TH E LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION | 2008 - NOLS

T HE L EADER I N W ILDERNESS E DUCATION | 2008

Where in the world could a NOLS education take you? NOLS operates in 14 different locations around the globe.

WELCOME TO OUR 

WORLD. 

Find your course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Learn about NOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

NOLS Rocky Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

NOLS Teton Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

NOLS Pacific Northwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

NOLS Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

NOLS Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

NOLS Yukon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

NOLS Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

NOLS Patagonia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 

NOLS India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 

NOLS Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

NOLS Scandinavia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 

NOLS Baffin Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 

Semester courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 

Risk Management at NOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 

NOLS application form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . insert 

Application and admission policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 

Course dates and tuitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 

Become a NOLS Instructor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 

NOLS books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 

The Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS . . . . . . . . . . . 116 

Custom courses with NOLS Professional Training. . . . . . . . 117 

Cover photo: With Wyoming’s Mt. Hooker as a backdrop, Wind River Wilderness 

students practice off-trail route finding. Photographer: Juan Queirolo 

Back cover photo: Leadership in action: lead climbing in the Rocky Mountains. 

Photographer: Pascal Beauvais 

A special thanks to all the NOLS instructors and students 

who captured their NOLS adventures on camera for this 

year’s catalog! If you’d like to submit your course photos, 

email publications@nols.edu to find out how! 

Copyright by NOLS, July 2007 • Printed in Medford, Oregon on 

Forest Stewardship Council certified recycled paper with soy ink. 

For more about our sustainable printing practices, see the insert 

after page 108. • Graphic design by NOLS, Lander, Wyoming. 

www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - NOLS • admissions@nols.edu 1

Shawn Stratton 

Pascal Beauvais 

FIND YOUR COURSE. 

LEARN TO LEAD 

Leadership is what sets NOLS apart from the rest. Whether you’re 

climbing Denali or embarking on a new business venture, these 

courses will teach you the skills to lead others to the top long after 

you’ve graduated. 

14 AND 15 

Wyoming Backpacking Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 

Idaho Backpacking Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

16 AND OVER 

Wind River Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Absaroka Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Pacific Northwest Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 

Gila Range Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 

Alaska Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 

Alaska Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 

Yukon Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 

Baja Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 

Baja Coastal Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 

18 AND OVER 

Himalaya Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 

Australia Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 

23 AND OVER 

Wind River Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Alaska Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 

Baja Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 

Patagonia Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 

MASTER A SKILL 

Want to become an experienced angler? Determined to climb an 

alpine mountain? Wish you could shred powder like the pros? 

NOLS is the premier skills school, and these courses give you the 

technical knowledge and practical experience to become competent, 

responsible wilderness travelers long after the course is over. 

16 AND OVER 

NOLS/Orvis Wilderness Fly Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 

Wind River Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

Rock Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

Wilderness Horsepacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 

Whitewater River Expedition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 

17 AND OVER 

Snowboarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 

Skiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 

North Cascades Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 

Alaska Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 

18 AND OVER 

Southwest Lightweight Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 

23 AND OVER 

Rocky Mountain Light and Fast Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 

Wilderness Horsepacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 

Skiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 

North Cascades Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 

Alaska Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 

2

David Anderson 


Roo Riley 

LEARN TWO SKILLS 

Practice two skills in one expedition! From learning to maneuver 

an oar rig through technical whitewater to placing protection on 

rock climbing routes, these expeditions give you the unique opportunity 

to travel by both land and water. 

14 AND 15 

Salmon Backpacking and Rafting Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

16 AND OVER 

Rock and River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 

Salmon Backpacking and Rafting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

Alaska Backpacking and Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 

30-Day Yukon Backpacking and Wilderness Canoeing . . . . . .53 

18 AND OVER 

Pacific Northwest Sailing and Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 

Australia Backpacking and Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 

TAKE THE EXPEDITION OF A LIFETIME 

From the fjords of Scandinavia to the ancient Tibetan trade routes of 

the Himalayas, these once-in-a-lifetime expeditions take you to places 

that most people only dream about. 

17 AND OVER 

Waddington Range Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 

18 AND OVER 

Denali Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 

Brooks Range Backpacking and River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 

Patagonia Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 

Himalaya Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 

Scandinavia Sea Kayaking and Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 

Baffin Island Backpacking and Canoeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 

23 AND OVER 

Brooks Range Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 

Patagonia Backpacking and Fly Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 

NOLS has taught me how to press the “off” button 

on my cell phone and computer. I realized I didn’t 

need to be dialed in at all times, and, without the 

distractions of everyday trivialities, how much I 

could learn and do in a month. 

Eliza Lehner, Wyoming Adventure ‘03, Rock Climbing ‘04 


Roo Riley 

Rainbow Weinstock 


ADVANCE YOUR CAREER 

Explore untouched wilderness—and get paid for it. If these words 

sound magical, then these courses are for you. Designed specifically 

for practicing or aspiring outdoor educators, these expeditions are 

packed with instruction on living, traveling and leading groups in 

the backcountry. 

16 AND OVER 

Wilderness First Responder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 

18 AND OVER 

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 

River Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 

Winter Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 

Pacific Northwest Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 

Pacific Northwest Trip Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 

Southwest Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 

Alaska Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 

Yukon Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 

Wilderness EMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 

NOLS Risk Management Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 

21 AND OVER 

Semester for Outdoor Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 

NOLS Instructor Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 

DO IT ALL 

Yearning to take an extended expedition? Want to earn up to 19 hours 

of college credit while you’re at it? Our semester courses have it all— 

backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, sea kayaking, sailing, 

caving and more. Ranging from 50 to 135 days in length, you’ll learn 

multiple technical skills while developing solid leadership. 

14 AND 15 

50-day Adventure Expedition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

17 AND OVER 

Semester in the Rockies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 

Semester in the Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 

Semester in Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 

Semester in the Yukon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 

Semester in Baja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 

Semester on the Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 

18 AND OVER 

Semester in the Pacific Northwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 

Baja Ocean Semester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 

Semester in Patagonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 

Year in Patagonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 

Semester in India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 

Semester in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 

Semester in New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 

Year in the Sonoran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 

Semester in the Amazon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 

4

Fredrik Norrsell 

Don’t see what you want? 

Tracy Baynes 

• Give us a call. Our knowledgeable Admission 

Officers can help you find your dream course. 

Call (800) 710-NOLS, M-F, 8-5 MST 

• Use our online course finder. Search by 

location, skill, student age, course duration or 

starting month at www.nols.edu. 

• Let NOLS Professional Training custom 

build a course for your group. See the inside 

of the back cover for details. 

LEARN SKILLS FOR LIFE 

Since the beginning, teaching skills has been the very heart of NOLS. Students who come to the school know that they are going to 

learn—really learn—the skills they want. No matter what course you choose, NOLS is the skills school. 

Providing the instruction, tools and freedom to practice and use what you learn are the roots of our education. After a NOLS course, 

you’ll have the skills to comfortably and responsibly lead others in the backcountry. 

ON EVERY NOLS COURSE YOU’LL LEARN: 

LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK 

• Expedition Behavior: including tolerance for adversity, 

hard work, communication, and vision and action 

• Judgment and decision-making 

• Student expeditions 

• Team building 

• Problem solving 

• Self-confidence 

• Motivating others 

• Competence 

• Self-awareness 

OUTDOOR SKILLS 

• Route-finding and navigation, including map and compass use 

• Campsite selection 

• Preparing nutritious meals using a camp stove and fire 

• Sanitation and waste disposal 

• Ration planning 

• Equipment care and selection 

• Staying warm and dry 

• Emergency procedures and rescue techniques 

• Wilderness injury prevention and treatment 

• Hazard evaluation 

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 

• Leave No Trace camping and resource protection 

• Field natural history: animal and plant identification, 

astronomy, weather, geology and snow science 

• Human history 

• Understanding of pertinent regional environmental issues 

• Function, organization and local concerns of state and federal 

land management agencies 

• Wilderness ethics and practices for everyday life 


There is little doubt in my mind that the 

memories and lessons of wilderness trips 

last a lifetime. About a year ago, I was able to 

climb the Grand Teton in Wyoming with my 

oldest daughter, Mara. Now, when we drive by 

the Grand, she looks at the mountain differently; 

she looks at it intimately. As a parent, that is one of the greatest 

gifts I could give her, the gift of love for the outdoors. 

Tendencies throughout the world, however, seem to be moving 

alarmingly in the other direction. Increased use of passive entertainment—TV, 

video games and computers—has offset the time 

previously dedicated to free playtime in the outdoors. These trends 

have certainly gotten our attention at NOLS as they have significant 

implications for the health and well-being of our society. We know 

at NOLS that lessons learned in the outdoors lead to lifelong recreation 

skills, an appreciation for natural history, a strong environmental 

ethic, and well-developed leadership techniques. Students 

also leave their NOLS courses in the best shape they’ve ever been in. 

What more could you ask for in regards to your child being healthy 

and successful in this world? 

As you peruse this catalog for either yourself or a young adult 

in your life, remember the rewards of a strong connection to the 

wilderness. Come experience with NOLS what it is like to cook 

creatively and feed yourself well in the backcountry, communicate 

effectively with coursemates in order to achieve a common goal, 

and push your own capabilities beyond what you ever thought possible. 

And imagine what that experience could do in the life of a 

young person you love. 

John Gans, NOLS Executive Director 

NOLS BOARD OF TRUSTEES | Michael Schmertzler, Chair (left) 

Joseph P. Allen, Vice Chair • Carolyn W. Rohlen, Secretary • Gregory 

M. Avis, Treasurer • F. Fox Benton III • Susan E. Chamberlin • Douglas 

E. Dalquist • Jane F. Fried • Daniel E. Garvey • Andrea J. Grant • R. 

Flip Hagood • Douglas S. Luke • Victoria E. Murden-McClure 

William C. Murdock • Robert W. Nimmo • Peter A. Roy • Amy E. Wyss 

Kei Yamamoto • Charles R. Gregg, Counsel • Herbert G. Ogden, M.D., 

Medical Advisor • Homer L. Luther, Chairman Emeritus • Gene R. 

Tremblay, Chairman Emeritus • Joan K. Chitiea, Trustee Emeritus 

The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is a private, nonprofit, educational corporation. 

NOLS is an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 

and all contributions to NOLS are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. 

Fredrik Norrsell

WHY NOLS? 

Willy Hazlehurst 

NOLS leads, and you will, too. The leader in wilderness education, NOLS teaches leadership skills that last a lifetime. 

WHY NOLS? 

NOLS DEVELOPS LEADERS. We attract highly motivated students who want to learn how to lead. 

And that’s just what happens—our graduates find success everywhere: at school, at play, or at work. 

NOLS IS THE SKILLS SCHOOL. Our hands-on, learn-by-doing approach means that our graduates 

get the skills they need to be competent, responsible wilderness travelers long after their course is over. 

NOLS EXPLORES REMOTE WILDERNESS ON EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS. What NOLS teaches 

cannot be learned in a classroom or on a city street. It takes practice to learn outdoor skills and time 

to develop leadership. The wilderness provides the ideal setting for this unique education. 

MORE THAN 97% OF NOLS GRADUATES VALUED THEIR EDUCATION SO MUCH THEY’D 

RECOMMEND NOLS TO A FRIEND. There’s no better mark for how satisfied NOLS students are with 

their experience. In addition, more than 95% of NOLS students say they’ll use what they learned at 

NOLS in other aspects of life. 

NOLS OFFERS THE MOST EXTENSIVE COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR 

A WILDERNESS EDUCATION EXPERIENCE. More than 75% of NOLS students who are of college 

age take a NOLS course for college credit. Students have successfully transferred the credits to over 400 

colleges around the country. 

AT NOLS, YOU’LL GET THE SUPPORT OF THE BEST STAFF IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION. 

NOLS instructors get their start at other outdoor programs and then, after a competitive selection process 

and training by NOLS, they are ready to instruct for us . 

WHAT MAKES NOLS THE LEADER 

IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION? 

Experience. More than 40 years of it, 

in fact. Founded in 1965 by legendary 

mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, NOLS 

takes people of all ages on real wilderness 

expeditions, teaching outdoor 

skills, leadership and environmental 

ethics in some of the world’s wildest 

and most awe-inspiring classrooms. 

With courses ranging from 10 days to 

a full academic year, students learn 

the skills necessary to be comfortable, 

responsible wilderness travelers and 

leaders long after their course is over. 

Other programs talk about leadership 

—at NOLS, you’ll do it! 


LEADERSHIP 


Tracy Baynes 

Brad Christensen 

Top left: Your highly skilled instructors will model leadership and then you’ll take the helm. Bottom left: At NOLS, you’ll work as a team to accomplish a goal, and have fun while you’re 

at it! Right and far right: Charting your course and scouting a river are opportunities to problem solve, a critical leadership skill. 

NOLS DEVELOPS LEADERS. 

NOLS leadership by Cynthia Arellano, Alaska Sea Kayaking Expedition ‘05, Alaska Outdoor Educator ‘06 

NATURAL LEARNING 

I was first introduced to NOLS by the Student Expedition Program 

(STEP), a leadership training program that works with NOLS to 

provide meaningful educational experiences for low-income students 

aspiring to go to college. The NOLS community has to be 

one of the most accepting and loving communities in the world, 

but I would not have been able to fully understand my leadership 

style were it not for the wilderness. There is something about getting 

up in the morning to the mirror-like tide creeping back to the 

ocean, to the reflection of brilliant sun on floating icebergs, and 

having the serenity to write and reflect. Without any distractions or 

influences that could alter my thinking, I had the opportunity of 

looking into myself and learning what kind of leader I truly am. 

LEARNING BY LEADING 

During my NOLS expedition, the greatest learning moments were 

the leadership opportunities. At the beginning of the course, our 

instructors demonstrated what needed to be done, detailing time of 

departure, estimated time of arrival, and any dangers we may encounter 

along the way for each travel day. Soon enough, though, 

student leaders were stepping into that role. The day my turn came 

to be leader was the day I learned the most. I realized I must not 

only take care of myself, but I must be alert to my team and coursemates. 

Most importantly, I learned that a leader must herself be a 

follower, a listener, and part of the team. 

LEADERSHIP FOR LIFE 

The leadership skills I acquired throughout my NOLS experiences 

immediately transferred to the real world. I came back from my course 

ready for more, and after an internship at NOLS Alaska and a section 

of backpacking on an Alaska Outdoor Educator course, I have become 

an even stronger, more confident leader. My philosophy became 

teamwork and perseverance. Teamwork allows me to be a proficient 

captain to my volleyball team. Perseverance serves as motivation to 

never give up. My newly gained leadership skills will continue to guide 

my way of living in the work place and everywhere else. 

8

My newly gained leadership 

skills will continue to guide my 

way of living in the work place 

and everywhere else. 

Cynthia Arellano, Alaska Sea Kayaking Expedition ‘05, 

Alaska Outdoor Educator ‘06 

Moe Witschard

NOLS provided me with 

the original confidence 

and knowledge…that 

have allowed me to travel 

the world with my kayak. 

Brian Eustis, Baja Sea Kayaking ‘97, expedition whitewater kayaker, 

first descent of Yalong Jiang and source-to-sea descent of the Mekong River 

Brad Christensen

SKILLS 


TC Rammelkamp 

Tracy Baynes 

Far left: Never paddled whitewater before? Your NOLS instructors will teach you everything you need to know. Left: Gear selection and placement are key skills you’ll acquire on a 

rock climbing course. Top right: Backcountry cooking at NOLS is a delicious art. Bottom right: Practical, hands-on learning is what develops solid technical skills. 

NOLS IS THE SKILLS SCHOOL. 

NOLS skills by Brian Eustis, Baja Sea Kayaking ‘97, expedition whitewater kayaker, including the first descent of the Yalong Jiang River 

and a source-to-sea descent of the Mekong River 

LEARNING TECHNICAL SKILLS 

The initial push that changed the orbit of my life occurred on a 

beach in Mexico two weeks into my NOLS course. We had spent 

the day surfing waves and having a fantastic time. I came to the 

beach with a huge grin and my instructor said, “Hey, you look 

like you’re having a lot of fun. You should give whitewater kayaking 

a try.” I look at that moment as the beginning of everything 

that has made me who I am today. Of course, at the time it was 

just another great afternoon in Baja learning technical skills with 

my new NOLS friends. 

EXPERIENCE LEADS TO MASTERY 

My Baja Sea Kayaking course was full of firsts. My first trip to Mexico, 

my first time in a kayak and my first time spending an uninterrupted 

three weeks in the wilderness. Together, each of these “firsts” 

played a role in shaping my last ten years of exploration. It wasn’t 

until I was traveling in Vietnam many years later that I realized all 

my decisions after my NOLS course were based on a new set of values, 

experiences and desires that had first became apparent while in 

Mexico. Since then, those values have translated into expeditions 

and adventures from Tibet and Vietnam to Panama and Peru. 

SKILLS FOR A LIFETIME OF OUTDOOR PURSUITS 

After my NOLS course, I decided to get a summer job as a raft 

guide, specifically so I could live near a river and learn how to kayak. 

After graduating from college, I passed on a job offer in finance so 

I could spend one year kayaking before I got a “real job.” It was a 

slow change, but the one year led to two and two to three. Job opportunities 

changed from the field of finance and Wall Street to 

video kayaking, safety boating and documentary filmmaking. 

NOLS provided me with the original confidence and knowledge 

to feel scared yet comfortable making the decisions that have allowed 

me to travel the world with my kayak. 


WILDERNESS 

Bryan Palmintier 

Ashley Wise 


Top left: An extended expedition means you’ll fully experience the wilderness. Bottom left: From Alaska’s caribou to New Zealand’s kea, the wildlife you encounter will remind you that 

humans are just visitors in these wild places. Right and far right: Learning about the ecology of your wilderness classroom is a part of every NOLS course. 

NOLS EXPLORES REMOTE WILDERNESS 

ON EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS. 

NOLS wilderness by Chip Giller, Pacific Northwest Wilderness ‘88, Founder and CEO of Grist.org 

MAGNIFICENCE OF TREES 

When I think about my NOLS experience, I remember the density 

and lushness of the Olympic National Forest, the magnitude of the 

land, the stately grandeur of the mountain peaks. I also remember 

becoming aware of my own comparative insignificance in the grand 

scheme of things (that’s a good thing!). It was my first true encounter 

with deep wilderness. I was just a kid from Massachusetts…and 

nothing could have prepared me for the size of those trees. 

THE CORE OF NOLS 

At age 17, I was one of the youngest members on our NOLS expedition. 

Looking back, this was a period in which I discovered a lot 

about myself as a leader. It was also a time when I recognized that 

humans are not at the center of the universe and that nature has an 

order and power all its own. 

The environment is many things to many people. For some, it’s 

backcountry isolation and old-growth forests. To others, it is the 

community in which they live and work—the trees, green spaces, 

and air that surrounds them. To others still, it is the lack of green 

space where they live, brought into focus by a poorly-sited power 

plant, or landfill, or freeway. Only a small number of people will 

ever experience wilderness as I did for the first time in the Olympics. 

FINDING MY PLACE 

Today, as the founder and CEO of Grist.org, an online environmental 

news and information community touching nearly one million 

folks worldwide, I bring the knowledge I gained during NOLS 

to work with me each day. It’s the realization that if we look outside 

of our narrow self-interests, we make the world a safer, cleaner, 

healthier place to live. Together we can be a force. 

So, while NOLS offers the transformative experience of connecting 

people to the wild, Grist reaches many others who may 

never visit the wilderness. Two different paths. But the end result 

is the same: an ever-growing group of folks who understand what’s 

at stake and are willing to take action—on behalf of themselves 

and the planet. 

12

I recognized that 

humans are not at the 

center of the universe and 

that nature has an order 

and power all its own. 

Chip Giller, Pacific Northwest Wilderness ‘88, 

Founder and CEO of Grist.org 

Rainbow Weinstock

My NOLS semester 

helped me develop a 

strong passion for 

environmental studies, 

history, art and 

experiential learning. 

Nora Oliver, Semester in the Southwest ‘06, Clark University 

Rainbow Weinstock

EDUCATION 

Mac Henry 

Dave Anderson 

Julie Brown 

Far left and top left: There’s no wireless here, but in classrooms like these, you won’t miss it. Bottom left: Student Holly McIntyre teaches a class on weather on a Yukon River Instructor 

Course. Right: Books and notebooks are an important part of a NOLS education, too. 

MORE THAN 97% OF NOLS GRADUATES WOULD 

RECOMMEND A NOLS EDUCATION TO A FRIEND. 

NOLS education by Nora Oliver, Semester in the Southwest ‘06, Clark University 

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLASSROOM 

There is nothing like challenging your educational potential by 

stepping into a classroom made of canyon walls and rock chairs 

with teddy-bear cacti as classmates. My NOLS Semester in the 

Southwest brought me from the typical four-walled classroom to a 

wall-less classroom of infinite possibilities. It was a hands-on tangible 

education and active experience rather than passive lectures. 

Ninety days in the desert taught me not only the practical skills of 

living in the backcountry, but lessons in biology, history, ecology, 

and hydrology as well: how cacti survive in harsh environments, 

what types of animals roamed the lands we traveled on, and the science 

and history of the ground we slept on. 

COLLEGE CREDIT 

The education I gained during my NOLS semester helped me develop 

a strong passion for environmental studies, history, art and 

experiential learning and, subsequently, plan for my bachelor’s degree. 

I earned the equivalent of one semester of college credit 

through the University of Utah during my course, and I will transfer 

those credits to my current university in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

The skills I learned have also opened many doors to new 

learning opportunities and qualified me for unique jobs, such as 

my summer position as a natural resource instructor at the Green 

Mountain Conservation Camp in Vermont in addition to other 

well-regarded positions at my university. 

EDUCATION THAT LASTS 

NOLS helped me realize that experiential education can be one of 

the best ways to learn skills and knowledge of the backcountry such 

as Leave No Trace principles, first aid care, and how we impact the 

world around us. I have found that the lessons I learned through 

NOLS have influenced how I live my day-to-day life in the frontcountry. 

Now I live with more awareness of the green spaces and 

natural environment around me and how my actions affect those 

areas for better or worse. 


COLLEGE CREDIT 


Alan Neilson 


Top left: At NOLS, you won’t just read about biology; you’ll experience it. Bottom left: From theory to practice, lessons learned here have immediate relevance when the expedition is 

your syllabus. Right: Encounters with wildlife provide a rich learning experience in the backcountry that you won’t find indoors. 

NOLS’ COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAM IS 

UNPARALLELED IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION. 

For nearly 30 years NOLS has offered college credit through the 

University of Utah, one of the nation’s premier research universities. 

Every NOLS course is approved for credit and more than 75% of 

our college-age students take advantage of this option. Four hundred 

colleges and universities nationwide have accepted 

NOLS/University of Utah credit, and many others grant their own 

credit for NOLS courses. 

Optional undergraduate and graduate credit is offered for the following 

University of Utah courses: 

• Natural History of Regional Ecosystems (Biology) 

• Environmental Ethics, Leave No Trace and Leadership 

• Group Leadership Techniques 

• Wilderness Skills Practicum and Leadership 

• Risk Assessment, Management and Decision-Making 

• Wilderness First Responder 

These courses are offered through the University’s departments of 

Biology, Health Education, and Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Details 

for your course are available from the NOLS admission office. 

ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS 

NOLS and Central Wyoming College (CWC) in Riverton, 

Wyoming have partnered to offer two degree programs: 

Associate of Science in Environmental Science and Leadership: 

During the NOLS portion of this degree program, you’ll develop 

environmental awareness and conservation ethics. At CWC you’ll 

complement this with a classic natural science education. 

Associate of Arts in Outdoor Education and Leadership: Designed 

for students interested in careers in outdoor education or environmental 

education and activism, this degree program combines one or 

more NOLS courses with education and liberal arts courses at CWC. 

16

NOLS: AN EDUCATIONAL VALUE 

Most NOLS courses cost just $ 140 per day. When you invest in a NOLS course you benefit from all of the elements that make 

NOLS the best value in the outdoors: 

THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE BUSINESS | You’ll learn more because NOLS demands more experience and training from its 

instructors than any other outdoor program. 

NOLS EXPEDITION PLANNING | You’ll explore real wilderness. NOLS knows the routes and holds permits in some of the world’s 

deepest backcountry. 

TOP OF THE LINE EQUIPMENT AND GOOD EATS | You’ll be happy and comfortable using equipment designed to NOLS specs 

and preparing meals using good ingredients and the NOLS Cookery, the most acclaimed cookbook in the outdoors. 

NOLS INDUSTRY-LEADING RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM | You’ll be a responsible wilderness traveler learning from the 

leaders of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and the conveners of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. 

NOLS PUBLIC POLICY | You’ll travel awe-inspiring wild country and develop a wildland ethic. NOLS doesn’t just explore the 

backcountry, we have a department of dedicated staff working to protect it. 

NOLS CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH | You’ll achieve because NOLS constantly fine-tunes its educational program based on 

research and more than 40 years of experience. 

NOLS COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAM | You’ll receive credit for your NOLS experience. NOLS has developed relationships on 

college campuses across the country making it easy for you to get the credit you deserve. 

FINANCIAL AID 

While a NOLS course is a great value, many students need assistance to achieve their educational goals. That’s why we offer the 

best financial aid resources in outdoor education. Contact the NOLS admission office or visit www.nols.edu for more information 

and applications. 

NOLS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | More than $ 900,000 in scholarship aid is available at NOLS every year. Scholarships are 

awarded on a rolling basis and are based on merit and need. 

CONSORTIUM AGREEMENTS | Students at a college that accepts credit earned for a NOLS semester may be able to use their 

federal financial aid through a consortium agreement between NOLS and the college. 

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID AND AMERICORPS | Central Wyoming College (CWC) processes federal financial aid and Ameri- 

Corps stipends for NOLS students. 

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION BENEFITS | Many NOLS courses are eligible for VA Benefits. VA refund policies apply. 

DIRECT CREDIT 

These colleges offer their own credit and process financial aid for a 

NOLS education: 

• Central Wyoming College, Riverton, WY 

• College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME 

• Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT 

• Northland College, Ashland, WI 

• Penn State University, University Park, PA 

• Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, AK 

• Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, VT 

• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 

• SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY 

• SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 

• The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 

• University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 

• University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada 

• University of Montana-Western, Dillon, MT 

• University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 

• Western State College, Gunnison, CO 

ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS 

The following colleges allow the easy transfer of University of Utah 

credit and process financial aid for a NOLS education: 

• Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK 

• Aurora University, Aurora, IL 

• Collège Mérici, Québec, Canada 

• Clemson University, Clemson, SC 

• Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA 

• Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH 

• Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 

• Kyushu Lutheran College, Kyushu, Japan 

• Northwest College, Powell, WY 

• Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smiths, NY 

• Prescott College, Prescott, AZ 

• Quest University Canada, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada 

• Radford University, Radford, VA 

• Unity College, Unity, ME 

• University of Maine, Presque Isle, ME 

• Utah State University, Logan, UT 


STAFF 


Rich Brame 


Top: Centrally administered in Lander, Wyoming, NOLS International Headquarters supports the school’s global operations. As a result, you get the same high quality NOLS experience 

wherever you take your course. Left: From issuing to logistics, each NOLS location is locally staffed by experienced outdoor professionals. Right: Multiple generations of NOLS staff 

and family gathered in 2005 to celebrate our 40 th anniversary. 

NOLS GIVES YOU THE SUPPORT OF THE BEST 

STAFF IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION. 

BEST STAFF, BEST RESULTS 

NOLS’ strength is its staff of nearly 800 individuals worldwide, 

every one of them dedicated to delivering high quality wilderness 

education. NOLS staff are driven by the school’s mission and inspired 

by our graduates who are active, positive leaders with environmental 

ethics and outdoor skills. 

THE BEST SUPPORT 

The NOLS program isn’t farmed out to subcontractors. Our expedition 

team takes care of all those little details that make your 

NOLS experience a great adventure: great gear properly fit; good, 

nutritious food and plenty of it; awe-inspiring backcountry; cutting-edge 

curriculum; and industry-leading risk management. This 

attention to detail means that NOLS consistently delivers the most 

fun, educational wilderness adventures available anywhere. 

THE BEST INSTRUCTORS 

NOLS is without peer when it comes to selecting and training our 

instructional staff. NOLS instructors get their start at other outdoor 

programs. After gaining experience and a competitive selection 

process, they are ready for NOLS instructor training and an apprenticeship. 

Only then are they able to teach for NOLS. 

And that is just the start. NOLS instructors can participate in 

more than 60 instructor seminars to further hone their skills and, 

with help from the NOLS Instructor Development Fund, they embark 

on ambitious expeditions worldwide. This training and experience 

means that you’ll learn skills, develop leadership and have 

the time of your life! 

18

Diversity Manager. Tania helps NOLS 

seek a broader audience to participate in 

and benefit from outdoor education. She 

manages to complement her love of rock 

climbing with its obvious counterpart, 

classical orchestra music. 

NOLS Patagonia Director. Instructor since 

1992. A child of the ‘80s, a native of Lander, 

and a 1989 Wind River Mountaineering grad, 

Judd has dedicated 18 years to NOLS and has 

always valued the school’s culture of excellence, 

respect, communication and teamwork. 

Instructor since 2003. After working for 

other wilderness programs, Becca came to 

NOLS for its beautiful classrooms, extended 

backcountry courses, and some of the best 

winter camping around; this art history and 

environmental studies major loves to ski! 

Risk Management Director. Instructor 

since 1978. An avid cyclist and passionate 

Nordic skier, Drew oversees safety, training 

and research throughout the school and 

helps lead the national Wilderness Risk 

Managers Committee. 

Photographers this page: Brad Christensen, Judd Rodgers, Becca Parkinson, Kyle Leemon, Liza Howard, Jake MacArthur, Brian “Duck” Murphy, Abby Warner, Vinay Sirsi, Moe Witschard 

Curriculum Manager. Instructor since 

1981. John develops NOLS’ educational resources, 

ensuring the school’s 500 instructors 

have the latest tools in wilderness education at 

their fingertips. Of his many outdoor interests, 

his local National Association for Search and 

Rescue branch keeps him very busy. 

Public Policy Director. Instructor since 

2004. Jennifer, a 1988 Wind River Wilderness 

graduate, oversees public policy and environmental 

sustainability initiatives on a national 

and international level to protect the vitality of 

wilderness lands where NOLS operates. 

WMI Curriculum Manager. Instructor 

since 1973. Founder of the Wilderness 

Risk Management Conference. Even 

though he has taught wilderness medicine 

in East Africa, New Zealand and Australia, 

Tod still feels the Wind River Range is one of 

the most exotic places on the planet. 

NOLS Instructor and WMI Instructor 

since 2003. Growing up an Army brat, Liza 

grew accustomed to change and challenges 

and has collected a list of pursuits that reflect 

her varied interests: degrees in history and education, 

NOLS and WMI courses from Arizona 

to Alaska, and, coming soon, a nursing degree. 

Instructor since 2003. In addition to teaching 

NOLS students in his favorite desert and 

mountain classrooms, Oscar educates people 

about wilderness ethics in his native Mexico. 

In 2006, he earned NOLS’ Field Staff Award 

for his outstanding contributions in the field. 

NOLS Teton Valley Director. Instructor 

since 1989. Abby believes the skills students 

learn at NOLS are truly universal. 

From field instructor to branch director to 

mom, Abby relies on her leadership, teamwork 

and organizational skills daily. 

Instructor since 1987. With a whopping 454 

weeks in the field, KG recently earned NOLS’ 

Master of Outdoor Education Award. A certified 

classroom teacher and native of Kenya, 

his passions include training rescue teams 

in the mountains of East Africa and guiding 

through his expedition and safari business. 

Risk Management, NOLS Professional 

Training. Instructor since 1994. Liz loves 

working for NOLS because it helps people 

learn to make good decisions for themselves, 

whatever situation they find themselves in. 

Instructor since 1998. “Be a clarity-seeking 

missile” is one of the philosophies by which 

Vinay lives and teaches. The organization 

and enthusiasm he brings to his courses rub 

off on those around him and contribute to 

the authentic NOLS India experience. 

Instructor since 1999. “I wouldn’t trade my 

NOLS experiences for anything,” says Wendy, 

who vowed to teach for the school after her 

Semester in the Rockies in 1995. Besides rock 

climbing and teaching, her passions include 

sled dog racing, and she recently became the 

first female Canadian Sled Dog champion. 

Instructor since 2000. Duck is a river expert 

who attributes NOLS founder Paul Petzoldt, 

his time in the Marines, and rivers 

themselves as his sources of inspiration. He 

believes wild rivers can provide students 

with the best of wilderness educations. 

Instructor since 2003. With a degree in 

environmental education and years of experience 

canoeing, climbing, trekking, and 

practicing yoga, Sarah loves to share her 

passion for the wilderness with her students. 

A native of Canada, she helped pioneer the 

first NOLS Baffin Island course. 


ROCKY MOUNTAIN 

NOLS Rocky Mountain is the crystal clear lakes and stunning 

glacier-carved granite cirques of the famous Wind River 

Mountains, the sprawling meadows and deep rivers of the Absarokas, 

and the hidden red canyons of Utah’s slickrock country. The desert 

rivers and the sweeping sagebrush vistas are where the first NOLS 

courses ventured into the wilderness over 40 years ago. Being here, 

backpacking and climbing in the mountains, scrambling through 

the canyons and rafting the rivers, is what a NOLS course is all about. 

The heart of our operation is Lander, Wyoming, the small 

town that NOLS founder Paul Petzoldt hand-picked in 1965 as 

the base of operations for his innovative outdoor school. With a 

population of seven thousand, Lander is a remote mountain 

town but is easily accessed via air or road. After your course, your 

photo album will be filled with pictures of the backcountry, but 

20


In 1965, Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains is where NOLS founder Paul Petzoldt’s dream became a reality. 

Lander will remain in your mind as the mecca where outdoor 

adventures begin. 

NOLS Rocky Mountain also operates the Three Peaks 

Ranch in Boulder, Wyoming. Set on the western edge of the Wind 

River Mountains, this working ranch is home to the school’s 

horsepacking courses. With more than 60 horses, the ranch also 

re-supplies many Rocky Mountain courses on horseback. 

The NOLS Utah River Base in Vernal, Utah is also part of 

the NOLS Rocky Mountain family, where whitewater rafting, canoeing 

and kayaking are our specialties. This facility was designed 

and built specifically for its easy access to the Green River. 

With a wide-range of course offerings and exquisite landscapes 

of mountains, canyons and rivers, NOLS Rocky Mountain 

is the ideal place to start your wilderness education. 

21

Rocky Mountain 

WIND RIVER WILDERNESS 

This is the original NOLS course and the most popular expedition 

we offer. For 30 days, you’ll explore the Wind River Mountains, a 

wilderness range renowned for its pristine lakes and rugged mountain 

beauty. You’ll be amazed at the sense of accomplishment you 

have at the end of a challenging hiking day. After carrying a pack efficiently 

loaded with everything you need to the top of your first 

high mountain pass, you’ll descend into a glacial valley and help 

lead your hiking group to camp. You and your peers will take turns 

baking pizzas over a camp stove and catching cutthroat trout for 

dinner. At night, a crisp sky filled with stars will shroud your tent 

as you rest for the next stimulating day of exploration and learning. 

In addition to hiking as many as 120 miles on and off trail, you’ll 

rock climb, fly fish, learn how to use a GPS, and summit towering 

granite mountains. The leadership skills you master here will serve 

you well in the wilderness and beyond. 

Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear. 

Age and Length: 

16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 30 days 

16 & 17 Only • Duration: 30 days 



Tu ition: $3,650 (16 & Over); $3,920 (16 & 17 Only); $3,005 (23 & Over; 40 & Over) 

Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming 

Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills 

Practicum (16 & Over; 16 & 17 Only); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23, 40 & Over) 

Dates: page 110 

Instructor Sean Bowditch presents the fly in a mountain lake below Pingora Peak in 

Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains. 

Kevin Bergstrom 

ABSAROKA BACKPACKING 

Yellowstone National Park’s wild eastern neighbor is Wyoming’s Absaroka 

(Ab-sor-ka) Range, a vast wilderness region with some of the 

most remote territory in the Lower 48. You’ll travel through broad 

river valleys surrounded by sheer glacier-carved cliffs, camp under 

towering conifers, and hike across alpine plateaus where the tallest 

plants are only a few inches high. You’ll fly fish for large cutthroat 

trout, effectively ford high mountain rivers, practice GPS and compass 

navigation, and learn how to camp and travel in bear country. 

Along with grizzlies, other fauna you’re likely to see are eagles, 

bighorn sheep, elk, moose, black bears, coyote and recently re-introduced 

gray wolves. For students craving remote, rugged land 

filled with wildlife, this is your course; you’ll see more wildlife here 

than almost anywhere else NOLS operates. And you won’t just 

study out here; in the Absarokas, you’ll live the lessons you need to 

skillfully travel in the mountains long after your course ends. 


Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 30 days 

Tuition: $3,575 




Practicum 


Off-trail travel helps students master navigational skills while instilling a deep appreciation 

for the diverse alpine ecosystem. 


22


Juan Queirolo 

Big wilderness provides a true sense of perspective. 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIGHT AND FAST BACKPACKING 

Are you an athlete who enjoys outdoor adventures? Want to learn 

the latest in lightweight backpacking techniques? Then this course 

is for you. Partnering with GoLite and BackpackingLight.com, we 

are offering the first authentic lightweight backpacking course in 

the world of outdoor education. This adventure starts in the equipment 

room as you and your instructors organize your gear and food. 

Then the fun begins—shaving the ounces. How light can you go? 

Outfitted with 25- to 30-pound packs (10-15 pounds without 

food and fuel), you and your coursemates will be off to one of 

Wyoming’s most remote and wild ranges. You will travel light and 

fast, covering miles and enjoying the wilderness as you never 

thought imaginable—without the burden of a heavy load. Plan to 

learn cutting edge lightweight techniques like cooking one-pot 

meals and staying warm and dry with minimal gear while honing 

traditional backpacking skills like navigation and Leave No Trace. 

After two weeks, you’ll leave with the knowledge and skills to plan 

and execute your own lightweight adventures. 

NOLS/ORVIS WILDERNESS FLY FISHING 

The only course at NOLS dedicated solely to fishing, this expedition 

is an angler’s dream. Orvis guides will teach you the fly fishing 

skills to be an ace on the water while your NOLS instructors 

turn you into an outdoor expert. After an intensive two-day 

Orvis fly fishing seminar to help you perfect your cast and learn 

to “match the hatch” and read the water, you’ll shoulder your pack 

and head into the Wind River Mountains for a 20-day wilderness 

fishing expedition where cutthroat, brook, brown, golden and rainbow 

trout abound. 

If you love the mountains and dream of being a fly fishing 

guide, this mix of mountain living skills, leadership and angling is 

ideal training. Or, simply camp where the big fish are and show up 

your friends and family on the next annual fishing trip. Your course 

will end on a world-renowned trout-fishing river with an Orviscertified 

guide for six days of personal instruction in drift boat handling, 

rowing techniques and big water fishing. By the end of this 

30-day course you will be “The Compleat Angler.” 






College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum 






College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours 

Skills Practicum 





Student Becca Fahrner “hunts” the large, wild trout that have made the Wind River Mountains famous. 

WYOMING BACKPACKING ADVENTURE 

FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS 

Having fun, learning about the outdoors, traveling from camp to 

camp, rock climbing, fly fishing, exploring and achieving—that’s 

what a NOLS Backpacking Adventure is all about! And a 

Wyoming Backpacking Adventure is a true wilderness expedition 

designed for young people. For the entire 30 days of the course, 

your mode of travel will be your own two feet, not a crowded van. 

You’ll be with students your own age and NOLS instructors who 

aren’t just summer staff but some of our most skilled and highly 

trained educators who specialize in teaching teenagers. Gain independence 

and take responsibility for yourself and your companions. 

Learn outdoor living skills, but also learn how to get 

along with your group and how to be a leader even when you are 

in the back of the pack. If you do, when you get back home, you’ll 

have the skills to enjoy outdoor activities on your own and the 

leadership qualities to help you step it up in the classroom, on the 

playing fields, or anywhere you want to succeed. 


Age and Length: 14 & 15 Only • Duration: 30 days 





ROCKY MOUNTAIN OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: 

BACKPACKING WITH ROCK CLIMBING OR WFR 

NOLS specializes in teaching teachers. In fact, we have been inspiring 

and teaching outdoor educators for over 40 years. On this 

course, you’ll learn the latest in outdoor education skills and techniques 

from some of the best-trained outdoor educators in the 

world in order to prepare you for the outdoor profession. This 

course offers either a 23-day backpacking expedition with a 4-day 

climbing camp or a 30-day backpacking expedition with a combined 

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. Taught 

mostly in the field, the WFR will add a bonus to your outdoor resumé. 

The backpacking sections for both expeditions are packed 

with how-to’s on living, traveling and leading groups in the backcountry. 

Granite peaks that reach 13,000 feet and high mountain 

lakes and rivers will teach you what it takes to lead and educate others 

in Wyoming or Montana’s rugged ranges and beyond. 


Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 23 days or 30 days with WFR 

Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators 

Tuition: $3,050 (23 days); $4,420 (30 days) 



College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment (23 days); 2 hours 

Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 3 hours WFR (30 days) 


24


Student Noel Cruz clips a fixed line below Pronghorn Peak. After 30 days on a Wind River Mountaineering course, you’ll be fluent in this and other mountaineering jargon. 

WIND RIVER MOUNTAINEERING 

The rugged, glacier-carved Wind River Range is famous for its sheer 

granite headwalls, soaring spires, and towering 13,000-foot summits 

covered with rock and surrounded by glaciers. This remote 

range is also famous for mountaineering expeditions that have a 

perfect blend of glacier travel, snow ascents and rock climbing. 

You’ll learn real mountaineering skills such as belaying, rappelling, 

climbing techniques and anchor placement—all while traveling 

over, around and through the rocky, steep terrain of the Wind 

Rivers. Your route will allow you to learn rock, snow and ice climbing 

techniques that will lead to longer, more technical climbs like 

the 13,804-foot Gannett Peak, Wyoming’s highest mountain. At 

the same time, you’ll master the camping, hiking and leadership 

skills necessary to thrive in the mountain environment and beyond. 





College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk 

Assessment 


ROCK CLIMBING 

This course is a comprehensive immersion into the sport of traditional 

(“trad”) rock climbing. You’ll learn the fundamentals of 

climbing on some of Wyoming’s famous sheer granite walls and 

towering spires. Your instructors will emphasize such skills as climbing 

techniques, rope systems, anchors, rappelling and belaying, protection 

placement, risk management and lead philosophy. You’ll 

have ample opportunity to practice your climbing skills while you 

develop a strong foundation in wilderness ethics and experience extended 

backcountry living and traveling. With a student to instructor 

ratio of 4:1, you’ll get the personal attention necessary to 

develop your climbing and backcountry skills rapidly. 


16 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 21 or 30 days 





College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment (21 days); 2 hours Environmental 

Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment (30 days) 





Learn from the best: Instructor Madhu Chikkaraju demonstrates bouldering skills on the 16 & Over Rock Climbing course. 

ROCK AND RIVER 

Imagine mastering two skills in two very different wilderness environments, 

the stunning canyons of Wyoming and the whitewater of 

Utah’s Green River. The climbing section in either Sinks Canyon 

outside Lander, Wyoming or Vedauwoo near Laramie, Wyoming 

explores granite, limestone and sandstone rock as well as stunning 

canyon scenery. You’ll learn movement on rock, knots, rope handling, 

belaying, anchors, protection placement, traditional and 

sport climbing systems, rappelling, and risk management. If you 

are ready, experience the thrill of being on the sharp end of the rope 

while lead climbing. The other component of your course will take 

you through Green River’s Desolation and Gray canyons, where 

you’ll master rowing oar boats and captaining paddle rafts and learn 

to steer a whitewater kayak through class I-III+ rapids. You’ll live 

and travel within the canyon’s sheer sandstone walls rimmed with 

sage and piñon pine, experiencing what it takes to organize and lead 

your own river trips. 

RIVER GUIDES 

If you relish the anticipation of a raft slipping silently across flat 

water toward a line where the river disappears and a big rapid 

churns or crave the roar of whitewater and the chance to command 

your own crew as you lean into each paddle stroke, you’ve come to 

the right place. Expert NOLS river instructors will teach you the essentials 

of whitewater boating on a course designed to give you the 

skills you need to become a raft guide throughout the United States. 

It’s even early enough in the season to allow you to apply for summer 

guiding jobs. Utilizing two different sections of Utah’s Green 

River, you’ll learn to read rapids, rig boats, captain paddle rafts, row 

oar rigs, repair all the associated equipment, and gain a solid foundation 

in NOLS’ core leadership curriculum and latest river rescue 

techniques. We’ll also give you the skills necessary to completely 

outfit a group for river travel. By the end, you’ll be commanding 

your craft with confidence, ready to guide friends or clients in places 

where the flat water ends and adventure begins. 



Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming or Vernal, Utah (depending on course date) 

Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming or Salt Lake City, Utah (depending on course date) 

College Credit: 4 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment 




Course start/end: Vernal, Utah 

Fly in/out: Vernal, Utah or Salt Lake City, Utah 

College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Leadership Techniques 


26



“THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING 

I GAINED DURING MY NOLS SEMESTER 

COULD WALK INTO AN UNFAMILIAR 

SITUATION, ADAPT TO IT AND SUCCEED. 

WAS A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE THAT I 

” 

Eric Gilbert, Semester in the Rockies ‘96 



Your NOLS instructors will teach you everything you need to know about whitewater river 

expeditioning by giving instruction and then letting you take the lead. 

Big skies and wide open spaces: Horsepacking courses retrace the steps of the early 

West’s fur trappers. 

WHITEWATER RIVER EXPEDITION 

Imagine expeditioning 125 miles through the breathtaking canyons 

of Utah’s wild Green River, the birthplace of whitewater boating. 

This course offers a thorough introduction to travel skills on the 

same river that launched General John Wesley Powell’s famous 1869 

expedition. You’ll learn to kayak, captain a paddle raft, and row an 

oar rig as you negotiate the whitewater of Desolation and Lodore 

canyons. You begin in calm water and progress to moving water, 

learning increasingly advanced maneuvers. As the canyons get 

steeper and the rapids get bigger, instruction shifts to hydrology, 

hazard evaluation and rescue techniques. Rapids like Disaster Falls 

and Hells Half-Mile, named by Powell himself, offer exciting challenges 

while exploring this magnificent river. 

WILDERNESS HORSEPACKING 

There’s nothing quite like seeing the wilderness on horseback. 

We’ll take you from the NOLS-owned and operated Three Peaks 

Ranch into the wilderness of the Wind River Range and immerse 

you in the basics of Western horsemanship—care and feeding, 

horse behavior and herd dynamics, tack, saddling, and riding— 

and other unique skills of packing and traveling with horses. You’ll 

care for your saddle horse and work together with a partner to 

load and lead your packhorse. You’ll also be in charge of your own 

well-being in the backcountry, learning how to choose a good 

campsite and cook a good meal. Share this wilderness experience 

not only with your fellow students and instructors, but also with 

the worthy companionship of horses. 



Course start/end: Vernal, Utah 

Fly in/out: Vernal, Utah or Salt Lake City, Utah 



WANT 

MORE? 

Semester in the Rockies, page 75 

Semester for Outdoor Educators, page 79 

Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear 




Tuition: $4,410 (16 and Over); $3,005 (23 and Over) 

Course start/end: Boulder, Wyoming 

Fly in/out: Jackson, Wyoming 

College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Environmental Ethics (16 and Over); 2 hours 

Skills Practicum (23 and Over) 



TETON VALLEY 

Every NOLS location offers an array of core courses and specializes 

in skills that take advantage of our unique locations. 

NOLS Teton Valley specializes in adventure courses for 14- and 

15-year-old students, winter courses and water courses. West of the 

Continental Divide, we operate on one of the region’s most celebrated 

rivers and travel through a host of lesser known, but no less 

stunning, mountain ranges. 

As the hub of NOLS’ adventure programs, we offer two 

weeks of hiking, four weeks of hiking and rafting, and a brand new 

50-day expedition for those 14- and 15-year-olds ready for a summer 

with NOLS. We are also the home of NOLS’ winter ski program. 

Based in Driggs, Idaho, we are mere minutes away from our wilderness 

classroom, sitting snuggly against the base of the famed Tetons. 

This magnificent range, the mountains extending off its southern 

28

Phil Schneider 

Enjoying a bluebird powder day is just one of the adventures NOLS Teton Valley has to offer. 

and western flanks, and nearby Grand Targhee Resort are renowned 

for deep powder snow and fantastic skiing and snowboarding. 

In the summer, these same slopes come alive in a flurry of 

wildflowers, and NOLS Teton Valley turns its attention to a summer 

of backpacking and river exploration. The Frank Church-River 

of No Return Wilderness lies to the northwest and is the Lower 

48’s largest designated wilderness area. Sliced by the Salmon River, 

this area is home to our river courses and is known for exciting 

whitewater and excellent fishing. 

On your NOLS Teton Valley course, your tools of exploration 

will be rafts and backpacks, skis or snowboards, and boots 

or climbing shoes. Discover the Old West with us in the vast backcountry 

of Idaho, Montana and western Wyoming as you also discover 

your own capabilities of leadership and learning. 

29

Teton Valley 

SALMON BACKPACKING AND RAFTING 

We’ve combined wilderness and whitewater into this course for an 

exciting 28-day backcountry adventure. You’ll begin backpacking 

for 18 days among the sculpted peaks and mountain meadows of 

the Beaverheads or Lemhi Range in Idaho. You’ll climb peaks and 

fish for trout as you learn to travel through rugged mountain terrain 

and forested hills. Group management in steep terrain and map 

reading are two of the skills you’ll learn on your way to becoming 

competent backcountry travelers. For the last 10 days you’ll swap 

backpacks for boats and raft the wild waters of the famous Salmon 

River. The Salmon bisects the Frank Church-River of No Return 

Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in the Lower 48. You’ll navigate 

the Salmon’s whitewater in paddle rafts and oar rigs, learning 

strokes, commands, guiding basics and advanced maneuvering. The 

Frank Church has an abundance of wildlife, including gray wolves, 

peregrine falcons, black bears and bald eagles. Fish species include 

native trout, sturgeon and Chinook salmon. After this course, you’ll 

know what it takes to complete a wilderness expedition, whether 

it’s getting through the mountains or down a river. 




Course start/end: Salmon, Idaho/Riggins, Idaho 

Fly in/out: Boise, Idaho 


Practicum 


Whitewater paddling requires effective communication, teamwork and technical skills, 

all of which are part of the core NOLS curriculum. 


SALMON BACKPACKING AND RAFTING ADVENTURE 


This course is designed for 14- and 15-year-olds who want to climb 

a peak and guide a paddle raft all in one action-packed month. You’ll 

see two very different environments on this course—high alpine vistas 

in the craggy Lemhis or Beaverheads and deep canyons along the 

famous Salmon River in Idaho—while learning two very different 

skills. For the backpacking section, you’ll discover wildlife, wildflowers 

and wilderness in some of the most breathtaking high-elevation 

terrain in the West. You’ll learn map and compass skills, backcountry 

cooking and Leave No Trace skills. You’ll also learn how to make 

decisions, develop confidence, and get along with your peers after a 

long day on the trail (we call this “expedition behavior”). The Salmon 

River bisects the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, a 

land of canyons reaching 6,300 feet from the river bottom and skirted 

by forests of lodgepole pine, spruce and Douglas fir. Here you’ll travel 

on rafts and oar rigs learning basic river skills like scouting, paddle 

strokes, hazard evaluation and rigging boats. You’ll work hard, have 

fun and return home with leadership skills to last a lifetime. 



Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho 

Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho 


Instructor Mani Aryal guides an oar rig down the Main Salmon River. 

Moe Witschard 

30

TETON VALLEY 


No “nature deficit disorder” here: On NOLS Adventure courses, teens learn real wilderness expedition skills while having fun and making friends for life. 

IDAHO BACKPACKING ADVENTURE 

FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR OLDS 

Independence, responsibility, achievement and fun…these qualities 

and more are the essence of this course. In a word: adventure. You’ll 

explore country you’ve only dreamed about. Whether you travel the 

Wyoming Range, the Snake River Range, the Beaverheads, the 

Beartooths or the Absarokas, the mountains will be unlike any classroom 

you’ve ever experienced with their fresh air and fresh opportunities. 

You’ll learn skills—backpacking, cooking, camping and 

navigation with a map—but you’ll also learn things like how to turn 

challenging situations into opportunities, how to get along with 

your group, or how to be a leader even when you’re following. This 

course will give you the tools you’ll need for a life of adventure in 

the classroom or the wilderness. Adventure courses are not a kid’s 

version of other NOLS courses. You’ll get the famous NOLS curriculum 

taught by the same high quality instructors who teach for 

NOLS in places like Patagonia and Alaska. And, as with every 

NOLS course, these are field-based experiences where you’ll travel 

the country on foot and sleep under a blanket of stars. 

50-DAY ADVENTURE EXPEDITION 

NEW! 


The ultimate in teenage adventure: 50 days away from home to see 

wild places, do cool things and make new friends. This expedition 

of a lifetime has five sections—backpacking, wilderness first aid certification, 

rock climbing, rafting, and a student expedition—and all 

of them leave plenty of time for just having fun in some amazing 

places with your coursemates. In the wide open mountain ranges of 

Idaho and Wyoming, on the famous Salmon River, and amidst the 

hobgoblin crags of Idaho’s City of Rocks, you’ll immerse yourself in 

the core NOLS curriculum and hone your technical skills. At the 

end, you will put it all to the test on the student expedition when 

you and a small group of your peers take the lead, camping and 

traveling independently but with your instructors nearby. You will 

come away from this course with stronger leadership and outdoor 

skills, as well as a more developed environmental ethic, all of which 

build the foundation for future outdoor adventures and are usable 

every day at home. Be prepared to push your boundaries and discover 

your capabilities. Are you ready for the challenge? 












TETON VALLEY 

“ 

THERE ISN'T A DAY THAT GOES BY WHEN 

I DON'T THINK ABOUT NOLS. MY NOLS 

COURSES WERE THE BEST DAYS OF MY 

LIFE, AND WHAT I LEARNED THERE 

CONTINUES TO APPLY TO MY 

” 

LIFE IN 

THE MOST SURPRISING WAYS. 

Sarah Salisbury, Idaho Adventure ‘02, Wyoming Adventure ‘03 

Right: Instructor John Fitzgerald shows student Nate Straubinger 

how to complete a snow shelter, your backcountry home on winter courses. 

Brian Fabel 

Kevin Emery 

Becca Parkinson 

Left: Backcountry skiing students make their way beneath the majestic Tetons. Right: Carving turns in fresh powder is one of the many joys of backcountry winter travel. 

WINTER OUTDOOR EDUCATOR 

Designed for practicing and aspiring winter educators, this course 

gives you the skills to teach in any winter wilderness. We begin with 

six days of workshops, including a Level I avalanche clinic and two 

days advancing your telemark skills with professional ski instructors 

at Grand Targhee Resort. Then, we’ll move into the backcountry 

for miles of skiing in unblemished powder. You’ll build 

elaborate snow kitchens and camp comfortably in snow caves, igloos 

or quinzhees. With coaching from your instructors, you’ll teach 

classes of your own and be taught by fellow students. For educators 

of all levels, teaching in the winter will polish your presentation 

skills and hone your class management. The longest of our winter 

courses, these 21 days provide some of the best expedition training 

at the school, preparing you to camp and lead well in any cold, 

snowy environment. 


Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators; moderate skiing ability. 




College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment 


BACKCOUNTRY SNOWBOARDING 

Are you seeking the exhilaration of a perfect ride in untracked powder? 

Want to learn the skills to transition from being an area rider 

to a backcountry boarder? Then come snowboarding with NOLS! 

You’ll venture through the mountains on your split board, improving 

your snowboarding skills and learning to be comfortable and 

happy outside in the winter. In this snow-covered playground, you’ll 

learn to travel responsibly in avalanche terrain—an increasingly important 

life skill for riders who are tempted out of ski areas into the 

untamed snowy wilderness. The adventure starts with snowboarding 

instruction at Grand Targhee Resort, but your course really happens 

in the backcountry. You’ll construct elaborate snow shelters, 

learn about working well with your peers and carve turns in fresh 

powder. Camping and traveling in the winter is a lot of hard work, 

and surfing down the mountain in knee-deep powder is a pretty 

cool reward. 







32

TETON VALLEY 


Escape the lift lines and experience the thrill of the backcountry! 

BACKCOUNTRY SKIING 

Just the thought of the Northern Rockies under a blanket of fresh 

snow is enough to excite most skiers. Now imagine the solitude of a 

winter night, the sky blanketed in endless stars. On a NOLS ski 

course, you’ll (re)discover the joy of backcountry skiing. Living and 

traveling in this wild environment requires new skills and offers new 

challenges. To be a competent and responsible backcountry winter 

traveler, you’ll need a strong foundation in avalanche education. We 

will teach you the skills and put you in terrain where you need to make 

real decisions. This course is also excellent preparation for any big 

mountain expedition where snow and cold are everyday factors. You’ll 

start with two days of telemark instruction at Grand Targhee Resort 

before heading into the backcountry with a pack and sled, where the 

snow is deep and the tracks are few. You’ll dig elaborate snow shelters 

and discover the tricks and systems for a lifetime of winter fun. 

Because we know it can be hard to get away, and we know 

digging a snow shelter can seem like a big hurdle, we have designed 

a shorter, gentler progression for those 23 and older who either have 

less time or want a little more initial support. While you will still be 

immersed in winter and learn to live and travel well, this expedition 

starts with two nights in a yurt—a unique man-made shelter complete 

with a wood stove. This allows participants to ease into winter 

and gain quick access to untracked skiing. It may also be the 

start of not-to-be-missed annual yurt trips with friends! 

Instructors Evan Horn and Kayden Will teach students the techniques to assess avalanche 

danger, a key part of the curriculum on all ski and snowboard courses. 




Tuition: $1,680 (17 & Over); $1,915 (23 & Over) 






PACIFIC NORTHWEST 

Forest and ocean. Glacier and river. Heather and pine. This is 

the Pacific Northwest, with its temperate rain forests, its stunning 

ice-covered volcanoes, and its hidden bays and coves. Here 

you’ll find jagged, glacier-carved mountains and valleys, cascading 

streams, and lush old-growth forests. Home to bald eagles, black 

bears, mountain goats, elk, porpoises and whales, this will be your 

classroom for an all-too-brief time. 

The Pacific Northwest is the birthplace of the outdoor industry 

and NOLS has been the region’s outdoor education pioneer for 

almost 35 years. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Conway, Washington, 

set among 30 acres of meadows and magnificent trees, were built 

in 1991 and specifically designed to support NOLS’ educational expeditions. 

Just an hour north of Seattle, NOLS Pacific Northwest is 

easily one of the most convenient NOLS locations to reach. 

34


High camp on Sasquatch Pass in the Waddington Range is the epitome of a NOLS Pacific Northwest mountaineering experience. 

We’ll outfit you with everything you’ll need for an expedition 

into spectacular backcountry, from Oregon to British Columbia. 

Whatever your method of exploration—sea kayaking, 

rock climbing, glacier mountaineering, backpacking or sailing— 

you’ll be in for the experience of a lifetime. We offer a wide variety 

of course options and specialize in courses for educators and 

trip leaders. The Outdoor Educator courses that feature backcountry 

travel, glacier travel and rock climbing are truly signatures 

of NOLS Pacific Northwest. 

This is a place that we know well—and you will, too. We’ll 

teach you how to camp without leaving an impact, how to cook a 

tasty meal over a camp stove and work as part of a team to explore 

the rugged Pacific Northwest. 

35

Pacific Northwest 

WADDINGTON RANGE MOUNTAINEERING 

This demanding expedition travels into British Columbia’s remote 

Coast Mountains, including the Waddington Range, Whitemantle 

Range and Homathko Icefield, for a month-long experience in rock, 

snow and ice mountaineering skills. Here you’ll get the biggest and 

most remote glaciers NOLS travels on south of Alaska and more 

time to practice actual mountaineering since these courses either 

travel in or out of the field via plane. In this very remote area of 

huge glacial plateaus, long granite spires, deep fjords and snowcapped 

peaks along the rugged coast of British Columbia, you’ll 

learn what it takes to get a team ready to summit. Whether you’re 

the first one to the top or not, you’ll get to practice your newfound 

skills on at least one peak attempt. For tons of technical glacier 

mountaineering and a place few people have ever been, this expedition 

is a true adventure that will provide both. 



Course start/end: Conway, Washington 

Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours 

Risk Assessment 


Instructor Liza Cochran heads for the summit of Eldorado Peak, passing her expertise 

in alpine travel on to her students. 

Paul Koubek 

NORTH CASCADES MOUNTAINEERING 

Washington’s North Cascades, often referred to as the “American 

Alps,” encompass some of America’s most spectacular scenery—jagged 

peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and more glaciers than any 

other location in the Lower 48. Many of the world’s top mountaineers 

use this area as their training ground; the reasonable access combined 

with challenging mountain classrooms continue to make this range 

one of the best places in the world to learn to be a mountaineer. The 

pace is gradual in the beginning, as you travel through lush, old-growth 

forests and tangled alder thickets, and it eventually gains momentum 

as you ascend to the North Cascades’ majestic, snow-clad peaks. You’ll 

get a well-rounded base of snow, ice and crevasse rescue mountaineering 

skills, with some potential for rock climbing. With a student 

to instructor ratio of 5:1 and many days of practice, you’ll receive an 

unparalleled NOLS mountaineering education. 







College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 

2 hours Risk Assessment (17 & Over); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over) 


Students Jasmine McEachern and Thomas Wells scout route options on the flanks of 

Glacier Peak. 

Alexis Alloway 

“ ” 

EMPLOYERS AND SCHOOLS INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST THEORY. 

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MY NOLS ALUMNI STATUS HELPED ME LAND A SPOT IN MEDICAL SCHOOL. 

36



Wish this was your commute to school every morning? At NOLS, you learn every step of the way. 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BACKPACKING 

The Pacific Northwest is a richly diverse wilderness classroom, ranging 

from jagged, glacier-carved mountains and valleys, to evergreen 

forests and stands of lodgepole pine. These popular backpacking 

courses have two options for exploring this region. Early season 

courses travel in the Pasayten Wilderness in north central Washington, 

while late season courses backpack through Olympic National 

Park on the Olympic Peninsula. The Pasayten will forever 

alter your perceptions of the Pacific Northwest, boasting almost 

150 peaks over 7,500 feet in elevation. Rugged ridges in the west 

flatten into expansive plateaus toward the east, with deep drainages 

on both sides. The diverse vegetation changes from temperate rainforest 

to the fir, pine and larch more characteristic of the Rocky 

Mountains. Courses that travel in Olympic National Park will traverse 

from east to west while viewing the area’s rugged glaciercapped 

mountains and wide alpine meadows sparkling with 

avalanche lilies, larkspur and Indian paintbrush. Like the first Western 

explorers, you’ll travel along the wild and rugged Pacific coast, 

seeing stands of moss-covered old-growth and temperate rainforest. 

You’ll experience some demanding off-trail hiking as you visit 

pristine and rarely seen parts of the park. 








Life in high definition: Hanging out at NOLS doesn’t involve a television or video games. 

Katie Jezek 



Marco Johnson 

Student James Kim climbing in the North Cascades, often called the “American Alps.” Mountaineering at NOLS Pacific Northwest means learning to travel on rock, snow and ice. 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: 

MOUNTAINEERING 

With a team of dedicated teachers and a facility that’s ideal for expedition 

planning, we specialize in courses for educators at NOLS Pacific 

Northwest. On this outdoor educator course you’ll get a variety 

of skills—backpacking, mountaineering and rock climbing—and experience 

a variety of terrain, from forests to glaciers and alpine rock. 

You’ll join a group of other motivated educators and outdoor leaders 

for one of two action-packed options, either a 24-day version or a 

31-day course for those with a more flexible schedule. On both, you’ll 

start out in temperate rainforests, working up to the jagged, snow-clad 

peaks of either the North Cascades or the Olympics. Here on the 

snowfields and glaciers you’ll practice mountaineering skills, attempt 

a peak ascent, and learn the ins and outs of teaching and leading in 

the backcountry. You’ll then switch gears for rock climbing—four 

days on the shorter course and ten days on the longer version—at either 

British Columbia’s Squamish or Washington’s Leavenworth areas, 

where sweeping granite walls provide the perfect classroom for learning 

climbing systems and techniques. Throughout the course, your 

veteran instructors will pass along an in-depth look at NOLS’ timetested 

teaching and programming methods as well as their strong enthusiasm 

for teaching in the wilderness. 

Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 24 or 31 days 




NOLS has trained professional backcountry leaders in the field for over 40 years. 


College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Risk Assessment (24 days); 2 hours 

Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Skills Practicum (31 days) 


38


Moe Witschard 

Instructor Matthew Ross launches into the surf. The Pacific Northwest has it all, from snowcapped mountaineering to world-class sea kayaking and sailing. 


NEW! 

SEA KAYAKING AND SAILING 

Find the full beauty of the Pacific Northwest on this all-ocean 

coastal exploration. You will sea kayak the remote waters of Vancouver 

Island’s outer coast, visiting pristine sandy beaches and 

hidden tidal lagoons while traveling in the wake of the many First 

Nation peoples and early explorers who opened the trade routes 

in this region. Along the way, learn a range of technical skills including 

fundamental paddling strokes, weather analysis and the 

interpretation of tides and currents. During the sailing section, 

you’ll find yourself aboard a 36-foot keelboat to explore the remote 

Strait of Georgia and Desolation Sound. Along these 

wilderness coastlines, known for their precipitous headlands and 

abundant intertidal ecosystem, you’ll learn boat handling under 

sail and power, chart reading, coastal navigation, and seamanship. 

From helm to foredeck to navigation station, you will get 

hands-on opportunity to crew all the positions above and below 

deck. With a combo course like this one, you’re sure to grow into 

your sea legs. 

Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 31 days 







PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP LEADER 

Washington’s wilderness areas are ideal training grounds for learning 

how to lead backpacking trips. Here you’ll join a diverse group of trip 

leaders for a packed overview of the NOLS curriculum. The length 

and cost of this course is designed for potential outdoor leaders and 

educators who don’t have a lot of time or a huge budget but are motivated 

to learn the ABCs of leading groups in the backcountry. You’ll 

learn common leadership strategies through dynamic, on-the-trail 

teaching methods including scenarios, real-time problem solving and 

experiential learning. You’ll learn the intricacies of planning a trip 

that’s not based out of an outfitted facility and how to outfit expeditions 

of your own. Our students leave the Pacific Northwest with 

a higher level of competence and an inspiration to lead. 


Eligibility: Practicing trip leaders 


Course start/end: Mount Vernon, Washington 


College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques 


Semester in the Pacific Northwest, page 81 

Semester on the Borders, page 103 

WANT 

MORE? 


SOUTHWEST 

Welcome to the American Southwest, the rumpled horizon 

studded with the stick figures of Saguaro cactus, hidden 

nooks lush with watercress, granite strongholds glowing orange in 

the setting sun, the call of a Gambel’s quail, the smell of mesquite 

washed in a pounding desert rain. 

Now put yourself in the picture. You will be climbing, hiking, 

canoeing and caving in terrain as varied as those skills. And 

with consistently good weather, the Southwest is the perfect place 

to focus on each unique activity. 

Our headquarters on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona is a facility 

specially designed to meet your needs and those of your fellow 

coursemates. From here we explore the great landscapes of the 

region, close enough to an international airport to make your travel 

easy yet far enough away for an extended escape into the wilderness. 

40

Chris Bessonette 

The Southwest’s great weather and great rock help student Jodi Swain send a route at Cochise Stronghold. 

The Southwest is a place of amazing diversity, where plants 

and animals of the Neararctic intersperse with those of the 

Neotropics, a land of jaguar and mountain lion, javelina and whitetailed 

deer. Birds such as the coppery-tailed trogon and white-eared 

hummingbird fly the same skies as red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. 

It’s a land that famed naturalist Aldo Leopold walked and 

called “near to being the cream of creation.” 

The Southwest is also a region of incredible human diversity. 

Courses pass through areas originally inhabited by ancient cultures, 

and evidence of their civilizations is still present. This is the 

place Apache leaders Cochise and Geronimo fought for and lived 

in. The area’s more recent Spanish influence is obvious as soon as 

you arrive in Tucson. With easy access, amazing diversity and challenging 

outdoor skills, a course at NOLS Southwest is hard to beat. 

41

Southwest 

GILA RANGE BACKPACKING 

New Mexico’s Gila Range is the birthplace of the American concept 

of wilderness, protected by Congress 40 years before the 

Wilderness Act was passed. The Gila today remains the same as it 

was then, a wild place of amazing contrasts and abundance. You’ll 

live here for 28 days, hiking beneath the same tall pines and up the 

same deep canyons that inspired the wilderness concept. On some 

days you’ll start on a snow-covered peak and arrive in a warm desert 

canyon at day’s end, the same canyons inhabited 900 years ago by 

the Mimbres culture and 100 years ago by the Apache. They chose 

this wild place for many of the same reasons you will: its beauty, 

abundant animal and plant life, fantastic variety of terrain and, most 

of all, its power to inspire the spirit. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona 

Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona 

College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Environmental Ethics 


You’ll follow in the footsteps of the Mimbres and Apache as you explore the Gila, 

American’s first designated wilderness area. 

Deborah Sussex 

SOUTHWEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: 

BACKPACKING AND ROCK CLIMBING 

Are you an active or aspiring outdoor educator? If so, we’ve designed 

this course for you. This is your opportunity to develop the knowledge 

and skills necessary for teaching and leading field-based wilderness 

education programs. While in the desert, you’ll learn “hard 

skills,” such as backcountry travel, adapting minimum-impact techniques 

to an arid ecosystem, first aid, and map reading. We will also 

give you an inside track into the fundamentals of running wilderness 

education courses with an overview of program supervision, 

risk management and NOLS administrative practices. 

After building a foundation of program knowledge, the 

course dives into a 19-day backpacking expedition in the remote 

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge where you’ll learn the backcountry 

living skills you need to lead others on wilderness trips. You’ll travel 

among saguaro cactus, mesquite, ocotillo and palo verde trees where 

quail, songbirds and raptors share the skies and desert bighorn 

sheep, mountain lions and javelina move across the land. Then 10 

days at Cochise Stronghold, a maze of granite pinnacles in the Dragoon 

Mountains where the Chiricahua Apache and their leader, 

Cochise, took refuge, rounds out the curriculum. Renowned for its 

excellent climbing, the Cochise provides an ideal classroom for 

learning rock climbing skills such as anchor systems, knots, and top 

rope site management. 

DETAILS 






College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 

2 hours Risk Assessment 


Instructor Lauren Reich topping out on a multi-pitch at Cochise Stronghold. You’ll 

benefit directly from the experience and skill of your instructors. 


42


Steven Brutger 

Students Andy Basset, Liz Cassarella, Chris Kenyon, and Radovan Bakalovic descend into camp. The deserts of the Southwest are a rich and diverse ecosystem. 

NEW! SOUTHWEST LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING 

Leave your hiking boots and water bottles at home; trail 

shoes and hydration bladders are all the rage these days. We are taking 

on the latest innovation in backpacking and want you right 

there with us; let us help you lighten your load. 

Partnering with GoLite and BackpackingLight.com, we are 

proud to offer this cutting-edge course in the deserts of the Southwest. 

Your adventure starts in the equipment room as NOLS instructors 

outfit you with the latest in lightweight gear and pull 

together a specialized ration for your expedition, helping you shave 

ounces for the lightest possible load without compromising safety 

or functionality. Then, for the next two weeks, you’ll explore the 

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, one of Arizona’s most remote 

ranges, in a way you may never have thought possible, with only 25 

pounds on your back. The only thing we won’t go light with on 

this course is our core curriculum. You’ll still master the leadership 

and outdoor living skills that NOLS is built upon while learning the 

specific skills of lightweight backpacking. Expect to leave this course 

with the skills and background necessary to plan and execute your 

own lightweight adventures. 

Southwest Lightweight Backpacking is a chance to explore the backcountry with less 

gear and lighter packs. 


DETAILS 







Semester in the Southwest, page 83 

Semester on the Borders, page 103 

Year in the Sonoran, page 105 

WANT 

MORE? 


ALASKA 

The boundlessness of the place will grab you at first, for 

there is nowhere as far-flung as Alaska. It will alter your 

concept of space. Tundra, sky, mountain and sea: Alaska is a 

place you don’t just visit; you experience it. Glaciers calve into 

the sea, arctic tundra stretches beyond the horizon, the rugged 

and expansive mountains reach into the sky, wildlife is abundant, 

and humans are scarce. The Land of the Midnight Sun 

has a whopping 238 million acres of public land, and you’ll have 

the chance to explore a slice of it. 

Though part of the United States, this place is different. 

The round-the-clock daylight of summer, the vast geographic distance 

from the Lower 48, and the various cultures set it apart. You 

won’t need a passport or visa for your trip to Alaska, but you will 

feel a long way from home. 

44

Chris Bessonette 

Expand your definition of wilderness while exploring the awe-inspiring tundra, mountains and waters of Alaska. 

NOLS first came to this incredible country in 1971. Since 

then we have established a state-of-the-art headquarters in the historic 

Matanuska Valley outside Palmer. From here (or one of our 

operations bases in Fairbanks or Petersburg) we’ll outfit you with 

everything you need for an expedition into the wild. Our headquarters 

is built to make your course a success, and our staff is 

handpicked to make your experience a great one. 

No other organization offers the breadth of opportunities 

in Alaska that NOLS does. From the Arctic Circle to North America’s 

highest peak, Denali, to the Southeast Alaska archipelago, 

NOLS is there. Backpacking, sea kayaking, or mountaineering: 

No matter how you choose to explore Alaska on your NOLS 

course, you’ll learn all you need to know about living and traveling 

in this vast wilderness. 

45

Alaska 

ALASKA SEA KAYAKING 

Wildlife and water. Mountain and forest. Since 1971, NOLS students 

have been exploring the wilds of Alaska in sea kayaks. There’s 

no better way to take in Alaska’s dramatic coastline than by gliding 

on the water. You’ll have an up-close view of stunning scenery and 

a chance to see plenty of wildlife, including whales, golden eagles, 

porpoises, sea otters, seals and sea lions. Along the way you’ll learn 

how to sea kayak, even if you’ve never held a paddle. You’ll hone 

your wilderness skills, have fun, and practice your leadership as you 

explore wild, wonderful Alaska. 

SOUTHEAST ALASKA 30-DAY SEA KAYAKING 

Your launching point for this course is Petersburg, Alaska, located in 

the heart of Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage. This archipelago is a 

remote land of forest and ocean. Beaches jut up against dense temperate 

rain forests, where giant spruce and hemlock rise to neckcraning 

heights. Much of your time will be spent near Kuiu Island, 

an ancient forest home to black bears, wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer, 

moose and river otters. You’ll learn to plan routes and navigate them 

using nautical charts, as well as hone technical skills such as paddling 

and how to make open-water crossings. You may be rewarded 

by catching halibut or salmon, or seeing the humpback and orca 

whales that abound in the area. 

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND 23-AND-OVER SEA 

KAYAKING 

Our 23-and-over courses paddle in Alaska’s world famous Prince 

William Sound, past towering tidewater glaciers that moan and 

crackle, crystal-blue icebergs bobbing on the ocean’s surface, and 

wooded coves perfect for camping. The sea teems with various 

forms of life, and you’ll have the ideal vantage point to view it all. 

Sea birds wheel in the sky overhead while tidal pools with starfish, 

anemones and other small creatures dot the shorelines. You’ll work 

hard paddling with all your gear stowed in your boat, but you’ll 

have opportunities to play as well. There are fish to catch and so 

many things to learn about in your explorations. 

DETAILS 






Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska or Petersburg, Alaska 

Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska or Petersburg, Alaska 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics, 2 hours Leadership Techniques, 2 hours Skills 

Practicum (16 & Over; 16 & 17 Only); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over) 


Prince William Sound’s deep fjords and massive tidewater glaciers are sure to impress. 

ALASKA BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING 

Alaska is a land of incredible fjords, forested ocean coasts and high 

alpine meadows. You’ll see much of this wild country as you explore 

it on foot and in a sea kayak. Your month-long adventure will 

give you a chance to learn two wilderness travel skills, backpacking 

and sea kayaking, while exploring two very different environments, 

the waters of Alaska’s Prince William Sound and the mountains of 

Southcentral Alaska. Your sea kayak will follow a route where glaciers 

flows directly into the ocean and seals, sea otters, many species 

of birds and even whales are easy to spot. You’ll learn how to handle 

your boat in different conditions of wind and tide, and also how 

to be a good leader and keep a positive attitude after a long day of 

paddling. The mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the 

Talkeetnas or the Chugach Range will be your home for the backpacking 

section. Here you’ll start below tree line and head into the 

mountains along glaciated river valleys, reaching open high-country 

known as tundra. The vistas here are wide, the mountains 

rugged, and the lessons lifelong. 

Tracy Baynes 

46 

“NOLS TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE 

OF GIVING NATURE THE RESPECT 

AND CARE IT DESERVES. 

Eric Hubbell, Alaska Mountaineering ‘04 

DETAILS 

Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average Age: 18 • Duration: 30 days 


” 

Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska 

Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska 


Practicum 

Dates: page 112

ALASKA 

Julie Brown 

Students navigate around deep crevasses in the Eastern Alaska Range. Glacier travel is a technical skill necessary to tackle high peaks worldwide. 

ALASKA MOUNTAINEERING 

This course takes you to a place in Southcentral Alaska often referred 

to as “the mountain kingdom of North America,” where a chain of 

rugged mountain ranges and spectacular glaciers converge to make a 

mountaineer’s dreamscape. Within this region you’ll explore either the 

coastal Chugach Range, the interior Alaska Range, which is the backbone 

of North America’s highest peaks, or the Wrangell-St. Elias 

Range, the highest coastal range in the world. The specific route 

for each course is entirely season-dependent, with expeditions in the 

early season climbing mostly above snow line to access terrain via huge 

snowfields, and courses operating in the later season completing technical 

glacier routes on ice. All routes on the course for students ages 

17 and older are classically Alaskan with long approaches on large glaciers, 

and all routes provide an ideal training ground for learning to live 

and travel responsibly and efficiently in challenging mountain terrain. 

The shorter course for students ages 23 and older flies directly onto 

an Alaskan glacier to maximize time for technical skill development. 

DETAILS 







College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment 

(17 & Over); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over) 


DENALI MOUNTAINEERING 

(Alumni only) The highest peak in North America—known as Denali 

or “Great One” by Alaskan Natives—is the site for this expedition 

designed for qualified NOLS graduates. 

Denali offers extremely challenging glacier travel and some 

of the most difficult weather in the world, so this course is one of 

the most demanding NOLS offers, both physically and mentally. In 

short, Denali is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. During the course 

you’ll attempt to climb the Muldrow Glacier route on the north 

side of the mountain. The expedition begins with a day of tundra 

hiking followed by several days of hiking up the lower rock-covered 

and icy expanses of the Muldrow Glacier. After a resupply at McGonagall 

Pass, you’ll continue up the Muldrow, encountering crevasses 

and deep snow. The route then ascends the dramatic Karsten’s 

Ridge to the Harper Glacier. There you’ll establish high camp at 

approximately 17,000 feet, from which you’ll attempt the 20,320- 

foot summit. This route has a remote wilderness flavor that is not 

found on the more frequented routes up the mountain. 

DETAILS 


Eligibility: Qualified NOLS graduates 




College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours 

Risk Assessment 



ALASKA 

Allie Barker 

From north of the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range to the Southeast Alaska archipelago, NOLS knows Alaska. 

BROOKS RANGE COURSES 

The Brooks Range is one of the wildest mountain ranges in North 

America. Stretched across the tundra north of the Arctic Circle, this 

Land of the Midnight Sun is defined by big open river bottoms, steep 

mountain slopes and expansive tundra. Much of the landscape lies 

above tree line and elevations range from sea level to over 9,000 feet. 

The mountains are spectacular and rugged, and rivers flow through 

wilderness for hundreds of miles. It’s possible to see Dall sheep, 

moose, caribou, wolves, black and grizzly bears, and lynx as you travel. 

You’ll fly into these courses with an experienced Alaskan bush pilot. 

BROOKS RANGE BACKPACKING AND RIVER 

You’ll spend the first 10 days of this extended arctic expedition on 

foot, moving across the tundra and up braided river channels. Then 

a bush plane will fly in to swap boots and backpacks for folding canoes 

and touring kayaks for a three-week trip down an arctic river, 

either the Sheenjek River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or 

the Noatak River in Gates of the Arctic National Park, one of North 

America’s largest mountain-ringed river basins. 

BROOKS RANGE BACKPACKING 

Designed especially for students ages 23 and older, this 14-day 

course packs in backcountry travel lessons in the steep shale mountains, 

towering peaks and expansive tundra of the Arctic National 

Wildlife Refuge. This is not a guided tour. You’ll learn the skills in 

these two weeks needed to travel in a mountain environment long 

after your course ends. 

Teamwork in action: A group of students use the “eddy method” to safely cross the 

Chickaloon River. 

DETAILS 


18 & Over Backpacking & River • Average age: 22 • Duration: 40 days 

23 & Over Backpacking • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days 

Tuition: $6,775 (Backpacking & River); $3,960 (Backpacking) 

Course start/end: Fairbanks, Alaska/Palmer, Alaska (Backpacking & River) 

Fly in/out: Fairbanks, Alaska/Anchorage, Alaska (Backpacking & River) 


Practicum (Backpacking & River); 2 hours Skills Practicum (Backpacking) 


Matt Deines 

48

ALASKA 

Above: Effectively leading your peers in the backcountry will transfer to life back at home 

as well. Below: Instructors demonstrate important safety skills before getting on the water. 

ALASKA BACKPACKING 

An Alaska Backpacking course is a wilderness expedition in every 

sense, allowing you to explore beautiful landscapes in either the Talkeetna 

Mountains or the area just east of Denali National Park in 

the Alaska Range, where the trees disappear and the land stretches 

into alpine tundra plains with a backdrop of rugged and heavily 

eroded mountains. Out here it’s still light at midnight, and you’ll 

follow the tracks of the seasonal caribou migration. How to hike 

on tundra, identify the birds, flowers, wildlife and plants of the 

North Country, and keep warm, dry and happy even when it’s wet 

are all part of your backcountry curriculum. You’ll become a seasoned 

wilderness traveler, learning how to read a map, navigate off 

trail, and scan the horizon for grizzly, black bears, moose, wolves 

and Dall sheep. 

DETAILS 








Practicum 


Tracy Baynes Shawn Stratton 

ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: 

BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING 

If you’re a practicing or aspiring outdoor educator, you know that 

learning to lead groups in two different skill areas is a professional 

advantage. This all-in-one course will prepare you to do just that, 

giving you the chance to learn how to lead on land and sea. Your 

classroom for the sea kayaking section is Prince William Sound with 

its plentiful wildlife and booming tidewater glaciers. Your route will 

begin in the coastal community of Whittier or Valdez, and will continue 

out onto the Sound. Along the way you’ll learn how to glide 

along the coast in a sea kayak and have a chance to practice your 

teaching skills in some of the most beautiful parts of the Sound. 

For the backpacking portion of the course, you’ll be in either 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park or the Talkeetna Mountains, home 

to Dall sheep, grizzly and black bears, moose, and caribou. In this 

land of tundra and rocky passes, you’ll work with our veteran educators 

to learn skills such as risk management, ration planning and 

program supervision. By the end of this expedition, you’ll be better 

equipped to teach, lead and explore, whether in a boat or on foot. 

DETAILS 






College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Skills 

Practicum 


ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: BACKPACKING 

This backpacking course takes you into Alaska’s sweeping tundra 

and steep mountain passes for a 24-day immersion into how to lead 

and teach in the wilderness. Your classroom will be Alaska’s 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park or the Talkeetna Mountains, where 

you’ll start below tree line, head into the mountains along glaciated 

river valleys, and eventually reach the open tundra plains. 

Here’s where you’ll learn about effective teaching techniques 

and then get a chance to put those techniques into action. If you are 

already an outdoor educator, this will be a chance for you to pick up 

new skills and techniques. If you are an aspiring outdoor educator, 

you’ll be well on your way after collecting the lessons on this course. 

Your instructors are veteran educators, and you’ll have a chance to 

glean tips from them. Before the expedition even begins, you’ll spend 

a day in town learning about equipment, program supervision, risk 

management, rations planning and NOLS administrative practices. 

The lessons you learn in the open tundra will travel home 

with you, and for challenging, wild terrain and opportunities to see 

animals such as bear and caribou, there is no rival to this course. 

DETAILS 






College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment 


Semester in Alaska, page 85 

WANT 

MORE? 


YUKON 

The Yukon Territory is an undiscovered wilderness paradise 

with little development, few people, and pristine backcountry. 

Located in the far northwest of Canada, this territory encompasses 

almost 500,000 square kilometers of pure, untouched wilderness: 

a piece of land the size of California populated by only 30,000 people. 

This northern paradise of wild, technical rivers and sweeping 

tundra begs exploration, and NOLS is happy to oblige. 

Whitehorse, dubbed “The Wilderness City” and capital of the 

Yukon, is incredibly accessible, just a two-hour plane ride from Vancouver 

or Calgary, and our base at NOLS Yukon is just minutes away 

from the airport. But from here, you’ll have access to some of the most 

remote and pristine wilderness on the globe. Because of its remote nature, 

the Yukon is a place where canoeing, hiking, self-reliance and outdoor 

competence are the way of life. 

50


Canada’s Yukon Territory is a land far removed from the bustle of everyday life. 

During the summer, the land explodes from its three 

months of darkness for a season of almost continuous daylight. In 

this Land of the Midnight Sun, you’ll share the wilderness with 

caribou, bear, wolf, moose and migrating birds. Once in the backcountry, 

the only trails you’ll follow are those made by the wildlife 

and the only people you’ll see are your fellow coursemates. 

Paddle the rivers, walk the tundra plateaus, explore the boreal 

forest valleys and cross the rushing mountain streams on this remote, 

extended expedition. Whether you call Canada home or you’re traveling 

from abroad, the Yukon’s stunning rivers and little-used mountain 

ranges provide the ideal setting for a wilderness adventure. Get to know 

this renowned northern Canadian territory more intimately while challenging 

and strengthening your own technical and leadership skills. 

The NOLS Yukon experience is one you won’t want to miss. 

51

Yukon 

YUKON OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: 

BACKPACKING AND WHITEWATER CANOEING 

This 30-day expedition for practicing and aspiring outdoor educators 

combines the skills of wilderness backpacking with northern 

whitewater canoeing in Canada’s Yukon Territory. A remote Yukon 

mountain range is the perfect classroom for developing the skills of 

the backcountry professional. You’ll find an abundance of mountain 

wildlife amidst the alpine wildflowers carpeting the tundra and valley 

floors enveloped by chest-high forests of dwarf birch and willow. 

After learning the hiking skills needed to manage groups in the remote 

backcountry, you’ll spend two weeks learning technical river 

skills, canoeing, teaching techniques and river rescue concepts. After 

a month in the rugged mountains and on the river, you’ll have a 

powerful set of water and mountain skills for future professional 

and personal adventures in the backcountry. 

DETAILS 





Course start/end: Whitehorse, Yukon 

Fly in/out: Whitehorse, Yukon 

College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Skills 

Practicum 


YUKON BACKPACKING 

Roam through the Yukon’s magnificent and trail-less wilderness of 

forest, tundra, permafrost and stunning open mountain travel. 

You’ll explore and learn in the Yukon’s wild and remote unnamed 

mountain ranges, where you’ll climb far above tree line for awe-inspiring 

views and hike on open tundra, sharing the land with grazing 

caribou. The Yukon is the perfect training ground for mastering 

camping and traveling skills, especially in bear country, as well as developing 

leadership skills and teamwork. You’ll also enjoy fantastic, 

untapped fly and spin fishing in wild rivers that flow with the cleanest 

water you can find. Hiking here can be hard work, but the rewards 

are worth the effort. After just 27 days, you’ll come home 

with the skills and know-how to lead your own backpacking trips, 

although you’ll always long for the freedom of the Yukon. 

DETAILS 






College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques 


Adventures await around every corner in the Yukon Territory, home to some of the 

world’s most remote rivers. 

Mountain streams and wild tundra: Canada’s backcountry will teach you lifelong lessons 

about environmental ethics. 

Moe Witschard Pascal Beauvais 

“ ” 

THE YUKON IS LIKE NO OTHER PLACE I’VE EVER BEEN. THE UNTOUCHED BEAUTY 

AND INNOCENT YET DOMINEERING FEEL AMAZED ME FROM DAY ONE. 

Travis Custer, Yukon Backpacking ‘04 

52

YUKON 

Steve Javorski 

Yukon backpacking students are true explorers, visiting isolated wilderness few people have ever seen. 

30-DAY YUKON BACKPACKING 

AND WILDERNESS CANOEING 

Take full advantage of the remote, pristine Yukon wilderness and 

travel abroad without leaving the continent. This course is perfect 

for students wanting to develop two distinct skills, hiking and canoeing, 

be out for a month without resupply, and be on less technical 

rivers. With the diverse, captivating terrain, you’ll be able to 

focus on developing the skills to lead your peers in small groups. 

This course will enable you to pack all of your supplies for a month 

into a canoe. Your route offers true expedition river and lake travel 

with weeklong backpacking loops that provide incredible views to 

the rugged mountains and glaciers. You may even catch a glimpse 

of bear or caribou. If you like to fish, you’ll love the world-class fly 

fishing up here. In fact, this course has great fishing of all types. 

With the adventurous routes and a combination of skills, you’ll 

come home an excellent camper and leader with an unparalleled 

appreciation for Canada’s history and environment. 

DETAILS 

Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear 






Practicum 


Instructor Roger Yim takes students down the Hart River, modeling paddling techniques 

and leadership skills on the water. 

Semester in the Yukon, page 87 

WANT 

MORE? 



MEXICO 

Imagine a land of stark contrasts: ocean and desert, cactus and 

pine, teeming seas and sparse shores. This is the Baja Peninsula, 

a land of unique wilderness opportunity. NOLS Mexico is the 

home of our ocean-based program, and here you’ll learn how to 

sea kayak, sail and backpack. You’ll learn about the rich diversity of 

this marine ecosystem, about the whales and sea birds and fish that 

call Baja home. There will also be occasion to interact with the people 

of Baja, to practice your Spanish with everyone from fishermen 

to ranchers to local university students affiliated with NOLS. 

The center of our operation is the unique off-the-grid headquarters 

in Coyote Bay near Mulegé. We have been here for over 30 

years, and our high-tech, low-impact facility was specifically designed 

to meet the needs of our students. NOLS Mexico is recognized 

for excellence in sustainable building. 

54

Danielle Dignan 

Home of NOLS’ ocean-based program, NOLS Mexico is where you’ll learn how to live and travel in a water-filled wilderness. 

NOLS’ commitment to Baja is unparalleled. We are an important 

part of the peninsula’s community, with educational opportunities 

for local educators, students and land managers, as well as financial 

aid and scholarships for NOLS courses in both Spanish and English. 

We also have a long-standing partnership with the Universidad 

Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), collaborating with their 

departments of marine biology, geology, and alternative tourism. 

Baja is also a perfect starting point for budding international 

travelers. You will learn to travel safely and responsibly in the backcountry 

while having meaningful interactions with a diverse crosssection 

of local residents. You’ll be amazed at the diversity of this land, 

its flora and fauna, the skills you’ll learn and the people you’ll meet. 

Para información en español, visítenos en www.nols.edu/espanol. 

55

Mexico 

BAJA COASTAL SAILING 

A NOLS sailing course will get you well on your way to sailing on 

your own and becoming a competent crew member. We use a 

unique yawl-rigged open boat to explore the coastline of the Baja 

California Peninsula. The Drascombe Longboat is a light, maneuverable 

craft perfect for learning sail basics, exploring shallow coves 

or hauling onto desert beaches. On this boat you’ll learn coastal 

navigation on waters rich with marine life, from intricate sea fans 

and colorful reef fishes to raucous sea lions and blowing whales, accessing 

places unreachable by larger boats. This course follows nature’s 

rhythms, so you may find yourself up before dawn or sailing 

until dusk to take advantage of a favorable breeze. There are bound 

to be some long, challenging days on the water, but there should 

also be time to wonder at the night sky or at the sea stars in a tidal 

pool. You’ll learn to read winds and waves with confidence, work as 

a crew with your coursemates, and, on windless days, practice rowing 

and towing. The boat will be your home on the water, but you’ll 

also be at home on the land, practicing Leave No Trace camping 

onshore in this unique desert that greets the sea. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico 

Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques 


BAJA SEA KAYAKING 

Baja Sea Kayaking has it all—technical skills, incredible scenery, leadership 

practice, and unique opportunities for cultural exchanges. On 

this course you’ll travel along the coastline of the Sea of Cortez, where 

the Sonoran Desert meets the water, carrying everything you need for 

your journey inside the hull of your sea kayak. Your instructors will 

teach you how to maneuver this craft onto remote beaches surrounded 

by cliffs and how to handle the boat when waves and winds 

begin to pick up. On land, you’ll practice cooking, Leave No Trace 

camping and beginning Spanish. As you move down the coast, you’ll 

see a land where cacti abound, as do dolphins and jumping manta 

rays. Free diving is a special part of this course, and you’ll often spend 

afternoons exploring coastal reefs and the vast array of multi-colored 

fish that inhabit them. You may even have the opportunity to catch 

and prepare fish for your fellow students or to enjoy the catch of the 

day from local fisherman. By the end of your expedition, you’ll walk 

away with the ability to lead your own sea kayaking adventure and 

an appreciation for this dramatic Mexican wilderness. 

DETAILS 





Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico 

Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques (16 & Over); 

2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over) 


Yarrrgh, matey! Students learn sail theory while exploring intimate coves in the small, 

maneuverable Drascombe Longboat. 

Another amazing sunrise greets students on the Sea of Cortez as they rise early to paddle 

before the winds pick up. 

Brian Harper 

Ashley Wise 

56

MEXICO 

Julie Brown 

Practical, hands-on skills are the hallmark of a NOLS education. Be prepared to get wet! 

Todd Sutherland 

Above: Don Ford, Instructor and NOLS Alaska Director, takes advantage of a teachable 

moment to show his students a puffer fish. Above right: Sea kayaks provide an upclose 

glimpse of Baja’s underwater world. 

Cara Rudio 

Semester in Baja, page 89 

Baja Ocean Semester, page 91 

Year in the Sonoran, page 105 

WANT 

MORE? 

Para información de nuestros cursos para educadores en español, 

visítenos en nuestra página de Web: www.nols.edu/espanol. 


PATAGONIA 

Patagonia is a frontier of campos (ranches) hidden in isolated 

mountain valleys, among ragged icy peaks, and on turbulent 

rivers and island archipelagos. This is a land that demands 

exploration, and you will experience firsthand its dramatic 

peaks, valleys and waterways. 

At NOLS Patagonia, in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, 

our main base is a working farm of several hundred acres in the 

small town of Coyhaique. We do all of the planning and logistics 

to make your expedition into the wilderness an educational 

experience that lasts a lifetime. Here you’ll meet your instructors 

and get to know them and your fellow expedition members as 

you prepare for your course. 

NOLS is an important contributor to the outdoor community 

in this region. Since 1992, NOLS has been offering spe- 

58


Nature rules in this remote land of southern Chile. Your leadership techniques will be honed by the challenges and opportunities it throws at you. 

cialized courses for Chilean educators and park rangers, teaching 

No Deje Rastro (Leave No Trace), outdoor skills and leadership. 

The hallmarks of a NOLS Patagonia course are exploration, 

remoteness and fickle weather. Patagonia has mountains that have 

never been climbed and valleys populated by pobladores (subsistence 

ranchers). The conditions in this part of the world are extreme, 

but we will teach you how to hike and camp in the valleys, 

explore the mountains, paddle the archipelagos, and stop to enjoy 

the people you meet along the way. 

Leadership development comes quickly in these adverse 

conditions where teamwork is a necessity, not a luxury. You’ll return 

from Patagonia with communication skills, the ability to motivate 

yourself and others, and the proficiency to plan and carry out expeditions 

to the remotest corners of the world. 

59

Patagonia 

PATAGONIA MOUNTAINEERING 

The Patagonian Andes is the site of your mountaineering expedition. 

Among the peaks, expansive rivers and thick coastal rainforests, 

you’ll learn the techniques of alpine big-glacier mountaineering and 

camping in challenging weather, including all the skills to carry out 

remote expeditions and explore rugged and little-traveled mountain 

terrain. 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 alpine weather, preparing 

you for travel in any mountain area in the world. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Coyhaique, Chile 

Fly in/out: Balmaceda, Chile 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment 


PATAGONIA SEA KAYAKING 

On this unique course, you’ll encounter a variety of spectacular environments, 

from remote picturesque valleys with views of glaciated 

peaks to the wet and verdant coast. You may also have a chance to 

meet the people who inhabit the rugged land of Patagonia. Your 

expedition includes a stunning drive along the famous Carretera 

Austral (the Southern Highway), taking you through small villages 

where you’ll glimpse rural Patagonian life. You’ll work to learn sea 

kayaking and expedition skills as you travel by lush temperate rainforests, 

numerous waterfalls, sweeping granite walls and glimpses 

of glaciers in the distance. Home to Andean condors, albatross, the 

world’s southernmost parrot, otters and southern sea lions, this region 

abounds with wildlife. You may encounter subsistence fisherman 

trapping crab or diving for shellfish, have the opportunity to 

meet a family living on a remote farm reachable only by water, or 

gain insight into a way of life that has changed little in 100 years. 

Patagonia’s challenging terrain, seldom-traveled glaciers, rough weather and remoteness 

all accelerate your leadership development. 


DETAILS 







“ 

60 

MY EXPERIENCE WITH NOLS HAS BECOME 

INVALUABLE MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. 

[IT] HELPED SHARPEN MY VISION FOR WHAT I 

WANTED TO GET OUT OF COLLEGE, AND I 

CAME BACK TO SCHOOL WITH AN ENHANCED 

AND REFRESHED PERSPECTIVE ON LEARNING. 

” 

Bryant Leman, Fall Semester in Patagonia ‘02 

The Leave No Trace principle “plan ahead and prepare” takes on new meaning in the backcountry 

where students rely on topographic maps and navigational charts to find their way. 

Bruce Smithhammer

PATAGONIA 

Jake MacArthur 

Students hike through a campo in Espolon Valley. An inhabited wilderness, Patagonia offers rich cultural opportunities. 

PATAGONIA BACKPACKING AND FLY FISHING 

For the backcountry fly fishing expedition of a lifetime, come to 

NOLS Patagonia. You will find the fabled wild brown and rainbow 

trout of Patagonia’s Aisen region that swim in the pristine rivers and 

freestone streams that lie in beautiful valleys. The fundamental 

travel and expedition skills that are the hallmark of a NOLS experience 

are coupled with a tailored fly fishing progression based on 

students’ individual knowledge and experience. Whether you are 

picking up a fly rod for the first time or have been fishing for years, 

this is the course for you. NOLS provides a remote, self-sufficient, 

educational expedition in what is quickly becoming one of the 

hottest fly fishing destinations on the planet. 

DETAILS 







WANT 

MORE? 

Semester in Patagonia, page 93 

Year in Patagonia, page 95 

Patagonia is home to world-class fly fishing, and you’ll experience it intimately as you 

travel and camp in this wild land. 

Rich Brame 


INDIA 

Dev Bhoomi, called “The Abode of the Gods,” is a land 

steeped in culture, history and mythology. It is also the setting 

for some of NOLS’ most culturally-oriented courses. You will 

explore the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of India—places of staggering 

beauty, high ranges and ancient civilizations. The holy river 

Ganga (Ganges) is born in these mountains, and some of the trails 

here are the oldest trade routes between India and Tibet. 

Our base in India is in the mountain town of Ranikhet in the state 

of Uttarakhand, a peaceful rural haven with spectacular views of 

the Himalayas where you’ll get acclimatized before heading for the 

high country. In the distance, you’ll see Nanda Devi, a 7,816-meter 

world famous peak that will be your companion during your stay. 

India courses begin in Conway, Washington at NOLS Pacific 

Northwest. Here you’ll have an orientation meeting, get all 

62

AJ Linnell 

Get off the tourist track as you explore this sacred land and culture. 

the gear you need for the course and meet one of your instructors 

who will travel with you to India. Once abroad, you will get 

a complete introduction to the languages, myths, cultures and 

wild beauty of this country. At least one Indian NOLS staff 

member accompanies each course, and you’ll benefit from this 

person’s extensive knowledge of the region and its human and 

natural history. 

As you travel through rural India and hike from village to 

village, you’ll get an introduction to this country unlike any other 

outdoor program. You’ll hike through subtropical forests and high 

alpine meadows and maybe even observe Himalayan black bears 

or the elusive snow leopard. In your travels, you’ll attain heights 

you never thought possible and visit lush valleys in between. 

63

India 

HIMALAYA BACKPACKING 

The Kumaon and the Eastern Garhwal regions of the Indian Himalaya 

are rugged glacially-carved ranges world famous for climbing 

and trekking. Long ago, these low-lying valleys provided 

traditional trade routes between India and Tibet. You’ll visit teahouses 

and hike past fields that are still worked with water buffalo. 

You’ll accumulate backcountry skills and learn the core NOLS curriculum 

while experiencing the land and culture on a staggering 

scale. And all the while, your cultural studies and classes in conversational 

Hindi will aid in your interactions with local villagers. 

Our travel takes us beyond the normal parameters of tourist 

treks, so you’ll be seeing an India that few foreigners ever encounter, 

deep into the remote Himalayan wilderness. You’ll make your way 

up high mountain passes, some reaching 15,000 feet above sea level, 

and travel through river valleys lush with foliage. You’ll sleep under 

the stars in tents, learn skills such as judgment and decision-making, 

and enjoy the people who live in this fascinating landscape. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Conway, WA / New Delhi, India 

Fly in/out: Seattle, WA / New Delhi, India 


Practicum 


Kevin Emery 

HIMALAYA MOUNTAINEERING 

The remote and spectacular Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand 

is the setting for this high-altitude mountaineering expedition. In 

these surroundings, you’ll learn how to plan and carry out an international 

expedition, focusing on topics such as expedition planning, cultural 

awareness, high altitude physiology and mountaineering skills. 

Beginning your trek into the mountains at 5,500 feet, you’ll 

travel on trails through forests and small villages, interacting with 

the local people. Taking advantage of non-moving days to learn the 

technical skills necessary to move higher in an alpine environment, 

this course has the potential of going as high as 18,000 feet. The 

awe-inspiring views of the highest mountain range in the world 

make this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The breathtaking scenery, 

variety of terrain and travel, and tremendous opportunities for cultural 

interactions are what make this course so special. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Conway, WA / New Delhi, India 

Fly in/out: Seattle, WA / New Delhi, India 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 

2 hours Leadership Techniques 


Traveling in the Himalaya is a truly spiritual experience. Instructor Sue Bedient leads 

the way in the Milam Valley, with Nanda Devi in the background. 

Majestic views aren’t the only thing you’ll take in on your Himalaya Mountaineering course; 

you’ll also learn, practice and use technical skills like anchor building, pictured above. 


“ ” 

64 

AT NOLS, YOU REALIZE THAT MOST THINGS WORTH KNOWING CAN’T BE TAUGHT– 

THEY HAVE TO BE EXPERIENCED. –David Christal, Semester in Patagonia ‘04



Staggering beauty and a history of famed ascents make it easy to see why India is a popular NOLS location for learning mountaineering. 

Craig Lenske 

Above and left: Himalaya courses offer students the unique opportunity to encounter a 

different culture while learning wilderness skills. 

Kevin Emery 

Semester in India, page 97 

WANT 

MORE? 


AUSTRALIA 

Merely the name Australia brings to mind dozens of images: 

unusual wildlife and wide open space, flora found nowhere 

else on Earth, friendly people and different cultures. The Land 

Down Under is a wild continent that awaits discovery. It’s a land of 

waterfalls and crocodiles, of adventure and exploration. 

NOLS has been in Australia since 1996, and in that time 

we’ve concentrated our explorations in northwestern Australia, in 

places like the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Dramatic landscapes and 

intense colors define these regions—from vast plains and ancient 

mountains to huge tidal rivers and spectacular waterfalls in breathtaking 

gorges; you’ll never tire of the unique beauty of either place. 

Both areas are recognized as being the most remote territory 

on a continent known for its sparse population and untraveled 

expanse. On your course, you too will discover this remoteness, 

66

Erica Eschholz 

Instructor Allen O’Bannon enjoys Solea Falls, one of the many very out-of-the-way places to travel in Australia. 

learning from your instructors and enjoying the opportunity to explore 

a landscape not known to many. 

Our Australian headquarters is located in Broome, a community 

of less than 15,000 that was founded in the 1880s as a 

hub of the pearling industry. You’ll spend a day or so in this interesting 

little town before traveling into the field via four-wheel 

drive, bus or plane. 

For a number of years NOLS has also been involved with 

local Aboriginal groups. As a result, our semesters and backpacking 

courses have fantastic opportunities to mingle with these people, 

learning from them and their way of life. NOLS Australia is an adventure 

and an experience; you’ll live and travel here in ways no 

other program can offer. 

67

Australia 

AUSTRALIA BACKPACKING 

The rich cultural history, semi-tropical habitats and ancient land 

formations of the Kimberley make this part of Western Australia 

ideal for an educational expedition. You’ll travel in four-wheel drive 

vehicles, bus or light planes to a remote area of the Kimberley, where 

you’ll backpack through tight canyons, past secluded waterfalls, and 

over dry plateaus, exploring areas very few people have ever seen. 

Diverse bird, plant, mammal and reptile life make this an ideal place 

to study, interpret and enjoy some of nature’s wonders. You’ll see 

crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, geckos and birds, including cockatoos, 

kookaburras and honeyeaters. In this land of extremes, where 

days can be hot and nights cool, you’ll be challenged by uneven terrain 

and rocky hills. You’ll explore and navigate through woodlands 

of gum trees, cane grass and billabongs (water holes) one moment 

and hike to the top of an escarpment the next. 

The Aboriginal people have lived in this area for up to 

60,000 years, and you’ll learn about the Kimberley culture by 

spending a couple of days with our Aboriginal guides, discovering 

their traditional and contemporary lifestyles. Through informative 

classes and discussions, interaction with our guides, and travel 

through local cattle stations, you’ll leave this course with a new understanding 

of the rich and diverse natural and cultural history of 

the Kimberley and Australia. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Broome, Australia 

Fly in/out: Broome, Australia 

College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 

2 hours Skills Practicum 


Students take a welcome break from the hot Australian sun with a dip in a billabong, 

Australian for water hole. 

NOLS Archives 

AUSTRALIA BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING 

Western Australia’s Pilbara region has it all: rugged plateaus, blue 

waters and white sandy beaches. This region is one of the Earth’s 

oldest landmasses and will be your classroom as you travel on 

water and on land. You’ll begin your sea kayaking adventure in 

the waters surrounding the Dampier Archipelago, a group of 42 

rocky islands offering scrubby eucalyptus valleys and isolated 

coral reefs. Here you’ll have plenty of opportunity for learning 

sea kayaking skills, exploring the colorful marine ecosystem, and 

discovering the area’s rich human history, which includes the most 

prolific Aboriginal petroglyph site in the world. You’ll backpack 

either in the Kimberley or Pilbara, both offering ideal terrain to 

explore the Australian outback. The Kimberley has tight canyons, 

secluded waterfalls and plateaus, while the Pilbara has escarpments, 

watercourses, deep basalt gorges and cool oases. Hidden 

amongst this ruggedness are crystal clear rock pools and pockets 

of sub-tropical forest. Western Australia is home to a variety of 

birds, red kangaroos, emus, rock wallabies, geckos, and huge termite 

mounds. It can be rugged and it is hot here, but the natural 

history and uniquely Australian setting will give you an unparalleled 

NOLS education. 

You’ll explore the rugged Pilbara coastline while learning all the basics of backcountry 

living and expedition behavior. 

DETAILS 








NOLS Archives 

68

AUSTRALIA 

Jen Klewitz 

You’ll be a pro with a map and compass after navigating this wild, remote and geographically diverse land. Here, instructor Sam Bright route-finds in the King Leopold Range. 

“ 

” 

NOLS FOSTERED MY ABILITY TO 

TAKE A STEP FORWARD AND LEAD 

OTHERS AND HAVE FAITH THAT I 

HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND 

ABILITY TO DO SO. 

Melissa Proctor, Australia Backpacking ‘03 

Left: Signs of the past greet sea kayakers in the Dampier Archipelago. 

David Summers 

Semester in Australia, page 99 

WANT 

MORE? 


Scandinavia 

The Kingdom of Norway is the westernmost country of the 

Scandinavian Peninsula in Europe, flanked by Sweden, Finland 

and Russia in the east and the Norwegian Sea in the west. 

Your NOLS expedition north of the Arctic Circle will take you 

around rugged islands, in and out of fjords, and along coastal brim, 

the lowland area stretching from the ocean to the steep glaciated 

peaks of the Scandinavian Mountains. 

Near the same latitudes as Siberia, Greenland and Alaska, you’ll 

enjoy the long summer days of the midnight sun as you learn the 

technical sea kayaking and backpacking skills needed for an expedition 

of this nature anywhere in the world. From remote coastlines 

and limestone caves to forested valleys and high peaks, this 

unique backcountry classroom provides ample opportunity to immerse 

yourself in the core NOLS curriculum. 

SCANDINAVIA SEA KAYAKING 

NEW! 

AND BACKPACKING 

With the Salten Coast of Nordland and the lush tundra of the Swedish 

Lappland, Scandinavia beckons. Sea kayaking this impressive coastline 

offers a mix of remote paddling without any human encounters 

to days where you can purchase fresh food in the small fishing communities 

that dot the rugged shores. The Norwegian Sea has a rich 

marine life, abundant with cod, herring and halibut and is home to the 

largest deepwater coral reef in the world. The interior of Nordland, 

toward the border with Sweden, is dominated by the Scandinavian 

Mountains. Names like Stora Sjöfallets National Park, Sarek National 

Park, Ritsem and Akkajaure will become familiar to you as you navigate 

this UNESCO World Heritage Site, called Laponia. Your trekking 

will start in Norway at fjord level and move to higher elevations that 

are remarkably unspoiled. A mix of rolling hills and snow-covered 

peaks punctuated by glaciers, this area has been home to the Saami 

peoples for hundreds of years. Whether in your boat or on your feet, 

you’ll master leadership and outdoor living skills while immersing 

yourself in the culture and wilderness of Scandinavia. 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Narvik, Norway 

Fly in/out: Narvik, Norway 

College Credit: College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 

2 hours Skills Practicum 

Dates: 113 

Above: Jotunheimen National Park is punctuated by high peaks and hanging glaciers. Below: 

Learn to paddle and navigate a sea kayak among the Lofoten Islands of Arctic Norway. 

Lena Conlan Lena Conlan 

70

Baffin Island 

Baffin Island, the largest island in the Canadian Arctic, is a cold 

fusion of remote beauty and unique culture. Its vast, unspoiled 

tundra and tangle of spectacular mountains make it the perfect 

NOLS destination. And, as one of the most sparsely populated regions 

in the world, you won’t have to share it with anyone. 

People near small Inuit communities are the only signs of 

human life you may see other than your own coursemates. More than 

140 years ago, Scottish whalers joined native Inuit groups on Baffin. 

Today whaling and fishing are still part of the island’s rugged life. 

You’ll start your adventure in Ottawa before flying to Iqaluit, 

the treeless island’s capital in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. 

Much of the land and water that surround it are protected national 

and territorial parks. Adventurous souls get ready, for this course is 

your ticket to a modern-day exploration of the far, far North. 

Moe Witschard 

BAFFIN ISLAND BACKPACKING AND CANOEING 

In the surreal and mythical landscape of Baffin Island, you’ll embark 

on an arctic expedition that hikes along traditional Inuit travel routes 

and canoes down a Canadian heritage river. The adventure begins 

with a backpacking section through Katannilik (meaning “place of 

waterfalls”) Territorial Park where you’ll learn essential backpacking 

skills while sharing the land with wildlife. A tundra plane will fly in 

with supplies, and then you’re off down the Soper River (class I-II) 

in folding river canoes. The beauty of this river, coupled with a 

number of fun rapids, makes it an ideal setting to learn the basics 

of wilderness canoeing. Take advantage of the long arctic days as 

you explore topics such as ecology, geology and glaciology. 

Baffin Island is also home to the Inuit, and you will learn 

about arctic life and traditions during the cultural section in Kimmirut, 

an Inuit village of about 300. You may have opportunities to 

learn how to carve soapstone, work with seal and caribou skins, and 

talk with elders about the Inuit lifestyle. The lessons you will learn 

from these caring and wise people will travel with you for the rest 

of your life. 

Top: Students scout a rapid on the Soper River. Bottom: Instructor Sarah Manwaring- 

Jones marvels at Baffin Island’s surreal landscape. 

Moe Witschard 

DETAILS 



Course start/end: Ottawa, Ontario / Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory 

Fly in/out: Ottowa, Ontario / Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory 





NOLS SEMESTERS 

THREE 

MONTHS OF OUTDOOR LIVING, 

COLLEGE CREDIT AND MUCH MORE. THE 

OUTDOOR SEMESTER IS UNIQUELY NOLS. 

NOLS, WHERE THE OUTDOOR SEMESTER 

WAS BORN 

In 1974, NOLS invented the outdoor semester. Now, each year, 

800 students spend a semester at NOLS learning new skills, exploring 

new ideas, and making new friends while surrounded by 

wilderness. These 800 students, more than all other outdoor semester 

programs combined, benefit from more than 40 years of 

NOLS curriculum development and innovation. One of them 

could be you. 

LEARN A VARIETY OF SKILLS 

All NOLS semesters are broken into a series of expeditions, 

called sections. These sections run from two weeks to a month 

in length and cover a wide variety of outdoor skill areas. They 

are as varied as your desire to learn. This variety means you’ll 

leave your NOLS semester with a series of valuable outdoor 

skills and experience in a number of different environments. 

EDUCATION COMES ALIVE 

On your NOLS semester you’ll learn about the ecology of your 

wilderness classroom while you earn natural history and other 

credits from the University of Utah. Your lab will be the outdoors, 

and the rivers and trails will be your syllabus. 

LEADERSHIP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

WILL NOTICE 

Spending several months as a part of an expedition means you’ll 

be both a leader and an active follower. Unlike campus or work 

where some issues can be overlooked, on a NOLS semester the entire 

group is reliant on one another for safety and comfort. Communication, 

conflict resolution, motivating yourself and 

motivating others cannot be ignored. You’ll return home changed. 

THE PERFECT “TIME-OUT” 

Most students on NOLS semesters come to NOLS as a semester 

away from their college campus, but we are increasingly seeing 

young people enrolling as a transition period between high 

school and college. Additionally, more adult learners are taking 

a NOLS semester as a “time-out” between careers. 

Three months of outdoor living, college credit and much more. 

The outdoor semester is uniquely NOLS. 

72

Kevin Kerr 

Each year, 800 students embark on a NOLS semester to complement their college education, transition between high school and college, or take a “time-out” between careers. 


Rainbow Weinstock

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 and teach in the backcountry, 

whether in the field of outdoor education or with 

your own friends and family. Our grads are 

among the most well-rounded and self-sufficient 

backcountry travelers in the world. They can paddle 

a canoe down a class III rapid, make a quick 

medical decision miles from the nearest road, 

and navigate through winding slot canyons. 

You’ll see some of the great American 

West’s most treasured spots, carving a telemark 

Instructor Lauren Edwards on a classic crack climb, “Wine and Roses,” in Fremont Canyon, Wyoming. 


turn through the winter wilderness on one section 

and jamming your hands into cracks while 

climbing Devil’s Tower National Monument on 

the next. Because the Rockies are a mecca for 

outdoor activities, the Semester in the Rockies 

offers a variety of skill sets, allowing students to 

choose the combinations they prefer. 

BACKPACKING 

(summer and fall) Map reading, route-finding, cooking and Leave No Trace practices will 

become second nature as you travel through Wyoming’s Wind River or Absaroka ranges. 

Advanced topics covered on this section include fly fishing, baking, off-trail navigation, 

GPS use and environmental ethics. 


(fall option only) The rugged glacier-carved Wind River Range is the ideal environment 

for learning wilderness mountaineering. The climbing, belaying and rappelling skills you’ll 

learn on this section will enable you to challenge yourself on technical peak ascents while 

honing other fundamental backcountry skills. 

WINTER 

(fall and spring) The Rocky Mountains’ harsh and beautiful winter environment will create 

some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of your semester. After breaking trail 

from camp to camp, you’ll “dig in,” building a snow shelter for you and your coursemates to 

camp in. Much time will also be devoted to practicing your telemark turn or snowboarding 

technique on backcountry slopes and assessing snow and avalanche conditions. 


This fast-paced section takes place in some of the West’s most famous climbing areas, from 

Nevada’s Red Rocks to Idaho’s City of Rocks and the Needles in South Dakota. It begins 

with a foundation of skills such as bouldering, belaying, rappelling, knots and climbing 

techniques. We’ll emphasize advanced topics such as anchor construction, direct aid, belay 

escapes and gear selection. If you’re ready, there will also be opportunities to lead climb. 

Roo Riley 

Above: The churning rapids of Utah’s Green River provide 

the perfect progression for learning to paddle an oar rig. 

Left: Route finding in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains. 

RIVER TRAVEL 

This multi-day expedition through Utah’s scenic river canyons will introduce you to the fun 

and excitement of whitewater. Whether in a kayak, a canoe, an oar raft or a paddle raft, 

you’ll learn to read the water, scout rapids, and execute maneuvers such as eddy-turns, peelouts 

and ferries. Depending on your craft, advanced skills such as surfing, playboating, raft 

captaining and solo canoeing will also be taught and practiced on this very hands-on section. 


Brad Christensen



Steven Brutger 

Above left: Students Tucker Lee and Vivasvat Chauman move camp in their telemark skis. Above right: Always dreamed of being a cowboy? From herd dynamics to care and feeding, 

you’ll gain the skills you need to become a competent horseperson on a Rocky Mountain horsepacking section. 

HORSEPACKING 

(spring option only) From NOLS’ Three Peaks Ranch at the base of the Wind River 

Range, you’ll learn and practice the skills needed to enjoy an extended horsepacking expedition. 

Four days at the ranch encompasses saddling, riding, packing and getting to 

know your horses; then, you’ll embark on a two-week trip exploring Wyoming’s wilderness 

on horseback. 

CANYON 

(fall and spring) Developing and expanding your own leadership style and environmental 

ethics are the focus of this section, which culminates in a multi-day, student-led expedition. 

You’ll travel through the unmistakable red rock canyons of southern Utah where 

you’ll study Anasazi rock art and ruins, desert ecology, canyoneering, and land-use politics. 

Imagine yourself rappelling down pour-offs and negotiating deep canyon pools as you and 

your coursemates explore this stunning canyon country. 

Alexis Alloway Zeke Farwell 

Navigating southern Utah’s canyonlands is an experience 

you won’t find anywhere else. 

Above: History comes alive at the Anasazi ruins of Grand 

Gulch. Left: On the river section, you’ll travel through an 

amazing landscape of towering canyon walls. 

WILDERNESS FIRST AID (WFA) 

(fall and spring option) The Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (WMI) presents 

this 16-hour section specific to wilderness emergencies. The course is the approved certification 

for the American Camping Association, the United States Forest Service, and many 

other governmental agencies and outdoor programs. 

WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER (WFR) 

(fall and spring option) Offered by WMI of NOLS, this 80-hour section is for outdoor 

professionals and will give you the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions 

in remote settings. 

DETAILS FALL SPRING SUMMER 

Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 94 days (fall); 87 days (spring); 68 days (summer) 

Offered fall, spring, summer 

Tuition: $10,375 (spring); $10,790 (spring with WFR); $9,565 (summer); $10,600 (fall); $11,250 (fall with WFR) 



College Credit: Fall and spring: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours 

Skills Practicum; 3 hours WFR credit (sections with WFR); 2 hours Risk Assessment. Summer: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental 

Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment 

Dates and Sections: page 110 

GAP YEAR SEMESTER 

Are you in between high school and college? If you’re 17 or older, there’s a special Semester 

in the Rockies for you! See page 110 for details. 


Fredrik Norrsell

SEMESTER FOR 

OUTDOOR EDUCATORS 

There’s only so much you can learn about 

outdoor education indoors. That’s why we’ve 

created the NOLS Semester for Outdoor Educators, 


a chance for professional outdoor educators and 

students studying outdoor education to get into 

the wilderness and out of the classroom. 

This 94-day semester is jam-packed with an 

entire curriculum dedicated to the field of outdoor 

education. You’ll be with other professionals and 

students ages 21 and older who want to learn 

outdoor skills and leadership as they fine-tune 

how they teach those skills to others. This is your 

chance to translate your theoretical knowledge 

about outdoor education into reality. 

The NOLS Semester for Outdoor Educators 

means more time teaching and more focus on 

topics like group management and field and intown 

administrative practices. By the end of your 

semester, you’ll be a well-rounded outdoor educator, 

ready to work for almost any outdoor educational 

program in the country. 

Kevin Bergstrom 

Above: Practice belaying at Devil’s Tower. Left: Instructor 

Julia Fairbanks in Utah’s Dirty Devil Wilderness Study Area. 

More classes, more certifications and a focus on several skill areas make the Outdoor Educator Semester a perfect 

choice for aspiring and practicing educators. 


(fall only) A quick introduction to camping and hiking in the Wind River Range will kick 

off the OE Semester in the fall before heading back to NOLS International Headquarters 

in Lander for an introduction to program administration and personnel. 


Presented by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS, this 80-hour section prepares 

outdoor professionals to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote settings. 

CANYON 

Travel through the red rock canyons of southern Utah for a month as you study and teach 

natural history, desert ecology, canyoneering and land-use politics. 


You’ll practice teaching basic skills such as bouldering, belaying and knots while learning 

to teach more advanced topics such as anchor construction, direct aid and belay escapes. 

WINTER 

After a Level I Avalanche seminar and time spent practicing your telemark turns, you’ll 

leave from the NOLS Three Peaks Ranch for the winter wonderland of the Winds. Your 

backcountry skiing skills will progress as you learn practical winter expedition skills like 

snow shelter building, snow science, and assessing snow and avalanche conditions. 

CERTIFICATIONS 

In addition to the WFR and Level I Avalanche described above, you will also earn your Masters 

of Leave No Trace and Defensive Driving certifications. 

DETAILS FALL SPRING 


Offered fall, spring 


Tuition: $11,600 (fall); $11,260 (spring) 



College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum; 2 

hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Outdoor Educator; 3 hours WFR credit 




Katie Jezek

SEMESTER IN THE 


The wilderness of the Northwest—your home 

for two and a half months—is like no other 

region in the country. In close proximity to NOLS’ 

Pacific Northwest headquarters are steep, heavily 


glaciated mountains, impressive forests of towering 

evergreens, outstanding rock climbing areas, 

and miles of wilderness coastline. You’ll explore 

all these environments, from jamming your hands 

into granite cracks on a climb to taking the helm 

of a 36-foot sailboat in British Columbia waters. 

Throughout, you’ll be experiencing things few 

other semesters at NOLS offer, including keelboat 

sailing in Canada and a coastal hiking section 

where you’ll study the coast’s marine life and end at 

the Makah Indian Nation. From the snow-capped 

peaks and clear mountain lakes to old-growth 

forests and tidal waters, you’ll explore, navigate, 

learn and practice your skills, returning home with 

a solid foundation in wilderness expeditioning. 

Offered exclusively on the Semester in the Pacific Northwest, coastal backpacking affords students the unique opportunity 

to learn about tide charts and marine biology while camping and traveling along the beach. 

MOUNTAIN TRAVEL 

The intricacies of backcountry living are revealed as you move through this stunning environment, 

from packing your pack efficiently to staying warm and dry in a wet and sometimes 

chilly climate. You’ll travel in canoes for four days of this section to see the area from 

a unique perspective, and then you’ll hike up through forested valleys to areas of snow and 

ice where you’ll learn specialized mountaineering skills such as ice axe use, rope systems 

and handling, crevasse rescue, and crampon use. You’ll learn how to cope with uncertain 

weather, steep slopes and complicated route finding. 


At a base camp at one of the Northwest’s many great climbing areas, you’ll immerse yourself 

in the finer points of rock climbing techniques and systems. You’ll progress at your own 

speed, moving into skills such as belay and rappel techniques and protection placement. 

There will be an emphasis on risk management throughout this section as you advance 

from single pitch to multi-pitch climbing. 

Julie Brown 

COASTAL BACKPACKING 

Natural history abounds as you travel though the splendid environments of the Olympic 

National Park. On the coast, you’ll visit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and 

then embark on a coastal expedition, studying life in tidal pools and camping and traveling 

beside the ocean. You’ll learn about tide charts, weather patterns and identifying coastal 

hazards. You’ll also visit the Makah Cultural Center for a glimpse into the region’s human 

history. This section culminates in a student led expedition in the mountains, during which 

you’ll plan and complete a six-day hike with your fellow students. 

SAILING 

A 36-foot sailboat will be your moving classroom during this segment of your adventure. Boats 

will sail in pairs, each carrying a group of five students and an instructor, as you learn the finer 

points of seamanship, including how to handle your boat under sail or power, read charts and 

navigate. This will also be a true test for everything you’ve learned about leadership and expedition 

behavior as you and your coursemates cook and sleep on board as one tight-knit crew. 

Alan Neilson 

Above: 36-foot Catalina cruisers will be your home and 

classroom during your sailing section. Left: Rock climbing 

sections start with the basics, progressing from top-roping 

(pictured) to multi-pitching and more. 

DETAILS FALL 


Offered fall 




College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum; 




Rainbow Weinstock



ASemester in the Southwest will give you a 

unique glimpse into the American Southwest’s 

living desert. Your notions of a barren, 


sandy desert environment will be forever changed 

as you discover this place alive with plants and 

animals like coyote, javelina, mountain lions, 

peregrine falcons, mesquite and cactus. The different 

sections on this semester will take you 

from the rushing waters of the Rio Grande to the 

Ashley Wise 

ponderosa pine forests of the Gila Range. You 

will find yourself jamming your fingers and feet 

into granite cracks and crawling on your hands 

and knees through decorated limestone caves. 

Along with natural history, you’ll also discover 

the desert’s rich human history and have plenty of 

time to travel through the areas once inhabited by 

these ancient cultures. In this land of constant sun, 

backpacking, caving, climbing and canoeing will 

prepare you for an independent student expedition 

as the grand finale of your semester. 

Your skills and confidence will grow with each passing day as you paddle down the legendary Rio Grande. 


Hosted by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS, this 16-hour section covers first 

aid specific to wilderness emergencies and is essential for anyone spending extended time 

in the outdoors. 


The Gila Range in New Mexico, the first designated wilderness area in the U.S., or the 

rugged mountains of the Galiuros in southeastern Arizona will be your classroom for the 

backpacking section. Both destinations offer varied terrain and beautiful surroundings while 

you hone your backcountry living skills. 

CAVING 

This section explores the extensive underground world near the famous Carlsbad Caverns in 

New Mexico or the brilliant caves in southeastern Arizona. You’ll have a unique chance to 

marvel at an underground wilderness environment few people ever see or even know exists. 


The Cochise Stronghold, a land of towering granite domes, is one of the best climbing locations 

in Arizona. As you hone your climbing risk management and judgment skills, you’ll 

move at your own pace from the fundamentals of top-roping and anchor building to more 

complex techniques like multi-pitch climbing. 

CANOEING 

You’ll paddle down the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, where water has carved 

out spectacular canyons in the Chihuahuan Desert. You’ll learn how to read whitewater, practice 

river rescue techniques, and experience scouting rapids while safely identifying hazards. 


Above: Instructor and Southwest Assistant Director Lindsay 

Nohl tops out on a multi-pitch climb at Cochise. Left: 

Caving is an otherworldly experience and the Semester in 

the Southwest is the only place at NOLS to experience it. 

INDEPENDENT STUDENT EXPEDITION 

Upon successful completion of the previous sections, you’ll have the opportunity to apply all 

of your accumulated knowledge by planning and executing an autonomous student expedition. 

Heading out in either the Galiuros or Gila, this is the highlight of the Southwest semester. 











Pascal Beauvais


ALASKA 

ALASKA 

Your Semester in Alaska includes everything 

from forested coastlines to the snow and ice 

of the high mountain peaks to the tundra and 

rivers in between. In the long days of the northern 

summer, you’ll have plenty of time to learn 

about and travel through wild Alaska. In the Land 

of the Midnight Sun, your rhythms will change as 

you fall into sync with the way of the North. 

Hiking takes you to the continent’s largest 

assemblage of glaciers and its greatest collection 

of peaks over 16,000 feet in elevation. The semester’s 

mountaineering section travels even further 

into this area, an ideal training ground for 

learning to live and climb on snow and ice. Finally, 

you will spend 23 days sea kayaking in 

Prince William Sound. Amidst all this activity, you 

With everything from tidewater glaciers to sea otters, Prince William Sound is a perfect marine classroom. 

Tracy Baynes 

can also expect an extensive environmental studies 

curriculum, giving you a unique perspective 

on some of the world’s most stunning wilderness. 

After honing skills and leadership for 75 days 

at NOLS Alaska, you can be confident traveling in 

a variety of wilderness settings. 

SEA KAYAKING 

You’ll explore the wilderness coastline of Prince William Sound by starting with basics, 

such as learning how to load your sea kayak, then moving to more advanced topics in 

a gradual progression that allows for quality learning. Classes will include paddling 

techniques, ocean hazards, tidal evaluation, natural history and risk management. You’ll 

camp among the spruce or on rocky beaches and glean lessons from your instructors 

and coursemates. 


Learning how to pack a backpack and walk lightly on the tundra of the Talkeetna Mountains 

kicks off this section. Then you’ll progress to studying flora and fauna of the region, 

learning practical leadership skills, and practicing Leave No Trace camping techniques. 

Map reading, river crossing, bear camping, hazard identification and decision-making will 

all be part of your continuing education. 

GLACIER MOUNTAINEERING 

This section includes intensive skill training for living and climbing in Alaska’s glaciated 

mountains. You’ll learn things such as belaying, anchors, rope systems, crevasse rescue and 

ice climbing techniques while practicing basic glacier camping and travel. Crossing vast 

fields of snow and ice in rope teams will require using the clear judgment and technical 

and decision-making skills that you have honed all semester. 

Julie Brown 

Above: Glacial moraine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. 

Left: On top of the world in the Chugach Range. 

DETAILS SUMMER 


Offered summer 








Louis Sass


YUKON 

YUKON 

This action-packed, semester-long learning 

adventure begins and ends in Whitehorse, 

Yukon Territory, Canada, and is one of our most 

unique wilderness leadership semesters. It takes 

place entirely in Canada’s North Country, where 

remote, wild land stands unparalleled. For 76 

days your expedition will explore the wilds of the 

Yukon with a backpack, canoe and mountaineering 

gear, seeing few people along the way. In fact, 

with a population of only 30,000, six caribou and 

one moose to every Yukon resident, and a grizzly 

bear to every Yukon family of four, you’re more 

likely to share this vast wilderness with animals 

than with humans. 

Along your route, you and your coursemates 

will fish, cross unnamed rivers, summit unnamed 

peaks, and explore the same areas that historic gold 

seekers traveled over 100 years ago. After a semester 

in this beautiful wilderness, you’ll be a comfortable 

traveler in the backcountry with unmatched 

technical expeditionary skills in whitewater canoeing 

and glacier, snow and ice mountaineering. 

Home to some of the world’s most remote and exciting rivers, the Yukon Territory provides a visually stunning, adrenaline-pumping 

classroom for learning to whitewater canoe. 


From our base in Whitehorse, you’ll embark on the first phase of your adventure: a backpacking 

section through the river valleys, alpine tundra and boreal forests of the Yukon 

Territory. You’ll move up remote mountain valleys, planning routes and choosing campsites. 

You’ll learn camping and travel skills pertaining to grizzly bear country—and a ton about 

being comfortable outdoors—while traveling through meadows and tundra and bushwhacking 

through trees and over passes in all kinds of weather. 


What you learn about mountain weather, leadership and route finding on the backpacking 

section will prepare you to face the high glaciers on the mountaineering section. The 

Yukon’s mountains are an ideal classroom for learning technical mountaineering skills 

such as negotiating rocky mountain passes, icefalls and glaciers. You’ll climb stunning 

peaks while learning rope team, crampon and other techniques to move over snow, ice and 

rock terrain. 


WHITEWATER CANOEING 

You’ll finish the semester with over three weeks on the Hess River (not far from the 

Northwest Territories). The Yukon provides some of the best, little-known whitewater in 

the world, and you’ll not only learn the skills to run rapids successfully, but also travel 

through them without leaving a trace. As your technical maneuvers improve, you’ll be 

polishing your backcountry and leadership skills while you explore and live under the 

midnight sun. 


Above: River crossings require patience and teamwork. Left: 

Students celebrating on the summit of Mount Redemption. 

DETAILS SUMMER 



Offered summer 








Tom Bol


BAJA 

MEXICO 

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. 

Granite and volcanic mountain ranges 

extend over 1,000 miles down the peninsula’s 

central spine, and Picacho del Diablo, a 10,126- 

foot peak in the northern mountains, is snow-covered 

in winter months. The rest of Baja California, 

while still very rugged and mountainous, is Sonoran 

Desert country, receiving less than 10 inches 

of rainfall a year. Here exists an amazing variety of 

desert life, including more than 110 species of 

cacti. For three months, you’ll explore these contrasting 

environments on foot, in a sea kayak, and 

under a sail while having ample opportunities for 

cultural and Spanish language interactions with 

local students, educators, ranchers and fisherman. 

You will learn the skills you need to visit 

these ecosystems and communities comfortably 

and responsibly in the future. 

Baja, where the mountains meet the sea. Students Drew Farwell and Danny Kaufman enjoy the view from the summit of 

Picacho del Diablo. 


Starting with the finer points of Leave No Trace camping, route selection, map reading, risk 

management, and hazard evaluation, the backpacking section of a Baja Semester takes you 

deep into the desert and mountains of beautiful Mexico. Classes will include discussions on 

group dynamics, leadership techniques, geology, wildlife identification and informal Spanish 

instruction. As you move through this environment, you may meet and get acquainted 

with local ranchers who call this remote land home. 


Your mode of travel for this section will be a 22-foot Drascombe Longboat, a great open 

boat that will let you explore the remote coves that larger sailing vessels can’t reach. You’ll 

move along the coastline, camping on shore during the night and hoisting sail during the 

day. In the midst of learning coastal navigation, teamwork, seamanship, anchoring, sail 

trim, line handling and steering, you may take time off to snorkel the warm waters of the 

ocean and discover the underwater life of Baja. 



Along with learning coastal kayaking skills like navigation, rolling, surfing and paddle 

strokes, you’ll also focus on free diving skills, water risk management, and, perhaps, spear 

fishing. Desert natural history is also a large part of these sections because it’s easy to take 

advantage of land-based activities when the sea is too rough for travel. Some semesters 

make an open water crossing to explore uninhabited islands located in the Gulf of California, 

while others visit San Nicolás, a remote fishing village where you’ll spend some time 

learning about the local culture. You’ll travel through these protected wildlands, observing 

the abundant bird and marine life and becoming enchanted with this land and its people. 

Julie Brown 

Above: Baja’s coast is full of hidden coves that beg exploration. 

Left: Instructor Danielle “Digger” Dignan at the 

bow of a Drascombe Longboat, the perfect boat to learn 

the art of sailing. 





Course start/end: Ensenada, BCN, Mexico (fall); La Paz, BCS, Mexico (spring) / Mulegé, BCS, Mexico (fall, spring) 

Fly in/out: San Diego, California, USA (fall), La Paz, BCS, Mexico (spring) / Loreto, BCS, Mexico (fall, spring) 





Mac Henry

BAJA 

OCEAN SEMESTER 

MEXICO 

ANOLS semester without the hiking boots? 

That’s right. The Baja Ocean Semester is oneof-a-kind! 

You’ll explore the eastern edge of the 

Baja Peninsula, where the freshly scrubbed beaches 

of the Sonoran Desert meet the Sea of Cortez, your 

waterway for the duration of your semester. 

As your expedition heads south from the 

Bahía de Los Angeles to the La Paz Islands, your 

watercraft will switch from sea kayak to Drascombe 

Longboat to keelboat as your skills to 

travel safely and responsibly over water develop. 

When not practicing navigation and boat handling, 

you will have the opportunity to free dive 

and possibly even spear fish at different points 

in your journey. 

The rugged Sonoran mountain ranges and 

blue-green waters will create the perfect backdrop 

as you learn the many facets of seamanship, as well 

as the NOLS core curriculum that will allow you to 

lead others safely and comfortably in the ocean 

wilderness that covers two-thirds of our planet. 

Six hands are better than two: Teamwork is an essential part of what will help you succeed on a NOLS semester. 


Your adventure will be just beginning as you arrive at NOLS Mexico, our facility in Coyote 

Bay near Mulegé. Here you’ll have 16 hours of first aid training specific to wilderness 

emergencies and essential for backcountry travelers, presented by the Wilderness Medicine 

Institute of NOLS. 


After dialing your first aid skills for the expedition ahead, you’ll get right on the water with 

your sea kayak. Rolling, wet exits, surf landings, and efficient paddle strokes will get you 

ready to navigate down this wild desert coast. By the end of these 30 days, you’ll be well 

on your way to becoming a well-rounded ocean traveler with a feel for the winds and a developing 

sense of tides and currents. 

LONGBOAT SAILING 

During this month-long section, you’ll learn the essentials of sail theory aboard a 22-foot 

Drascombe Longboat, a perfect boat to nail down the fundamentals. You will appreciate 

its maneuverability in small coves along with its capability to make larger crossings to islands. 

Leadership, seamanship, navigation and oceanography will be expanded upon, as 

well as further mastering your Leave No Trace camping skills on shore. 

Ashley Wise 

KEELBOAT SAILING 

By the end of your semester, you’ll be ready to tackle keelboat sailing and work with your 

coursemates as a high-performing crew. These 40-foot boats will be your home for the final 

10 days of your semester, each carrying seven students and an instructor. As you move further 

from the shore and closer as a crew, you’ll practice all of the skills you’ve acquired thus 

far—from sail theory to leadership to impeccable expedition behavior—in order to drive 

this large, complex sailboat. 

Moorings Photos 

Above: After mastering the basics, you’ll venture further from 

shore aboard a 40-foot keelboat. Left: From desert shores 

to teeming seas, Baja California is a land of stark contrasts. 





Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico / La Paz, BCS, Mexico 

Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico / La Paz, BCS, Mexico 





David Anderson


PATAGONIA 

Deemed one of the most challenging semesters 

at NOLS, the Semester in Patagonia has 

strong leadership outcomes on account of adapting 

PATAGONIA 

to and operating in harsh weather. Teamwork, 

communication and problem solving are critical 

to the success of this expedition. 

You begin your semester in Coyhaique, 

Chile for 10 days of wilderness first aid training 

before stepping into the backcountry for 70 days. 

Once on this unique continuous expedition, your 

transition between sections includes swapping 

mountaineering gear for sea kayaking gear as 

Home to some of the world’s largest icefields, Patagonia is yours to explore. 

Ignacio Grez 

your group rendezvouses with another Patagonia 

semester on an opposite route. 

You’ll hike and camp in Patagonia’s valleys 

and mountains and sea kayak in breathtaking 

Patagonian archipelagos, stopping to visit with locals 

along the way; some knowledge of Spanish 

will enhance these cultural opportunities. The grand 

finale of this remote adventure is the extended 

student expedition, when you and a small group 

of your peers earn the privilege of planning and 

traveling a route independent of your instructors. 


Before embarking into the field, you and your coursemates will receive an 80-hour WFR 

training taught by staff of the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (WMI). This is the 

standard course for outdoor professionals and provides you with the tools to make critical 

medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations. 

MOUNTAIN TRAVEL 

You’ll move up remote mountain valleys, plan routes, and choose campsites. Early in the 

course, your instructors will lead you, helping you to read maps, find routes, and judge 

and evaluate hazards. They will then step back incrementally until you find yourself in 

charge. Some days you’ll be named “leader of the day” and be responsible for a small group 

of your fellow students. Depending on the weather and how your entire group is progressing, 

you may have a chance to cross vast glaciers, work on such skills as tying knots and 

handling ropes, and stage crevasse rescue scenarios. 


Most of Chile is off the beaten path for world travelers, and the island chains of the southern 

part of the country are no exception. You’ll learn about the dynamic environment of the region, 

strong currents, tidal fluctuations and fickle weather. Instruction will include paddling 

techniques, rescue skills, route planning and coastal weather. You’ll also study the natural history 

of the area while you continue to hone your leadership and communication skills. 

EXTENDED STUDENT EXPEDITION 

After you’ve successfully completed the previous three sections, you’ll move into the student 

expedition. Typically, groups of four to six students travel without immediate instructor supervision 

for a 7- to 10-day hike through the wilds of Patagonia. Before setting out, and 

under the supervision of your instructors, your group will craft a travel plan, work out a proposed 

route, and get ready to use and refine what you’ve learned over the past months. 

Craig Lenske 

Above: Paddle hard and pod up! Left: Rugged, remote and 

unpredictable, Patagonia demands leadership and teamwork. 







College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum; 4 hours Risk 

Assessment; 2 hours Expedition Planning; 3 hours WFR credit 



Reed Boeger

YEAR IN 

PATAGONIA 

This is it—the longest course type at NOLS. 

This extended expedition packs in outdoor 

skills, wilderness certifications and international 

PATAGONIA 

culture to create one of our most unique adventures. 

From mountain travel on remote peaks to sea 

kayaking along Patagonia’s archipelagos and rock 

climbing at the foot of the Andes, the components 

form a comprehensive backcountry immersion. 

With a strong focus on Spanish language 

and cultural interaction, the Year in Patagonia 

course allows you to spend one section living 

and working with local poblador families. Along 

with developing an appreciation of Patagonian 

culture, you’ll also see more of this region’s remote 

and breathtaking scenery than most visitors. 

And the course offers certifications for 

students interested in outdoor careers around the 

world, including Leave No Trace Master certification 

and Wilderness First Responder (WFR). 

The Patagonia Year brings NOLS students into the lives and homes of Chilean pobladores. 


You’ll practice your Spanish as you backpack up scenic mountain valleys and visit remote 

ranches called campos. Learning how to leave a minimal impact on this environment leads 

to Leave No Trace Master certification, and you will also participate in a 2- to 3-day service 

project with Conservacion Patagonica to help with the creation of a new national park in 

Chile known as Valchac. 


The large glaciers and rarely-climbed peaks of the Patagonian Andes will be your classroom 

for this section. Alpine mountaineering techniques and how to live and camp in a harshweather 

alpine environment are parts of the curriculum. 


As part of your comprehensive wilderness education, the Year in Patagonia includes an 80- 

hour Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course taught by staff of the Wilderness Medicine 

Institute of NOLS (WMI). 

CULTURAL 

During this section you’ll live on mountain campos with poblador families, helping them 

with the daily chores of subsistence living. This is your chance to put your language skills 

to use while fully experiencing the unique Patagonian culture. 

Ignacio Grez 

EXTENDED STUDENT EXPEDITION 

Typically, groups of four to six students travel without immediate instructor supervision for a 

7- to 10-day hike through the wilds of Patagonia. Your group will craft a travel plan, work out 

a proposed route, and get ready to use and refine what you’ve learned over the past months. 


You’ll be in Argentina for this section, at the foot of the Argentine Andes. Near the mountain 

town of Bariloche, you’ll set up a base camp for your rock climbing adventures. 


The fjords of southern Chile offer breathtaking scenery and fickle weather. Your expedition 

into this region will include lessons in paddling techniques, rescue skills, planning routes 

and Patagonia’s natural history. 


Above: Leadership in action: kicking steps to the top of a 

snow slope. Left: Patagonia’s vast and sometimes austere 

landscape is unlike anywhere else on Earth. 

DETAILS ACADEMIC YEAR 

Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 135 days; 67 days (fall), 68 days (spring) 

Offered fall-spring 





4 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Expedition Planning; 2 hours Outdoor Educator; 3 hours WFR credit 



Kevin Emery




Touch down in the ancient world of the Himalayas 

and prepare for a semester packed 

with unparalleled language and cultural opportunities 

in one of the most breathtaking backcountry 

classrooms in the world. The Himalaya, or 

“abode of snow,” swings in a wide arc across four 

countries and includes Everest and K2 but 

reaches even higher in imaginations. 

This semester begins at NOLS Pacific Northwest 

in Conway, Washington to prepare rations 

and pack gear, then it is off to Delhi. Your adventure 

begins with a ride to the north Indian town of 

Ranikhet, a quiet rural town at 6,000 feet in the 

foothills of the Himalaya. 

Starting here, you will learn to travel lightly 

through the valleys of the Kumaon and Garhwal, 

where the thick conifer and broad-leaf trees of 

the lower altitudes turn to evergreens, birch, 

rhododendron and juniper forests in the high 

ridges and shrubs, sedges, grasses and wild 

flowers in the alpine zone. 

Views from Milam Valley: Nanda Devi East, one of the high peaks of the Himalayas. Once a trade route between India 

and Tibet, this valley will be your classroom for part of your NOLS India Semester. 

PINDARI VALLEY BACKPACKING 

A nine-day hike to the Pindari Valley will introduce you to this wilderness and to the skills 

you need to travel comfortably and responsibly, while also helping you build the leadership 

techniques you’ll carry with you the rest of your life. You’ll journey through villages while 

gaining spectacular views of the Himalaya and its wildlife, crossing some passes in the 

9,500- to 10,500-foot range. 

WILDERNESS ADVANCED FIRST AID (WAFA) 

Back in Ranikhet, you’ll experience the rural mountain life while you receive your Wilderness 

Advanced First Aid certification through the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS. 

This 40-hour course focuses on injury stabilization, treatment and evacuation guidelines 

of patients in backcountry environments. 

WHITEWATER RAFTING 

This 12-day section is based in the area around Rishikesh, one of the holiest spots in the 

Hindu tradition and home to much of its ritual and mythology. You will begin rafting on 

the holy Ganga (Ganges) as you hone paddling fundamentals. Once your skills advance and 

you begin to “read” the water, you’ll be ready for a few multi-day expeditions where you will 

learn to be paddle captain and row an oar raft. 

Kevin Emery 

CULTURAL 

Stretch your mind and body during these seven days. You will be introduced to and get insights 

into the key principals of Hatha Yoga as well as learn conversational Hindi. In the 

afternoons, you will visit nearby villages and practice your Hindi and also go on short treks 

to visit temples and other historical monuments. 

MILAM VALLEY BACKPACKING 

The Milam (Johar) Valley was once the trade route between India and Tibet. You’ll travel 

in those traders’ footsteps through remote villages, lush river valleys and flower-strewn 

meadows, with alpine glaciers in the distance. The trek will culminate with an independent 

student group expedition where you will use every skill you've acquired so far. 


Above: Practicing Hatha Yoga in the place it originated 

will stretch your body and your mind. Left: Elevate and 

immerse yourself in this sacred land and culture. 





Course start/end: Conway, Washington / New Delhi, India 

Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington / New Delhi, India 





Brooke Cunningham


AUSTRALIA 

Australian semesters are expeditions of discovery 

in a land of great contrasts. 

The spring semester consists of canoeing, 

AUSTRALIA 

backpacking and cultural sections. For 75 days, 

you’ll travel as a group through northwestern 

Australia’s Kimberley region, a place so remote 

you’ll get there by four-wheel drive vehicle or 

light plane, and you won’t return to civilization 

until the semester ends. 

Jen Klewitz 

The summer semester includes backpacking, 

sea kayaking, sailing and cultural sections, 

where you’ll explore the Kimberley and the Pilbara 

regions, learning how to be comfortable in 

both bush and marine environments. 

You’ll see crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, 

geckos, cockatoos, kookaburras and honeyeaters, 

as well as huge termite mounds. Both semesters 

also spend time on the coast, with opportunities to 

see turtles, a variety of reef fish species, coral and 

other marine animals. The uniqueness of Australia’s 

natural surroundings makes this an ideal place for 

you to challenge yourself, learn and have fun. 

A semester in Australia provides the opportunity to experience the diverse landscape of the country. Here, students 

hike through the northern Kimberly’s lush eucalyptus groves. 


(spring only) During this five-week section, you’ll travel through the heart of the Kimberley, 

both by canoe and on foot. You’ll paddle and portage your boat and gear down the Drysdale 

River, one of the most remote rivers in the world, while you learn the intricacies of canoe travel 

and develop your leadership style. You’ll also take exploratory day hikes into the wilderness. 


(summer only) You’ll begin your sea kayaking adventure in the waters surrounding the 

Dampier Archipelago, a group of 42 rocky islands offering scrubby eucalyptus valleys and 

isolated coral reefs. Here you’ll have the opportunity to learn sea kayaking skills, explore the 

colorful marine ecosystem, and visit the most prolific Aboriginal petroglyph site in the world. 


Your backpacking section will be in the Kimberley, in areas that offer everything from 

gorges and grasslands to billabongs (water holes) and waterfalls. You’ll learn about the local 

cattle stations and how to backpack effectively in this hot, dry environment. You may also 

use everything you’ve learned up until now on a student expedition. 

CULTURAL 

(spring only) You’ll head out by bus and small boat to the Bardi Aboriginal homelands for 

a week on the coast and islands of the Indian Ocean. You’ll study the marine ecology and learn 

Bardi crafts and traditions like boomerang and spear making. 

(summer only) You’ll visit a local Aboriginal community, like Jarlmadangah, for a few days 

where you will learn about their traditional and present day lifestyles. 


(summer only) To round out your coastal skills, you’ll spend a week aboard a large, traditional 

55-foot sailing yacht exploring the Broome coastline. You will learn the fundamentals 

of basic coastal cruising, which include maneuvering a vessel under power and sail, 

along with coastal navigation and seamanship. 

Jim Chisolm 

Above: NOLS employee Duane Achoo dons his Aboriginal 

ceremonial dress. Left: The Kimberley’s Drysdale River. 

DETAILS SPRING SUMMER 

Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 70-75 days 

Offered spring, summer 

Tuition: $12,600 (spring); $10,250 (summer) 







Fredrik Norrsell


NEW ZEALAND 

The NOLS Semester in New Zealand is an exciting 

educational opportunity in a remarkable 

country. Your classroom will be New 

NEW ZEALAND 

Zealand’s South Island, a varied region of alpine 

grasslands, snowfields, rainforests, rugged 

mountains, spectacular gorges and broad valleys 

with unique birds and plants found nowhere else 

in the world, like the mischievous Kea, the 

Marco Johnson 

world’s only mountain parrot. 

For 75 days, learn about the region’s natural 

history and culture as you travel through the island’s 

forests, called the “bush,” which contain ancient 

remnants of Gondwana Land, the prehistoric 

continent. Along the way, you’ll spend two days 

with the local Maori, who will teach you about their 

history, culture and connection to the land. Then, 

whether you choose to canoe, sea kayak, or sail, 

you’ll practice technical skills along New Zealand’s 

coastlines or rivers, a dramatic contrast to the environment 

of your hiking sections. And no matter 

where this semester takes you, you’ll experience 

the varied and unpredictable weather of the “roaring 

forties”—the apt nickname for the conditions 

often found at these latitudes. 

New Zealand’s breathtaking high country is the perfect setting to develop solid leadership and backpacking skills. 


This month-long section will be the core of your semester as you learn the basics of backcountry 

travel amidst the steep and spectacular landscape of New Zealand’s Southern 

Alps. Most students find this section the most physically demanding, but also the greatest 

learning opportunity. 

CULTURAL 

You’ll visit a local Marae (meeting site) for a two-day cultural experience with a community 

of Maori, the original human inhabitants of New Zealand. You’ll learn about the traditions, 

art and mythology of a warlike people with a deep and sacred connection to the land. 


(optional dates) For two and a half weeks, you’ll follow the South Island rivers like the 

Clarence (Wai-au-toa), Hurunui or the Waiau. You’ll learn the essentials of canoe expeditioning 

as you paddle through some of New Zealand’s most classic hill country. 


(optional dates) You’ll spend two weeks sea kayaking in either the Marlborough Sounds 

or around Bank Peninsula. This section will begin with basic maneuvering, with additional 

classes on paddling techniques. You’ll also have classes on navigation, tides and currents, marine 

weather and communications, and other aspects of seamanship. 

MOUNTAINEERING SKILLS 

(optional dates) Up to three weeks long, this section provides a solid foundation of mountaineering 

skills that build on the skills you learn backpacking. You will travel in the challenging 

and dramatic alpine environments of one of several areas: Arthurs Pass National 

Park, the Arrowsmith Range, the Ahuriri/Ruataniwha Conservation Park or the Nelson 

Lakes National Park. 


(spring only) This 10-day section takes place in the Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds 

regions. In two sailing yachts, you will cook and live aboard, rotating crew positions and 

learning the fundamentals of basic coastal cruising. 

TC Rammelcamp 

Above: Students paddle hard through the whitewater of 

the Clarence River. Left: Kayaks let you get up close and 

personal with New Zealand’s stunning coastline. 




Tuition: $14,350 (fall); $14,100 (spring); (includes 12.5% New Zealand Goods and Services Tax) 

Course start/end: Christchurch, New Zealand 

Fly in/out: Christchurch, New Zealand 





Pascal Beauvais

SEMESTER ON 

THE BORDERS 

THE BORDERS 

There’s no doubt about it, this is one of the 

most geographically diverse semesters at 

NOLS. Your adventure will begin in the Southwest 

desert, a land of cactus and javelina, and as 

winter subsides you will move north, concluding 

in the lush Pacific Northwest with its snow-covered 

peaks and forested islands. 

During the only spring semester that combines 

both desert travel and maritime skills, you’ll 

experience a wide variety of adventures that will 

allow you to be a well-rounded wilderness traveler 

on land and sea. 

You’ll begin at NOLS Southwest in Tucson, 

Arizona for a Wilderness First Aid course, backpacking 

and climbing, and then transition to 

NOLS Pacific Northwest outside Seattle, Washington 

for sailing and sea kayaking. From scaling 

a rock wall in Arizona to slicing through the waters 

of British Columbia, you’ll learn a lot and 

have the time of your life. By visiting these two 

very different regions in North America, you’ll see 

just how versatile the NOLS curriculum is. 

Two distinct environments and four different skill sets make the Semester on the Borders a great way to get off campus 

and have the time of your life while still earning college credit. 


Hosted by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS, this 16-hour section covers first 

aid specific to wilderness emergencies and is essential for anyone spending extended time 

in the outdoors. 


You’ll begin your wilderness expedition in the rocky Galiuros Mountains that rise abruptly 

from the Southwest desert. Designated wilderness since 1964, this land of rugged cliffs and 

brightly colored rocks will be where you learn the essentials of backcountry travel. 


Arizona’s Cochise Stronghold promises warm, sunny weather and enough climbing routes 

to keep you roped up and cranking hard. The area’s tall domes make it an ideal base from 

which to learn top-roping, climbing movements and even multi-pitch skills. 


The coastal sailing section takes place in the northern reaches of the Strait of Georgia and 

Desolation Sound in British Columbia, Canada. You’ll learn how to sail and navigate 36- 

foot sailboats, each carrying a group of students and an instructor. On-water classes include 

boat handling, charts, coastal navigation and seamanship. 

Doug Demarest 


You’ll paddle the remote waters of British Columbia’s central coast on this section, visiting 

pristine sandy beaches, majestic fjords, ancient moss-covered rain forests, remote islands and 

sea caves. At the same time, you’ll learn a range of technical skills, from basic to advanced sea 

kayaking strokes to weather awareness and knowledge of tides and currents. Whales, sea lions 

and wolves are just a sample of the wildlife you could see on this amazingly wild waterway. 

Deborah Sussex 

Above: Learning to lead in the Galiuros Wilderness. Left: 

What goes up, must come down. Rappelling is a basic 

rock climbing skill you’ll learn at the crag. 

DETAILS SPRING 


Offered spring 


Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona/Conway, Washington 

Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona/Seattle, Washington 





Tom Bol

NEW! 

YEAR IN THE 

SONORAN 

SONORAN 

Just one year ago, NOLS created the longest 

course in the history of outdoor education, 

135 days, the equivalent of a year at college. We 

are excited to introduce for this fall our second 

such course, the new 135-day Sonoran Year. 

The Sonoran Desert spans 120,000 square 

miles from the American Southwest to the tip of 

Baja California, Mexico. Your NOLS year will be 

one of crossing boundaries, from the U.S. to 

Mexico and from the arid desert to the sea. You’ll 

sea kayak, sail, climb and hike in the unique 

Sonoran ecosystem, the most lush, diverse desert 

in North America, while also learning about the 

distinctive local cultures through Baja natural 

history and Southwestern literature. 

The Sonoran Year will take you far from the 

classroom and place you right in the middle of 

your education. When you return to campus 

you’ll have new skills, motivation and a year’s 

worth of college credit. 

Ashley Wise 

Above: Backpacking is a thread that runs through your 

entire Sonoran Year. Left: Calm waters and crisp sunsets 

are your reward after a day of coastal sailing in Baja. 

Sometimes it seems like the sun sets too early when you’re enjoying the ideal climbing conditions of the desert Southwest. 

BACKPACKING, SOUTHWESTERN LITERATURE AND BAJA CULTURE 

Backpacking will be the thread that runs through your entire year. First you’ll explore the 

Gila Range, setting the foundation for your course, then you’ll travel through the Galiuros 

Wilderness to study the celebrated writers of the American Southwest. In Mexico, you’ll 

learn about Mexican ranchero culture in the Sierra de San Francisco. 


Cochise Stronghold is a beautiful remote climbing area in the Dragoon Mountains of Arizona 

that provides excellent opportunities to cover a comprehensive climbing curriculum, 

including moving on rock as well as rope and anchor systems. 


Presented by WMI of NOLS, this 80-hour certification designed for outdoor professionals 

will give you the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote settings. 

LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR (LEADS) 

This closer look at the NOLS leadership curriculum is designed to explore in greater depth 

your own style of leadership and that of your coursemates. 


Paddling the wild desert coastline of the Baja Peninsula includes hands-on expedition planning, 

interpreting tides and currents, reading weather conditions, and exploring the underwater 

world through snorkeling, free diving, and, potentially, spear fishing. 

COASTAL SAILING, BAJA NATURAL HISTORY AND WHALE-WATCHING 

While on our 22-foot Drascombe Longboat you’ll work toward mastering the mechanics of 

sailing this open boat, including sail and line handling, wind awareness, anchoring procedures 

and capsize recovery. Then you will spend time with local naturalists, students and fisherman 

observing endemic flora and fauna, global warming evidence, and the migration of gray whales. 

INDEPENDENT STUDENT EXPEDITION 

Independent travel is an important part of an extended NOLS experience, and the successful 

completion of the Sonoran Year will culminate in an opportunity for you to apply 

all of your accumulated knowledge and skills to an autonomous student expedition. 

DETAILS 

ACADEMIC YEAR 

Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 135 days; 65 days (fall), 70 days (spring) 

Offered fall-spring 


Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona (fall) / Mulegé, BCS, Mexico (spring) 

Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona (fall) / Loreto, BCS, Mexico (spring) 


4 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Expedition Planning; 3 hours WFR credit 




Matt Carlson


THE AMAZON 

Join NOLS for an expedition into a place with 

more species of plants and animals, more 

free-flowing freshwater, and the largest intact 

THE AMAZON 

areas of rainforest left in the world. 

You’ll see trees in all different shapes and 

sizes, vines that wrap through the forest, colorful 

orchids and bromeliads, monkeys crashing over 

the treetops, snakes and lizards on the forest 

floor, capybara, toucans and macaws, and lots of 

insects. The jungle is vast, but you’ll get an entire 

semester to traverse the Amazon Basin from 

A break for culture: Students visit a rubber tapper, whose home has been elevated for the rainy season. 

Fabio Olivera 

south to north. 

Your 80-day adventure explores places such 

as the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands, the Brazilian 

Highlands, and one of the Amazon’s remote 

tributaries that runs into the main basin. You’ll also 

get a chance to meet the rainforest’s local peoples, 

including seringueiros (rubber tappers/frontiers 

people). If you crave a remote tropical expedition, 

get ready for the haunting sounds and smells of 

the jungle. 


The first few days of your course will be spent learning first aid at the NOLS Amazon base 

before leaving to start your expedition. 

AMAZON RIVER TRAVEL 

You may begin your river section by practicing paddling and river safety skills in the Brazilian 

Highlands for 7 to 10 days before entering the Amazon Basin proper. Then, for the next fourweek 

section of river travel, you’ll navigate canoes down the upper tributaries of the Madeira, 

Tapajos or Negro rivers and wind past the native ribeirinhos, indigenous tribes, gold miners 

and fishermen on your way to the main Amazon River. You’ll plunge into the heart of jungle 

river travel here as you hone your paddling skills and learn both tropical and river hazard management 

while negotiating rapids one day and paddling long stretches of still water the next. 


There are two hiking sections, one in the Brazilian (or Guiana) Highlands, where you will 

practice backpacking and land navigation, and one in the rainforest uplands of the Amazon 

Basin. Here you’ll learn the intricacies of camping in a rainforest, sleeping in hammocks, 

and finding routes. Cultural interactions with indigenous peoples are possible, as 

are opportunities for small group travel and a student expedition. 

CULTURAL 

The Amazon Basin’s biodiversity is matched only by the cultural diversity of its inhabitants. 

From locals living off fruits, plants, fish and the land to indigenous tribes with intact 

cultural practices, the Amazon offers a window into a unique and exotic world. 

Throughout your semester you will spend time with caboclos, seringueiros and indigenous 

people in their communities as you travel on foot and by riverboat. Our options include 

staying with local families, contributing to community projects, and visiting isolated riverside 

communities. At the end of your river section you will visit and live with a ribeirinho 

community for four to five days before finishing in Santarem. 

Matt Carlson 

Above: Hiking in the Curicuriari Mountains of Sao Gabriel 

da Cachoeira, Brazil. Left: Students Andrew McCoy and 

Joey Barrios take in the rich beauty of the rainforest. 

DETAILS FALL 


Offered fall 


Course start/end: Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil / Santarem, Brazil 

Fly in/out: Cuiaba, Brazil / Santarem, Brazil 





RISK MANAGEMENT AT NOLS 

INDEPENDENT STUDENT TRAVEL 

At NOLS you’re taught the outdoor leadership and skills you need 

to take others into the backcountry comfortably and responsibly. 

On most of our courses, one of the ways we help you develop 

into an outdoor leader is by giving you the opportunity to travel 

without instructors. By the end of the second week of many NOLS 

courses, you will travel in student groups without instructors for a 

day at a time. To prepare for this, you’ll have classes and practical 

experience with staff in backcountry travel. You’ll learn decisionmaking 

processes from your instructors, and they’ll observe, coach 

and help you develop your leadership. 

If your instructors decide that your group is ready, the culminating 

experience of many courses is the student expedition. For 

several days of your course, you and a few of your coursemates will 

travel without an instructor. You will put your traveling, navigation, 

camping, and leadership skills to use. 

Your instructors help the course divide into groups, select a 

leader and plan a route. You will know your instructors’ route and 

campsites (usually no more than a day away). You and your group 

make the daily leadership decisions but still have all the benefits of 

NOLS’ support systems. This is excellent preparation for the backcountry 

trips you will lead for family and friends after you get 

home and is often cited by our alumni as the highlight of their 

NOLS course. 

RISK MANAGEMENT 

The recognition and management of the inherent risks and hazards 

of living and traveling in remote wild areas is taught and practiced 

on every course. NOLS is committed to helping promote a positive 

learning environment and physical and emotional well-being for all 

students. We are very proud of our excellent record managing the 

risks of wilderness travel. 

Most of our students first hear about NOLS from our graduates. 

This is probably the best indication of how our graduates value 

their NOLS experience. We are sure they would be the first to join 

us in reminding you and your family that NOLS courses are not 

easy and involve travel through rugged terrain in which there are 

real dangers. The management of our activities with respect to these 

dangers is a fundamental part of the NOLS curriculum. Good physical 

conditioning and a positive mental attitude are essential. Each 

student plays an important role in the success of a NOLS course. 

You will be responsible for transporting your own gear. You 

will sleep outdoors, possibly in co-ed tent groups, prepare your own 

meals and be expected to care for yourself in weather conditions 

that can be extreme. On many courses there are opportunities for 

students to travel independently of instructors in groups of at least 

three for one or more days. There are times, such as in town at the 

beginning and end of the course or between semester sections, when 

students are not supervised by NOLS. 

Wilderness activity involves hazards; rockfall, wild rivers and 

freezing temperatures can pose a risk to even the most experienced 

outdoor leader. Activities ranging from simple day hikes to climbing 

glaciers can, due to error in judgment or the unpredictable forces 

of nature, become dangerous and potentially life-threatening. 

Our courses are isolated expeditions. The remoteness of the 

areas in which we travel can create complex emergency situations 

that have no simple solutions. It is not uncommon to be days from 

Learning how to identify hazards and adapt behavior is a key part of every NOLS course. 

medical help, but NOLS instructors are trained in first aid, specifically 

wilderness medicine, which is the specialty practice of adapting 

and applying first aid knowledge and skills to the unique 

circumstances of remote wilderness travel. NOLS also has comprehensive 

wilderness emergency response and evacuation procedures 

and is a leader in the use of appropriate field communication technology 

in remote wilderness locations. 

We carry a radio, cellular or satellite telephone or other electronic 

communication devices on each of our courses for life threatening 

emergencies, but this does not guarantee communication 

from the field to our support bases. Radios and portable phones 

can be unreliable depending on terrain, atmospheric conditions and 

other variables. Independent student travel groups may be separated 

from the radio or phone for 24 hours or more. 

The majority of medical incidents—sprains, flu, diarrhea, 

etc.—may be treated in the field. A more serious incident, such as a 

fracture, will require evacuation of the patient to a medical facility. 

It is important you understand that there are risks. Some adventure 

programs say that they can guarantee your safety. NOLS 

does not. The risk of injury, even serious injury or death, is unavoidable 

in the outdoor environment in which we teach. Indeed, 

much of the value of a NOLS course lies in learning how to identify 

hazards and adapt behavior, not only on the course, but also 

for a lifetime of enjoying the outdoors. 

When you come to NOLS, you will be attending the school 

that sets the standards in wilderness risk management, wilderness 

medicine and student well-being. We have published one of the 

leading texts on wilderness medicine, and NOLS’ Wilderness Medicine 

Institute (WMI) is at the cutting edge of this growing field. 

We are the leaders of the national Wilderness Risk Managers Committee, 

and each year NOLS Professional Training convenes the 

Wilderness Risk Management Conference for outdoor educators 

and adventure program administrators. 

Before you arrive on your NOLS course, thoroughly read all 

materials we send you and call us if you have questions. A report 

on NOLS risk management and history is available from our admission 

office. 

Willy Hazelhurst 

108

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION POLICIES 

HOW TO APPLY 

The easiest way to apply for a NOLS course is online at www.nols.edu. 

Or, you can fill out the application in this catalog and fax or mail it 

along with the $ 65 non-refundable application fee. After reviewing 

your application, we will enroll you on the course of your choice. If 

appropriate, be sure to provide several choices in order of preference. 

An enrollment packet containing a course description, equipment 

list, travel information and other materials to help you prepare 

for your course will be forwarded to you. You must return the following 

information from the enrollment packet: 

• student agreement and release form 

• statement of good standing, transcript and student information 

form (semester students only) 

• health form 

• insurance form 

All forms and a $ 250 non-refundable deposit are due 14 days 

after the receipt of your packet. The remaining tuition is due 75 

days before your course. 

ADMISSION POLICIES 

Final acceptance is contingent upon the receipt and approval of the 

materials listed above. NOLS seeks students who are motivated to 

learn outdoor skills and develop leadership, are in good health physically 

and emotionally, and are socially responsible. 

NOLS is not an appropriate choice for individuals dealing with 

behavioral, motivational or rehabilitation issues. We will deny admission 

to anyone we believe to be unable to meet the physical, 

mental, social or safety demands of our courses. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 

NOLS is committed to ensuring an environment in which diversity 

is a fundamental value. We believe that greater diversity will enhance 

the quality of NOLS and enrich understanding between students, 

employees and the broader community. NOLS welcomes 

individuals for employment or student application regardless of 

race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, color, 

national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status. 

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY 

NOLS students come to us from a wide variety of backgrounds. 

Some have quite a bit of outdoor experience; many others’ greatest 

outdoor accomplishment has been sleeping out in the backyard. If 

you are in good health physically and emotionally and are motivated 

to learn you can excel on a NOLS course. The desire to learn 

and participate is the most important factor for success. 

STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE 

NOLS will expel any student who exhibits behavior that is unsafe or 

disrupts or distracts from the educational mission of a course. Harassment, 

use of alcohol, illegal drugs and other substances, misuse 

of prescription medications, theft or misuse of property, low motivation, 

and disregarding instructions are examples of behavior that 

will lead to expulsion. If a student is expelled, there will be no refund. 

No experience necessary: a good attitude and a desire to learn are the most important 

factors for success on a NOLS course. 

CANCELLATION POLICIES 

If you cancel or leave a course for any reason: 

• between 15 and 29 days prior to the course starting date, NOLS 

will retain 25 percent of the course tuition. 

• between 8 and 14 days prior to the course starting date, NOLS 

will retain 50 percent of the course tuition. 

• less than 8 days prior to the course starting date and once the 

course has begun, there will be no refunds. 

TRANSFER POLICIES 

If you transfer from one course to another: 

• 30 or more days prior to the course starting date, there will be a 

$ 

25 processing charge. 

• 29 days or less prior to the course starting date, regular cancellation 

and refund charges will apply. 

Although we rarely need to do so, we reserve the right to cancel a 

course or change a course duration, tuition or location. NOLS is 

not responsible for costs associated in these cases. We recommend 

that you consider refundable airplane tickets and tuition insurance. 

CONTACT US 

NOLS Admissions 

Phone: (800) 710-NOLS (6657) 

Fax: (307) 332-1220 

Email: admissions@nols.edu 

Talk to a NOLS Alumni Rep: alumni_reps@nols.edu 

Hours: 

8am–7pm, Monday-Thursday, MST 

8am–5pm, Friday, MST 

Extended hours January 5- July 15: 

7am–7pm, Monday-Thursday, MST 

7am–5pm, Friday, MST 

Julie Brown 


COURSE DATES AND TUITIONS 


WIND RIVER WILDERNESS PAGE 22 

16 & OVER 

Tuition: $3,650 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours 

May 27-June 25, 2008 June 16-July 15, 2008 June 30-July 29, 2008 

June 2-July 1, 2008 June 19-July 18, 2008 July 3-Aug. 1, 2008 



July 21 - Aug. 19, 2008 

16 & 17 ONLY 





June 19-July 18, 2008 

23 & OVER 


July 13-July 26, 2008 Aug. 3-Aug. 16, 2008 Sept. 7-Sept. 20, 2008 

40 & OVER 


July 13-July 26, 2008 Aug. 3-Aug. 16, 2008 

ABSAROKA BACKPACKING PAGE 22 

Tuition: $3575 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours 

May 29-June 27, 2008 July 10-Aug. 8, 2008 

June 12-July 11, 2008 July 17-Aug. 15, 2008 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIGHT AND FAST BACKPACKING PAGE 23 

23 & OVER 


July 20-Aug. 2, 2008 Aug. 3-Aug. 16, 2008 

40 & OVER 


July 20-Aug. 2, 2008 

NOLS/ORVIS TM WILDERNESS FLY FISHING PAGE 23 


June 19-July18, 2008 July 21-Aug. 19, 2008 

WYOMING BACKPACKING ADVENTURE PAGE 24 

FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS 

Tuition: $4,435 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: NA 



June 19-July 18, 2008 June 30-July 29, 2008 

ROCKY MTN. OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 24 

BACKPACKING WITH ROCK CLIMBING OR WFR 


June 2-June 24, 2008 July 14-Aug. 5, 2008 Sept. 1-Sept. 23, 2008 


June 16-July 15, 2008 (w/ WFR) July 14-Aug. 12, 2008 (w/WFR) 

WIND RIVER MOUNTAINEERING PAGE 25 




ROCK CLIMBING PAGE 25 

16 & OVER 


July 10-July 30, 2008 July 17-Aug. 6, 2008 July 24-Aug. 13, 2008 

30-DAY 



16 & 17 ONLY 


July 10-July 30, 2008 July 24-Aug. 13, 2008 

ROCK AND RIVER PAGE 26 


May 15-June 13, 2008 June 8-July 7, 2008 June 19-July 18, 2008 


WILDERNESS HORSEPACKING PAGE 27 

16 & OVER 


June 4-June 24, 2008 July 7-July 27, 2008 Aug. 4-Aug. 24, 2008 


23 & OVER 


June 14-June 27, 2008 Aug. 31-Sept. 13, 2008 

WHITEWATER RIVER EXPEDITION PAGE 27 


June 4-June 19, 2008 July 3-July 18, 2008 

July 16-July 31, 2008 Aug. 4-Aug. 19, 2008 

RIVER GUIDES PAGE 26 


May 10-May 30, 2008 

SEMESTER IN THE ROCKIES PAGE 75 

SPRING 

Tuition: $10,375; $10,790 w/WFR • Equipment Deposit: $700 • 

College Credit: 16 hours 

Section 1&2: Winter (Ski), WFR, Canyon, Climbing, Canoe Expedition 

Feb. 6-May 2, 2008 

Section 3&4: Winter (Ski), WFA, Canyon, Climbing, River Travel 

(Kayak/Raft/Canoe) 


Section 5: Canyon, WFA, Climbing, River Travel (Canoe/Kayak/Raft), Horsepacking 

March 5-May 30, 2008 

SUMMER 


Backpacking, Climbing, River Travel (Kayak/Raft) 

June 9-Aug. 15, 2008 

FALL 

Tuition: $10,600; $11,250 w/WFR • Equipment Deposit: $700 • 

College Credit: 16 hours; 19 hours w/ WFR 

Section 1&2: Backpacking, WFR, Canoe Expedition, Climbing, Canyon 

Aug. 18-Nov. 19, 2008 

Section 3&4: Mountaineering, WFA, River (Kayak/Raft/Canoe), Climbing, Canyon 


Section 5: Backpacking, WFR, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski) 

Sept. 1-Dec. 3, 2008 

Section 6: River Travel, WFR, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski) 


Section 7: Mountaineering, WFA, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski) 


Section 8: Mountaineering, WFA, River Travel, Canyon, Winter (Ski) 


Section 9 (Gap Year Section for 17 to 19 year olds): Backpacking, WFA, 

Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Snowboard) 


SEMESTER FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATORS PAGE 79 



Winter (Ski), WFR, Canyon, Climbing, Leave No Trace Master’s 


110

FALL 


Backpacking, WFR, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski), Leave No Trace Master’s 


TETON VALLEY 

SALMON BACKPACKING AND RAFTING PAGE 30 


June 22-July 19, 2008 July 16-Aug. 12, 2008 July 24-Aug. 20, 2008 

SALMON BACKPACKING AND RAFTING PAGE 30 

ADVENTURE FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS 



IDAHO BACKPACKING ADVENTURE PAGE 31 



June 18-July 1, 2008 July 18-July 31, 2008 

July 7-July 20, 2008 July 25-Aug. 7, 2008 

50 DAY ADVENTURE EXPEDITION PAGE 31 




WINTER OUTDOOR EDUCATOR PAGE 32 


Jan. 8-Jan. 28, 2008 

SNOWBOARDING PAGE 32 


Jan. 4-Jan. 17, 2008 Feb. 17-March 1, 2008 

SKIING PAGE 33 

17 & OVER 


Jan. 4-Jan. 17, 2008 Feb. 10-Feb. 23, 2008 

23 & OVER 


Dec. 29, 2007-Jan. 9, 2008 Feb. 24-March 6, 2008 


WADDINGTON RANGE MOUNTAINEERING PAGE 36 



NORTH CASCADES MOUNTAINEERING PAGE 36 

17 & OVER 




23 & OVER 


Aug. 13-Aug. 29, 2008 Aug. 25-Sept.10, 2008 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BACKPACKING PAGE 37 


May 21-June 20, 2008 June 25-July 25, 2008 July 23-Aug. 22, 2008 


PACIFIC NORTHWEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 38 


24-DAY 


June 4-June 27, 2008 July 16-Aug. 8, 2008 

31-DAY 



PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP LEADER PAGE 39 


June 7-June 15, 2008 Aug. 16-Aug. 24, 2008 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST SEA KAYAKING AND SAILING PAGE 39 

Tuition: $4,100 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 2 


SEMESTER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST PAGE 81 

FALL 


Mountain Travel, Canoeing, Climbing, Sailing, Student Expedition 

Aug. 27-Nov. 14, 2008 Sept. 3-Nov. 21, 2008 Sept. 10-Nov. 28, 2008 

SEMESTER ON THE BORDERS PAGE 105 



WFA, Backpacking, Climbing, Coastal Sailing, Sea Kayaking 



SOUTHWEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 42 



Jan. 10-Feb. 9, 2008 

GILA RANGE BACKPACKING PAGE 42 


April 10-May 9, 2008 

SOUTHWEST LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING PAGE 43 



SEMESTER IN THE SOUTHWEST PAGE 83 



WFA, Galiuros Backpacking, Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Gila Backpacking 

Jan. 11-April 7, 2008 Feb. 3-April 30, 2008 

FALL 


WFA, Gila Backpacking, Climbing, Canoeing, Caving, Backpacking 

Sept. 1-Nov. 27, 2008 Sept. 8-Dec. 4, 2008 

SEMESTER ON THE BORDERS PAGE 103 



WFA, Backpacking, Climbing, Coastal Sailing, Sea Kayaking 


YEAR IN THE SONORAN PAGE 105 

FALL 


September 29, 2008-March 18, 2009 (Holiday Break: Dec. 3, 2008-Jan. 7, 2009) 

ALASKA 

ALASKA SEA KAYAKING PAGE 46 

16 & OVER 




16 & 17 ONLY 



23 & OVER 


May 25-June 7, 2008 June 29-July 12, 2008 

ALASKA BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING PAGE 46 




ALASKA MOUNTAINEERING PAGE 47 

17 & OVER 


May 20-June 18, 2008 June 19-July 18, 2008 


23 & OVER 



DENALI MOUNTAINEERING (ALUMNI ONLY) PAGE 47 



BROOKS RANGE COURSES PAGE 48 

BROOKS RANGE BACKPACKING AND RIVER 



BROOKS RANGE BACKPACKING (23 & OVER) 


Aug. 10-Aug. 23, 2008 

ALASKA BACKPACKING PAGE 49 


16 & OVER 



16 & 17 ONLY 


ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 49 

BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING 



ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: BACKPACKING PAGE 49 



SEMESTER IN ALASKA PAGE 85 

SUMMER 


Sea Kayaking, Backpacking, Glacier Mountaineering 

May 25-Aug. 7, 2008 June 4-Aug. 17, 2008 June 10-Aug. 23, 2008 

YUKON 

YUKON OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: 

BACKPACKING AND WHITEWATER CANOEING PAGE 52 



YUKON BACKPACKING PAGE 52 



30-DAY YUKON BACKPACKING AND PAGE 53 

WILDERNESS CANOEING 

Tuition: $3,750 • Equipment Deposit: • $350 College Credit: 6 hours 


SEMESTER IN THE YUKON PAGE 87 

SUMMER 


Backpacking, Mountaineering, Canoeing 


MEXICO 

BAJA COASTAL SAILING PAGE 56 


Jan. 3-Jan. 24, 2008 Oct. 15-Nov. 5, 2008 

BAJA SEA K AYAKING PAGE 56 

16 & OVER 


Jan. 4-Jan. 25, 2008 March 5-March 26, 2008 

Oct. 20-Nov. 10, 2008 

23 & OVER 


Feb. 3-Feb. 16, 2008 

SEMESTER IN BAJA PAGE 89 



Backpacking, Sailing, Sea Kayaking 

Jan. 17-April 3, 2008 Jan. 31-April 17, 2008 

FALL 


Backpacking, Sailing, Sea Kayaking 

Sept. 10-Nov. 26, 2008 Sept. 24-Dec. 10, 2008 

BAJA OCEAN SEMESTER PAGE 91 



WFA, Sea Kayaking, Sailing, Keelboat Sailing 

Feb. 5-April 19, 2008 

FALL 


WFA, Sea Kayaking, Sailing, Keelboat Sailing 

Oct. 4-Dec. 17, 2008 

YEAR IN THE SONORAN PAGE 105 

FALL 


September 29, 2008-March 18, 2009 (Holiday Break: Dec. 3, 2008-Jan. 7, 2009) 

PATAGONIA 

PATAGONIA MOUNTAINEERING PAGE 60 

Tuition: $5470 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours 

Jan. 10-Feb. 12, 2008 

PATAGONIA SEA KAYAKING PAGE 60 

23 & OVER 



112

PATAGONIA BACKPACKING AND FLY FISHING PAGE 61 

23 & OVER 


Feb. 23-March 7, 2008 

SEMESTER IN PATAGONIA PAGE 93 



WFR, Mountain Travel, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking 

Jan. 19-April 7, 2008 Feb. 6-April 25, 2008 

FALL 


WFR, Mountain Travel, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking 

Sept. 15-Dec. 3, 2008 Sept. 29-Dec. 17, 2008 

YEAR IN PATAGONIA PAGE 95 

FALL 


WFR, Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Cultural, Climbing, Mountain Travel, Backpacking 

Oct. 14, 2008-March 19, 2009 (Holiday Break: Dec. 20, 2008-Jan. 10, 2009) 


HIMALAYA BACKPACKING PAGE 64 


April 30-June 3, 2008 May 14-June 17, 2008 Oct. 1-Nov. 4, 2008 

HIMALAYA MOUNTAINEERING PAGE 64 


April 2-May 11, 2008 Sept. 5-Oct. 14, 2008 

NEW ZEALAND 

SEMESTER IN NEW ZEALAND PAGE 101 


Tuition: $14,100 (includes 12.5% NZ Goods and Services Tax) • 

Equipment Deposit: $600 • College Credit: 16 hours 

Backpacking, Cultural, Canoeing, Sea Kayaking 

Jan. 21- April 4, 2008 

Canoeing, Cultural, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking 

Jan. 31-April 14, 2008 

Backpacking, Mountain Skills, Cultural, Sea Kayaking 

Feb. 4-April 18, 2008 

Backpacking, Cultural, Sea Kayaking/Coastal Cruising 

March 2-May 15, 2008 

FALL 

Tuition: $14,350 (includes 12.5% NZ Goods and Services Tax) • 

Equipment Deposit: $600 • College Credit: 16 hours 

Canoeing, Sea Kayaking, Cultural, Backpacking 


Backpacking, Mountain Skills, Cultural, Canoeing 


Backpacking, Canoeing, Cultural, Sea Kayaking 


Backpacking, Cultural, Sea Kayaking, Mountain Skills 


SCANDINAVIA 

SCANDINAVIAN SEA KAYAKING AND BACKPACKING PAGE 70 



SEMESTER IN INDIA PAGE 97 



Backpacking, WAFA, River Rafting, Yoga-Hindi 

March 26-June 13, 2008 

FALL 


Backpacking, WAFA, Backpacking, Yoga-Hindi, River Rafting 


AUSTRALIA 

AUSTRALIA BACKPACKING PAGE 68 



AUSTRALIA BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING PAGE 68 


June 24-Aug. 7, 2008 July 6-Aug. 19, 2008 

SEMESTER IN AUSTRALIA PAGE 99 



Canoeing, Backpacking, Cultural 

March 14-May 27, 2008 March 21-June 3, 2008 

SUMMER 


Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Coastal Cruising, Cultural 


BAFFIN ISLAND 

BAFFIN ISLAND BACKPACKING AND PAGE 71 

WHITEWATER CANOEING 


July 6-Aug. 4, 2008 July 11-Aug. 9, 2008 

AMAZON 

SEMESTER IN THE AMAZON PAGE 107 

FALL 


Amazon River Travel (canoe), Backpacking, Cultural Section 

Sept. 1-Nov. 19, 2008 

INSTRUCTOR COURSES 

See the ad on page 114 for more information! 


MOUNTAIN RIVER SAILING 

Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain-Utah Baja 

May 1-June 4, 2008 April 20-May 23, 2008 Nov. 14-Dec. 18, 2008 

May 15 -June 18, 2008 Yukon 

July 7-Aug. 10, 2008 June 2-July 3, 2008 

Alaska 

May 9-June 12, 2008 SEA KAYAKING 

Southwest 

Pacific Northwest 

April 9-May 12, 2008 April 23-May 27, 2008 


This could be your job. 

If you love the outdoors and have great communication skills, instructing 

for NOLS may be your opportunity of a lifetime. 

Launch your NOLS instructor career with: 

• The NOLS Instructor Course, a month long course for aspiring 

NOLS instructors. You’ll get the tools to teach the next generation of 

NOLS students—in-depth instruction on teaching the NOLS curriculum 

and training about NOLS protocols. 

• The Professional Instructor Course, an 18-day course for very 

experienced practicing outdoor educators. We’ll recognize your 

accomplishments and put you on the fast-track to working for NOLS. 

Year-round work, instructor seminars to continue your growth and NOLS 

support for personal expeditions are all part of the package. Work and 

travel the world with NOLS! 

For more information, check out www.nols.edu/alumni/employment. For 

dates and tuitions, see page 113. 

Photo: Fredrik Norrsell

WE WROTE THE BOOKS 

ON WILDERNESS EDUCATION 

NOLS students benefit from more than 40 years of curriculum innovation, but you don’t 

have to spend 30 days in the backcountry to get a taste of NOLS expertise. Our library 

of wilderness books contains titles ranging from wildland ethics to wilderness medicine. 

Used in university classrooms and an essential part of any outdoor book collection, NOLS 

titles represent the cutting edge in outdoor literature. 

The textbooks of wilderness skills from the leader in wilderness education. Available at 

www.nols.edu/store or your local bookseller. 

NOLS LIBRARY OF WILDERNESS SKILLS: 

• NOLS Wilderness Guide 

• NOLS Wilderness Medicine 

• NOLS Wilderness Mountaineering 

• NOLS Soft Paths: How to Enjoy the 

Wilderness Without Harming It 

• NOLS Cookery 

• NOLS Wilderness Ethics: Valuing and 

Managing Wild Places 

• NOLS Wilderness Navigation 

• NOLS Winter Camping 

• NOLS Wilderness Wisdom 

WMI TITLES: 

• Backcountry First Aid and Extended Care 

• Wilderness First Responder Textbook 

NEW NOLS TITLES COMING SOON: 

• NOLS Backcountry Cooking: Creative 

Menu Planning for Short Trips 

• NOLS Backcountry Nutrition 

Field Guide 

• NOLS Expedition Planning 

Photo: Brad Christensen

WMI 

WILDERNESS MEDICINE INSTITUTE 

Founded in 1990, the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS 

(WMI) provides the highest quality education and information for 

the recognition, treatment, and prevention of wilderness emergencies. 

EXPERIENCE, DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIP 

WMI courses use dynamic scenarios to make you feel like 

it’s happening for real and give you the confidence and 

decision-making abilities to handle medical emergencies 

in remote settings. 

TIME-TESTED, PHYSICIAN-APPROVED 

WMI classroom time is filled with a practical curriculum 

that is evidence-based, not just copied out of a textbook. 

We teach wilderness medicine practices and protocols that 

are supported by our physician-based medical advisory panel 

and constantly updated by our curriculum director. Our students 

get the latest findings and protocols in the industry. 

THE LEADER IN WILDERNESS MEDICINE 

For 17 years, WMI has been the most recognized and respected 

teacher of wilderness medicine, training more 

than 50,000 students around the world. Our graduates 

head into the backcountry prepared to make complex 

decisions, act with confidence and save lives. 

Photos: WMI archives 

If you spend any time in the backcountry, you need 

wilderness medicine training, and WMI is the best 

place to get that training. 

OUR COURSES 

• Wilderness EMT 

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR)—80 hours—required for 

field work at NOLS and most other outdoor programs 

• Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) 

• Wilderness First Aid (WFA)—16-24 hours—pre-approved by the 

American Camping Association and the USDA Forest Service 

• Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals 

• Wilderness Medicine: Practices and Protocols 

• Wilderness First Responder Recertification 

TO REGISTER 

The Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS 

www.nols.edu/wmi 

(866) 831-9001 

wmi@nols.edu 

T HE L EADER I N W ILDERNESS M EDICINE E DUCATION 

116

NOLS Professional Training takes the teaching and leadership 

curriculum that has made NOLS the best in the industry and 

creates a custom course to fit your unique needs. 

Photos left to right: Matt Deines, Brad Christensen, David Anderson, Brad Christensen 

Some who have chosen NOLS: 

• Duke University 

• Four Seasons Hotels 

• Gates Capital Management 

• Interagency Wildland Firefighters 

• International Sustainable Development Institute 

• NASA 

• National Park Service 

• The Latin School of Chicago 

• The Wharton School of Business 

• Timbuk2 

• United States Naval Academy 

• Morehead Cain Scholars 

NOLS Professional Training 

www.nols.edu/nolspro 

(800) 710-NOLS ext.3 

nolspro@nols.edu 

Custom Courses 

You decide how much time you have and where in the world you want your course 

to take place. Together, we will build a unique NOLS program based on leadership and 

teamwork, technical skills, environmental studies or risk management to meet your 

group’s needs. 

Schools, college outdoor programs, businesses, and government and military agencies 

have chosen NOLS for their customized outdoor experiences. 

Risk Management Consulting & Training 

If you run an outdoor program you need NOLS’ risk management consulting. For 40 

years we have set the industry standards in wilderness risk management, wilderness 

medicine and field practices. Attend a two-day risk management training for an institutional 

perspective. We’ll audit, advise and improve your risk management program. 

NOLS is also the founder of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and the 

convener of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. Visit www.nols.edu/wrmc 

for more information and to register. 

Leadership Training 

Explore four leadership roles. Learn seven specific leadership skills. Recognize your 

personal leadership style. NOLS Professional Training offers customized leadership 

programs that range from 2 to 14 days in length. At your place or ours, NOLS instructors 

will deliver the NOLS expeditionary leadership model and give your team 

the tools to excel. 

Expeditionary leadership—setting goals, effectively using resources, achieving. 

That’s leadership NOLS-style.

NOLS APPLICATION 

The easiest way to apply for a NOLS course is online at www.nols.edu. 

Or, fill out this application and fax or mail it along with the $ 65 non-refundable application fee. 

NAME 

First Last Middle Preferred 

Please check only one box indicating where you want your information sent: 

PERMANENT ADDRESS ❏ Send information to this address TEMPORARY ADDRESS ❏ Send information to this address 

Address good from: / / to: / / 

Street (include apt., box, etc.) 

City State Zip Street (include apt., box, etc.) 

Permanent Phone Number City State Zip 

Cell Phone Number 

Temporary Phone Number 

E-mail address 

Birthdate / / Age Sex ❏F ❏M Height Weight 

Citizen of 

Names and ages of siblings 

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT NOLS? 

❏NOLS Graduate (who?) 

❏NOLS Instructor (who?) 

❏NOLS Parent (who?) 

❏NOLS Staff (who?) 

❏ Magazine/newspaper article ❏ Television program ❏ Educational consultant ❏ Outdoor retail store 

❏ Conference/trade show ❏ School counselor or teacher ❏ Web search ❏ NOLS catalog ❏ Parent/friend 

Have you seen the NOLS Bus? ❏Yes ❏No 

EDUCATION AND WORK HISTORY 

Current or last school attended 

Are you currently enrolled ❏Yes ❏No If yes, estimated year of completion: 

Highest level completed (check one): ❏H.S. Diploma ❏B.A./B.S. ❏M.A./M.S. ❏Ph.D. Other 

Occupation Title Employer 

ETHNIC ORIGIN (responding is optional) 

❏ American Indian or Alaskan Native ❏ Asian or Pacific Islander ❏ Black, not of hispanic origin ❏ Hispanic or Latino 

❏ White, not of hispanic origin ❏ Multiracial ❏ Other 

PARENT OR GUARDIAN INFORMATION (required for students age 25 or younger) 

Mother (Mrs., Ms., Dr.) 

Father (Mr., Dr.) 

❏ Address is the same as the student’s permanent address. ❏ Address is the same as the student’s permanent address. 



City State Zip City State Zip 

Daytime Phone Number Evening Phone Number Daytime Phone Number Evening Phone Number 


E-mail 

Employer 

Title 


E-mail 

Employer 

Title 

COURSE REGISTRATION 

Have you applied for a NOLS course before? ❏ Yes ❏ No Course Course Date / / 

Indicate your course selections in order of preference. If available, we will enroll you in one of these. 

1 st Choice Course Title Start date 

2 nd Choice Course Title Start date 

3 rd Choice Course Title Start date 

Outdoor Educator Applicants: Are you currently employed, or are you seeking employment, in outdoor education? ❏ Yes ❏ No 

(continued on the other side)

STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE 

This questionnaire is designed to help you identify your reasons for electing to pursue a NOLS course, while providing us with an 

opportunity to get to know you better. 

What has been your greatest success in the last six months? 

A NOLS course is very physically demanding. Describe your regular physical activities or sports, including what types of exercise 

you do, how often and for how long. If you do not exercise regularly, tell us how you plan to prepare for your course. 

A NOLS course requires that all participants commit physically, mentally and emotionally to the success of the expedition. Identify 

an activity to which you have made a major commitment. Describe how you demonstrated that commitment. 

PERSON TO NOTIFY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY (required for all applicants) 

Name Phone: Day ( ) Eve. ( ) 

Address 

Street City State Zip 

Relationship to applicant (check one): ❏ parent ❏ spouse ❏ other relative ❏ friend ❏ guardian ❏ employer ❏ partner 

I have read, understand, accept and agree to abide by the rules, policies and guidelines set forth in this catalog. I understand that the 

relationship between me and NOLS will be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Wyoming and any suit, mediation or 

arbitration of any dispute with NOLS must be filed exclusively in the State of Wyoming. I understand that I am not accepted on 

my course until all enrollment forms have been received and approved by the NOLS Admission Office. I give NOLS permission to 

share my contact information with other NOLS students or graduates and/or with environmental organizations or strategic partners 

in which NOLS graduates may be interested. I also give NOLS permission to use my name, contact information and picture 

in promotional materials and press releases. 

Signature of Applicant Date / / 

Signature of Parent or Guardian is also required, to reflect agreement, if applicant is under 18 years of age: 

Date / / 

Applications without the application fee will not be processed. Complete the credit card information below or attach the $ 65 

application fee, payable to NOLS, to the front of application and forward to: 

NOLS Admission Office 

284 Lincoln Street 

Lander, WY 82520-2848 

(800) 710-NOLS (6657) 

admissions@nols.edu 

NOLS also accepts applications by fax: (307) 332-1220 

If faxing, the application fee must be paid by credit card. 

❏ Check here if paying application fee by credit card: ❏ VISA ❏ MasterCard 

Name on card: 

Signature: 

Account number: 

Expiration Date: 

Catalog 2008

SHAPING THE 

Future of Travel 

NOLS is the proud nonprofit, educational partner of the Adventure Collection, 

a collaboration of ten leading independent outdoor travel organizations. 

For more than six years the Adventure Collection has been shaping the future 

of adventurous exploration with a laser focus on responsible travel and a 

dedication to innovation. To learn more, visit www.adventurecollection.com. 

CREATING 

SM 

Since the fall of 2004, the NOLS Bus has traveled the country running on used 

vegetable oil collected at restaurants along their routes. The NOLS Bus and its staff 

of recent NOLS graduates are taking our message of outdoor skills, leadership and 

environment to schools and colleges nationwide while offering climbing clinics, leadership 

workshops and expedition slideshows in the bus’s solar-powered theater. 

While veggie oil makes our engine run, Stonyfield Farm keeps the Creating a Climate for 

Change tour on the road. Stonyfield Farm, the world’s leading organic yogurt manufacturer, 

generously sponsors our travels and provides its incredibly delicious products for 

sampling at every stop. 

More than a yogurt maker, Stonyfield Farm is an educator advocating that healthy food 

can only come from a healthy planet and demonstrating that socially responsible 

businesses can also be profitable. Stonyfield donates 10 percent of its profits 

to environmental causes, was America’s first manufacturer to offset 

100 percent of its CO 2 emissions from its facility energy use, and recently 

installed the fifth largest solar array in New England to help 

power its production plant—all efforts to reduce global warming. NOLS 

is proud to be partnered with this like-minded organization. 

Through education and action, NOLS and Stonyfield Farm 

are Creating A Climate for Change SM .

Our Environmental Commitment 

L 

et’s face it. NOLS students travel the globe to far-flung locations. We use outdoor gear and 

clothing made from synthetics derived from petroleum. We hike and paddle in pristine wilderness. 

NOLS makes a mark, and not just with the incredible education our students receive. 

Since 1965 NOLS has been constantly refining its environmental practices to minimize the footprint 

we leave, whether we are educating students in the backcountry or conducting business around the world. 

We research, reduce, reuse, recycle and repent. 

Minimum Impact Practices 

Environmental Sustainability Initiative 

In 2007 we launched an initiative to take a closer look at how green we 

really are. Even with efforts like the solar-powered shower house at NOLS 

Southwest, the organic vegetable garden at NOLS Alaska, and the vegetable-oil-powered 

NOLS Bus touring the country to create awareness of 

today’s environmental issues, we felt it was high time we made a more 

concerted school-wide push for environmental sustainability and minimizing 

the school’s carbon footprint. 

Pure Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in sustainability audits, 

evaluated our facilities and systems at all our locations to collect data 

that gives us a snapshot of our current environmental footprint. The assessment 

evaluated our energy use and emissions, water consumption, 

food and rations systems, solid waste and recycling, building design, toxic 

materials management, equipment purchasing, travel policies, and mission 

and values. Pure Strategies will provide school-wide recommendations 

on how we can most effectively and efficiently reduce our footprint. 

See www.nols.edu for updates on our progress throughout 2008. 

Carbon Offsetting 

In addition to our Environmental Sustainability Initiative, NOLS also invests 

in greenhouse gas offset projects that help neutralize the negative impacts of 

our electric consumption, air and ground travel. Since 2006, NOLS has purchased 

offsets from NativeEnergy, a majority Native American-owned offset 

company that focuses on projects on tribal lands and small family farms. 

Join us by using our Travel Calculator to figure out your carbon footprint 

before setting out for your NOLS course or next big adventure. It’s 

educational, easy and you’ll be making a difference. See www.nols.edu for 

more details. 

Sustainable Printing Processes 

This beautiful NOLS catalog is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chainof-custody 

certified. That means it was made with post-consumer waste 

(PCW) recycled pulp and pulp acquired from forests that are managed in 

accordance with the FSC’s strict criteria and tracked through their chainof-custody 

process. It was then printed at an FSC-certified facility using 

soy inks. The result is not only a great final product, but one that contributes 

to conservation, responsible management, and community-level 

benefits for people near the forests that provide our paper. Check out the 

environmental audit at right for more detailed information. 

Visit www.fscus.org to learn more about the Forest Stewardship 

Council and www.wlinpco.com for information about West Linn Paper 

Company, their environmental practices, and the Nature brand paper 

used in this cataog. 

Maximum Impact Education 

At the end of the day, our students and graduates are NOLS’ greatest contribution 

to the environment. They experience our planet’s power and 

beauty, and they understand its fragility. NOLS grads are skilled positive 

leaders with an environmental awareness and a strong ethical foundation. 

Through our students, NOLS is creating a climate for change. 

Savings achieved by using 10% post-consumer 

waste recycled FSC-certified Nature paper 

94.92 trees preserved for the future 

274.09 lbs waterborne waste not created; 

40,320 gallons wastewater flow saved 

4,461 lbs solid waste not generated 

8,784 lbs net greenhouse gases prevented 

67,235,000 BTUs energy not consumed

TH E LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION | 2008 - NOLS

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