVIRONMENTTRAVEL
EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR
FRIENDSHIP

COMPETENCE

CHALLENGE
certifications
STEWARDSHIP

NATURAL HISTORY
financial aid

CULTURE

MARKETABILITY

$14,528

$10,853

$12,250

EXPLORATION
TEACHING

ETHICS

EXPLORE

FUN
CAMP

skills
CONFLICT RESOLUTION

leadership

around the world

Ask us about the many scholarships we offer.

OPERATING AREAS
NOLS classrooms are some of the wildest and most awe-inspiring locations in the world. NOLS operates around the globe, offering you the chance to develop the outdoor skill that most appeals to you and discover the new territory that most excites you. Each fully staffed facility is a cornerstone of the community, ensuring our students come to truly understand the people and the environment of the area.
29

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL

As your course progresses, you will develop individual leadership skills that will help you become a strong and confident leader.

The average size of a semester course.

12

The
BE IT KNOWN THAT
HAVING COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION FROM THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL

Diploma

Diploma
The Leader in Wilderness Education
Executive Director Instructor(s)

WIND RIVER WILDERNESS

SCHOLARSHIPS
Nearly $1.5 million in scholarship assistance is awarded to NOLS students each year.

Professional

A NOLS diploma is a leadership credential that employers value, an accomplishment that is recognized for encompassing tolerance for adversity, vision and action, and judgment and decision-making, in addition to develop- ment of strong outdoor skills. Your communication, conflict resolution, and selfmotivation skills will set you apart on college and job applications and transfer to whatever you may pursue for the rest of your life.

CERTIFICATIONS
+ + + + + + +

Additional

MARKETABILITY

CPR & First Aid WFA (Wilderness First Aid) WFR (Wilderness First Responder) WEMT (Wilderness EMT) SWR (Swift Water Rescue) Avy 1 (Avalanche Rescue Level 1) LNT Master (Leave No Trace)

When NASA and the U.S. Naval Academy train leaders, they send them to NOLS.

*Availability of specific certifications is dependent on course curriculum.

30 30

JACKIE RUETENIK

Australia
JEN KLEWITZ

JEN KLEWITZ

CASS COLMAN

Spring Semester in Australia

Come discover the Kimberly Region of Western Australia, one of the largest and most remote wild lands in the world. On this semester you will first travel by canoe, and second with a backpack, through a subtropical habitat engulfed with unique flora and fauna. Observe rarely seen Aboriginal petroglyphs as your group explores exotic rivers and ancient land formations. This expedition culminates with a weeklong stay in an Aboriginal community with Bardi guides, where you will spend time discovering their traditional and contemporary lifestyles. 75 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 18 and over $14,850 31
JEN KLEWITZ JEN KLEWITZ

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

32 32

Baja

Flanked by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Sea of Cortez on the east, the Baja California Peninsula is a land of extremes and contrasts. Youll explore the contrasting environments of desert and ocean on foot, in a sea kayak, and under sail while having ample opportunities for cultural and Spanish language interactions with local students, educators, ranchers, and fishermen. You will learn the leadership and technical skills you need to travel through these ecosystems comfortably and responsibly. 78 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 17 and over $12,900

Spring Semester in Baja

BRAD CHRISTENSEN

BRAD CHRISTENSEN

CASS COLMAN

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

33

BRAD CHRISTENSEN

NICK HALL

34 34

MADHU CHIKKARAJU

Spring Semester on the Borders

This is one of the most geographically diverse semesters at NOLSbeginning in the deserts of the Southwest and ending in the lush Pacific Northwest. Combining desert and maritime skills, youll gain experience in a wide variety of outdoor skills that will allow you to be a well-rounded wilderness traveler on land and sea. Youll begin at NOLS Southwest in Tucson, Ariz., with wilderness first aid training, backpacking, and climbing. Transition to NOLS Pacific Northwest outside Seattle, Wash., for sailing and sea kayaking. From scaling a rock wall in Arizona to slicing through the waters of British Columbia, youll have the time of your life and see just how versatile the NOLS curriculum is.

Borders

86 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 17 and over $14,950

BENJAMIN LESTER

RAINBOW WEINSTOCK

CHRISTINA CUNEO

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

35
MOE WITSCHARD

36 36

TC RAMMELKAMP

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

CRAIG LENSKE

MADHU CHIKKARAJU

MADHU CHIKKARAJU

India
CASS COLMAN

Spring Semester in India

Touch down in the ancient world of the Himalaya and prepare for a semester packed with unparalleled language and cultural opportunities in one of the most breathtaking backcountry classrooms in the world. From our base in the mountain town of Ranikhet in Uttarakhand, you will travel through the valleys of the Kumaon and Garhwal, learning skills in backpacking, rafting, and wilderness medicine. If students are proficient in leadership and technical skills, this semester may culminate in an independent student group expedition. 80 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 18 and over $16,125 37
ALEXIS ALLOWAY

38 38

ROO RILEY

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

JAMIE ODONNELL

FREDRIK NORRSELL

New Zealand
LESLIE PALOTAS

Join us for an exciting educational opportunity in a remarkable country. Youll learn about the South Islands natural history as you travel through its forests, which contain remnants of Gondwanaland, a prehistoric continent. Along the way, youll spend some time with the local Maori who will teach you about their culture and connection to the land. In addition to backpacking and sea kayaking, youll choose more skills to learn (mountain, canoe, or sailfind details online). Youll practice these technical skills on New Zealands glaciers, coastlines, and rivers. And no matter what, youll experience the unpredictable weather of this latitudethe Roaring Forties. 77 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 18 and over $18,015, including New Zealand 15% goods and services tax 39
RACHEL CURTIS ABE GOODALE

Spring Semester in New Zealand

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

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Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators

Theres only so much you can learn about outdoor education indoors. Thats why weve created the NOLS Semester for Outdoor Educators, a chance for practicing professional educators and students studying outdoor education to get into the wilderness and out of the classroom. Youll be with other professionals and students who want to learn outdoor skills and leadership as they further develop their teaching skills. The four wilderness sectionswinter, river (canoe), canyon, and climbingcombined with a Level 1 Recreational Avalanche certification, a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, and a Leave No Trace Masters certification will develop your skills, as well as increase your value to outdoor programs throughout the world. Additionally, you may have administrative classes in risk management, including managing challenging students, group management, expedition planning, and harassment prevention. This is your chance to translate your theoretical knowledge about outdoor education into reality. Eligibility: Qualified practicing or aspiring outdoor educators. 89 days Optional academic credit: 19 hours 21 and over $13,915

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

JAMIE ODONNELL

KYLE CASSLING

LINDSAY NOHL

Spring Semester for

Outdoor Educators
ADAM SWISHER DAVID ANDERSON

41 41

42 42

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

KYLE HAMMONS

BETSY WINSTON

Patagonia

BETSY WINSTON

NACHO GREZ

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

Spring Semester in Patagonia

This semester has strong leadership outcomes forged by adapting to and operating in harsh weather. Teamwork, communication, and problem solving are critical to the success of this expedition. Youll hike in Patagonias valleys and mountains and sea kayak in breathtaking archipelagos, stopping to visit locals along the way. The grand finale may be an independent student expedition where youll plan and travel a route of your own if you are deemed proficient. 80 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 18 and over $16,300

43

BETSY WINSTON

CARRIE SESSIONS

44 44

JAMIE ODONNELL

RAINBOW WEINSTOCK

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

Spring Semester in the

Rockies

ANVESH THAPA

CASS COLMAN

CRAIG MUDERLAK

Spring Semester in the Rockies

NOLS invented the outdoor semester, and this course is where it all began. A Semester in the Rockies will take you on a Wild West tour de force while giving you a complete set of skills to lead or teach in the backcountry. Learn to paddle a canoe down a class-III rapid, make sound first-aid decisions miles from the nearest road, and navigate through winding slot canyons. Carve a telemark turn through the winter wilderness on one section and jam your hands into cracks while climbing on the next. Because the Rockies are a hotspot for outdoor activities, this spring semester offers a variety of skill sets, allowing students to choose their combination of four different field activitieswinter/ backcountry skiing, canyon travel, rock climbing, river travel, or horsepackingand one wilderness medicine course from the Wilderness Medicine InstituteWilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Find more details online. 87 days Optional academic credit: 1619 hours 17 and over $12,625$13,450, details online 45

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

46 46

MATT MCARDLE

Spring Semester in the Southwest

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

Spring Semester in the

Southwest

This semester will give you a unique glimpse into the living desert. The sections will take you from a Wilderness First Aid certification to the rushing waters of the Rio Grande and the ponderosa pine forests of the Gila Range. You will find yourself hand-jamming granite cracks, navigating your way in vast areas of wilderness, and discovering the deserts rich human and natural history. In this land of milder weather, backpacking, climbing, and canoeing will prepare you for the independent student expedition that is the grand finale of your semester if you are deemed proficient in leadership and outdoor skills. 80 days Optional academic credit: 16 hours 17 and over $12,525

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

TC RAMMELKAMP KYLE DUBA

MADHU CHIKKARAJU

47

MELISSA GRAY

48 48

EVAN HORN

TC RAMMELKAMP

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

BRAD CHRISTENSEN

TC RAMMELKAMP

Wilderness Medicine & Rescue

49

Wilderness Medicine & Rescue Semester

You could be a member of a Search and Rescue team, leading wilderness trips, running safety on river rapids, assisting with rock rescue, or working on an urban ambulance. If this is how you want to spend your time, this semester may be for you. The semester-long course begins with a demanding, four-week Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) course, followed by nine weeks of canyon backpacking, canoeing and rock climbing. Students will also dive into environmental studies, examining, in particular, the impact of environmental health on human health. Prerequisites: A Healthcare Provider or Professional Rescuer CPR certification must be current for the duration of the WEMT portion of the course. 90 days Optional academic credit: 19 hours 18 and over $14,750
ROBIN LARSON

50 50

Yukon
STPHANE TERRIER

Fall Courses
NOLS ROCKY MOUNTAIN NOLS INDIA NOLS MEXICO

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

Semester in the Rockies Semester for Outdoor Educators

NOLS PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Semester in India Himalaya Backpacking Himalaya Mountaineering

NOLS NEW ZEALAND

Semester in Baja Baja Coastal Sailing Baja Sea Kayaking

NOLS PATAGONIA

Semester in the Pacific Northwest

Alaska

Semester in New Zealand

NOLS INSTRUCTOR COURSES

NOLS SOUTHWEST

TRACY BAYNES, STEP

Semester in the Southwest Southwest Lightweight Backpacking

NOLS EAST AFRICA

Semester in Patagonia Year in Patagonia

NOLS AMAZON

NOLS Instructor Course (IC) Wilderness Medicine Instructor Training

Course (ITC)

Semester in the Amazon

Summer Courses
NOLS ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Semester in East Africa

Rocky Mountain
EVAN KRAMER

Semester in the Rockies Wind River Wilderness 23-and-over Wind River Wilderness Absaroka Backpacking 23-and-over Lightweight Backpacking Wyoming Backpacking Adventure Rocky Mountain Outdoor Educator:
Backpacking with Rock Climbing or WFR

23-and-over North Cascades

Mountaineering Pacific Northwest Outdoor Educator: Mountaineering Pacific Northwest Sea Kayaking and Sailing Pacific Northwest Mountaineering and Sailing
NOLS NORTHEAST

NOLS YUKON

NOLS INSTRUCTOR COURSES

Semester in the Yukon Yukon Backpacking Yukon Backpacking and Wilderness

Canoeing

NOLS Instructor Course (IC) Professional Instructor Course (PIC)

Yukon Outdoor Educator: Backpacking

and Whitewater Canoeing
NOLS AMAZON

Wilderness Horsepacking 23-and-over Wilderness Horsepacking Wind River Mountaineering Rock Climbing Rock and River Whitewater River Expedition
NOLS TETON VALLEY

Adirondack Backpacking Adventure Adirondack Backpacking and Canoeing

NOLS ALASKA

Amazon River Expedition

NOLS INDIA

WANT TO BECOME A NOLS INSTRUCTOR?

NOLS INSTRUCTOR COURSE (IC)

Himalaya Backpacking
NOLS AUSTRALIA

Semester in Alaska Prince William Sound 23-and-over

Sea Kayaking Southeast Alaska Sea Kayaking Alaska Backpacking and Sea Kayaking Alaska Outdoor Educator: Backpacking and Sea Kayaking Alaska Mountaineering 23-and-over Alaska Mountaineering Alaska Backpacking Alaska Packrafting Brooks Range Backpacking and River 23-and-over Brooks Range Backpacking

Salmon Backpacking and Rafting Idaho Backpacking Adventure Salmon Backpacking and
Rafting Adventure
NOLS PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Australia Backpacking Australia Backpacking and Sea Kayaking

NOLS EAST AFRICA

A month-long course for aspiring NOLS field instructors. Youll get the tools to teach the next generation of NOLS students: in-depth instruction on teaching the NOLS curriculum and training about NOLS protocols. Learn more about becoming an instructor at www.nols.edu. Application deadline: December 15 (September 1 for the Sailing IC)

Southwest
APARNA RAJAGOPAL-DURBIN

East Africa
MICHAEL SCHMERTZLER

Pacic Northwest
BENJAMIN LESTER

23-and-over Tanzania Wilderness

NOLS SCANDINAVIA

MORE INFORMATION?
VISIT OUR SITE:

Pacific Northwest Trip Leader North Cascades Backpacking Pacific Northwest Backpacking Adventure Waddington Range Mountaineering North Cascades Mountaineering 51

Scandinavia Backpacking and

Sea Kayaking Scandinavia Backpacking 23-and-over Scandinavia Backpacking

www.nols.edu/courses
KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW COURSE CATALOGS: Our summer course

catalog will be available in January, and our fall course catalog will be out in April.
Amazon
DALIO ZIPPIN NETO

52

NOLS Professional Training

Southwest
BRIAN HENSIEN

NOLS Professional Training offers innovative, customized educational experiences for an array of organizations.These experiences range from expedition to classroom-based training and can be designed to include the same technical skills, leadership progression, and environmental studies NOLS expeditions offer.

CUSTOM WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS

NOLS Professional Trainings customized wilderness expeditions are tailored to serve a clients mission and goals. Focusing on any aspect of the NOLS core curricula of leadership, technical skills, risk management, or environmental studies, these courses have benefited participants from secondary schools and universities, camps, the military, the corporate world, and more. Locations and tuition vary by client.

730 days
LEADERSHIP NAVIGATION CHALLENGE

Our Leadership Navigation Challenge focuses on the core aspects of NOLS leadership training in a format that is hands-on, fun, and effectivea Global Positioning System (GPS) orienteering course. This condensed expedition mimics challenges that teams face anywhere: making expedient decisions, balancing task achievement with group development, blending distinct individuals to form a cohesive team, and working through unforeseen hurdles. NOLS Professional Training facilitators give your team the tools to make sound decisions, leveraging them to be stronger and more effective. Locations and tuition vary by client.

13 days
RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Patagonia
ALEX CHANG CORNELL LEADERSHIP EXPEDITION

NOLS has nearly 50 years of experience managing students in wilderness environments around the world. Our services are a progression of resources that help you analyze your own programs. Administrative risk management training, customized staff training, risk management consulting, and our annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) are four specialized services that will empower you to manage risks within the context of your time, budget, and organizational priorities.

310 days

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

53
Teton Valley
CRAIG MUDERLAK

Teton Valley
TONY JEWELL

54

NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute

NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute offers the highest quality education and information in the prevention, recognition, and treatment of wilderness emergencies.
WILDERNESS EMT (WEMT) EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

BRAD CHRISTENSEN

APPLY NOW.(800) 710-6657www.nols.edu

This course integrates an urban EMT-Basic course with a WFR into month-long intensive program that includes clinical rotations with real patients.
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER (WFR)

Wilderness Medicine for the Professional Practitioner, Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals, Medicine in the Wild, and Wilderness Medicine Expeditions are all viable options for existing urban medical professionals to gain wilderness medicine credentials.

The WFR is geared towards outdoor professionals who lead multi-day to multi-week trips. This course provides the tools to make important medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations.
WILDERNESS ADVANCED FIRST AID (WAFA)

Visit www.nols.edu/wmi/courses for more information, dates, and pricing. 226 days
WILDERNESS MEDICINE EXPEDITIONS

Designed for those traveling or working in remote areas who need a more extensive training program than a WFA. Emphasis is placed on long term patient care management and specific injury evaluation.
WILDERNESS FIRST AID (WFA)

These courses offer a variety of opportunities for healthcare professionals to learn practical, hands-on wilderness medicine while earning continuing education credits. From 2 days to 30, in the classroom or in the wilderness, we have a program to meet your needs. Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals Wilderness Medicine for the Professional Practitioner Wilderness Medicine Expeditions
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER RECERTIFICATION (WFR-R)

MIKE TREWARTHA

The WFA introduces trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts and individuals working in a remote environment to wilderness medicine principles. Youll learn how to improvise equipment, deal with challenging environments, and act with confidence.

This scenario-based course is designed to review and practice evacuation and decision-making guidelines. It may be used to recertify WAFA, WFR and WEMT (wilderness portion only).

COURSE

LENGTH

CPR INCLUDED

ACADEMIC CREDIT

CONTINUING ED. CREDIT

WEMT WFR WAFA WFA WFR-R

30 days (200 hours) 910 days (80 hours) 5 days (40 hours) 22.5 days (16-20 hours) 3 days (24 hours) Variable

9 hours 3 hours 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour

55

LENA CONLAN

BRADLY BONER

56

Southwest
KYLE DUBA

JOIN NOLS.
HOW TO APPLY
India
CASS COLMAN

CHOOSE YOUR COURSE AND APPLY NOW!

(800) 710-6657 www.nols.edu

SOLD? TALK TO YOUR PARENTS!

NOLS really is a win-win for students and parents alike. Psyched on going? Give your parents some reasons to get excited, too.

APPLY ONLINE The easiest way to apply for a NOLS course is online at www.nols.edu. All youll need is contact information for you and two emergency contacts, answers to a few short-answer questions, and a credit card for the $65 application fee. It should only take 20 minutes or so. APPLY BY PHONE Give us a ring at (800) 710-NOLS (6657), and well be happy to ll out the application with you over the phone. It takes a bit more time than the online application (Can you spell out that street name for me?), but its faster than snail mail. Plus, you get to ask questions about the courses youre interested in, e.g., Is it okay that Ive never been sailing before? Answer: Yup! APPLY VIA SNAIL MAIL You can also call us for an application or download the PDF from the web, and then fax or mail it to us with the $65 non-refundable application fee. If appropriate, be sure to provide several course choices in order of your preference.

1 2 3

NOLS IS A SCHOOL NOLS teaches outdoor skills, helps you develop an active healthy lifestyle, and instills leadership skills that apply in any environment. Like most educational institutions, NOLS offers academic credit, nancial aid, and a recognized diploma. BECOME A LEADER Gain leadership skills that you will use in all areas of life for the rest of your life. You may nd the calling for your career is in outdoor education, and nobody will prepare you better than NOLS. BUILD YOUR RESUM This is a unique experience in which you gain skills critical for any job. NOLS is a highly regarded institution, and having NOLS on your resum or college application will set you apart. BECOME AN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD NOLS teaches Leave No Trace practices. You'll also gain extensive knowledge of the ora, fauna, and environmental issues in the region in which you study. And all this knowledge translates to environmental science credits. THE NOLS ALUMNI ADVANTAGE Being a NOLS alum means that you are part of a network of 221,000 people world-wide. This network can help you nd jobs, nd housing, meet people in a new city, and much more.

Scandinavia
FREDRIK NORRSELL

SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID AT NOLS We don't want students with limited resources to miss out on the life-changing experiences of a NOLS course. Each year, NOLS awards over $1.5 million in scholarships to applicants who show great potential to excel as NOLS students and who would be unable to attend without nancial aid. Partnerships with Western State Colorado University and Central Wyoming College allow you to access your Americorps or VA educational funds. Contact us at (800) 710-6657 or learn more at www.nols.edu/nancialaid.

4 5

A+

COLLEGE CREDIT Every NOLS course is approved for college credit, and more than 75 percent of our college-age students take advantage of this option. For more than 30 years, NOLS has offered credit through the University of Utah, one of the nation's premier research universities. Furthermore, hundreds of colleges and universities have accepted NOLS/University of Utah credit or granted their own direct credit. Learn more at www.nols.edu/credit.

57 57

Rocky Mountain
JUAN QUEIROLO

Alaska
TRACY BAYNES STEP

58 58