EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL (NOLS) Lander, Wyoming United States www.nols.edu
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Overview

Learn outdoor skills and develop your leadership at NOLS. You won't be sitting in a bus while the scenery is described to you over an intercom. You'll be living in the backcountry, seeing it up close and in person. By the end of your course, you'll have the knowledge to travel responsibly and safely in the wilderness while leaving a minimal impact on the land.

What makes NOLS the leader in wilderness education? Experience. More than 40 years of it, in fact. Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzold, 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 ten days to a full year, students learn the skills necessary to be competent, responsible wilderness travelers and leaders long after their course is over. Other programs talk about leadership — at NOLS, you’ll do it!

NOLS attracts over 10,000 students each year who want to actively learn new skills while experiencing locations unlike anywhere they have ever been. NOLS even offers scholarships, college and graduate-level credit in a range of topics from environmental ethics and leadership techniques to natural history in order to make the most of your experience.

NOLS Mission

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

NOLS Values

The NOLS community - its staff, students, trustees, and alumni - shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence. These values define and direct who they are, what they do, and how they do it.

Wilderness

NOLS defines wilderness as a place where nature is dominant, and situations and their consequences are real. Living in these conditions, away from the distractions of modern civilization fosters self-reliance, judgment, respect, and a sense of responsibility for your actions. It can also be a profoundly moving experience that leads to inspiration, joy and commitment to an environmental ethic.

Education

NOLS believes that education should be exciting, fun and challenging. With this in mind, their courses are designed to help people develop and practice the skills they need to live, travel and play safely in the outdoors. On expeditions, people learn by accepting and meeting real challenges. The instructors are educators, not guides. They are committed to inspiring students to explore and develop their understanding of wilderness ethics, leadership, teamwork, natural history, and technical skills.

Leadership

NOLS believes that leadership is a skill that can be learned and practiced. With students and staff, they encourage the evolution of judgment, personal responsibility, and awareness of group needs - key leadership traits - through practical experience and timely feedback. NOLS values integrity, experience, accountability, and humility in their leaders.

Safety

NOLS accepts risk as an integral part of the learning process and of the environments through which they travel. The recognition and management of risk is critical to both the development of leadership and to the safety and health of the students and staff. NOLS believes successful risk management stems from good judgment based on experience, training and knowledge.

Community

NOLS is an international community composed of talented individuals who care deeply about what they do. They value diversity, integrity and personal responsibility while recognizing that their strength lies in teamwork and commitment to the company mission and each other. They appreciate creativity, individuality and passion among the staff and as an institution. They take their jobs seriously and pursue the mission statement with enthusiasm, and they cherish their sense of humor and the ability to laugh at themselves.

Excellence

NOLS seeks excellence in all they do. They recognize that maintaining excellence requires that they question decisions, learn from failures, and celebrate success. NOLS is committed to high quality experiences where every moment and every relationship counts. They evolve and adapt with new technology, changing techniques and differing circumstances.

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