NOLS Blog
Case Study: Dental Emergency while Rafting
The Setting You are on day three of a 4-day rafting trip on the Rogue River in Oregon. The trip has been incredible so far. Great rapids, beautiful scenery, skies full of stars, and endless cups of hot cocoa. You’re almost to your campsite on day three, but have one more rapid to go. At…
Case Study: Sea Kayaking Slip
Oscar Manguy The Setting You are enjoying an amazing day of paddling on Prince William Sound in Alaska. ...
Gap Year Pros and Cons: Solo vs. Group
Taking a gap year can be a transformative experience that expands your horizons, fosters personal growth, and unlocks ...
Trip Report: Inaugural NOLS Alumni Climbing Trip In Greece
In May of 2025, the Inaugural NOLS Alumni Greece Climbing Trip traveled to the Greek island of Kalymnos, one of the most famous climbing destinations in the world. Our small but mighty group of alumni and NOLS instructors climbed, swam, staged breathtaking photo shoots, practiced climbing skills, visited nearby islands, sampled the best spinach pies…
Exploring the World and Finding Yourself: The Power of a Gap Year After High School
Discover the power of taking a gap year after high school—adventure, cultural immersion, and self-reflection highlight this transformative experience.
Case Study: Embedded Tick while Backpacking
Photo by Eva Darron The setting You’re on day 6 of a week-long backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in New York. The last few days have been beautiful, and you’re so glad to be enjoying this time outside. You and your friends decide it’s time for a break, so you sit down to enjoy…
Instructor Spotlight: Caeden Greene
A NOLS experience can truly be a transformative experience for a young person’s life, and that was certainly the case for field instructor Caeden Greene. In high school, Caeden embarked on a 30-day Waddington Range Mountaineering Expedition (WAD), long known as one of NOLS’ most rigorous courses. The WAD expedition had such a profound effect…
Case Study: Jellyfish Sting in Paradise
Photo by Molly Hagbrand The setting You and your friend are enjoying some early morning sunshine and perfect waves while surfing on the Pacific Ocean. While waiting for the next break, you are sitting on your surfboard taking in the beautiful scenery when you hear your friend shriek. You ask what’s going on and they yell,…
Through the Diamond Heart of Brazil: Our Next Alumni Adventure!
Lush valleys, waterfalls, ancient ruins, and diamonds can all be found in Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina National Park, the backdrop for one of NOLS’ newest alumni trips. Murilo Bellese and Moaci Dantas, the trip’s primary architects, share a little more about the trip and what makes it special. Looking out over Chapada Diamantina National Park. Photo…
How to Choose a Camera for Camping (That’s not your phone)
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing what kind of camera to bring on your next outdoor trip.
Growing Confidence through Solo Canoeing
NOLS instructor Rumi Kodama reflects on a canoeing seminar in Canada—and the intersections between growing her whitewater skills and confidence.
When You Should Wear Cotton in the Outdoors
Get ready for some myth busting! Despite its bad reputation, there are actually times when it makes sense to wear cotton on an outdoor adventure.
Rhode Island: The Final Frontier
In 2017, NOLS finally taught its first course in the nation's smallest state: a Wilderness First Aid course on Rhode Island's Save the Bay campus.
Prepare for the Unexpected with a Solid Trip Plan
'I’m out of layers,' I thought as I searched my pack looking for something to make a splint. A broken femur wasn't a part of our trip plan...
Reaffirming Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future
In 1965, Paul Petzoldt founded a wilderness school built on the principles of environmental stewardship, values that continue to guide NOLS today.
Tolerance for Adversity and Uncertainty in the Southern Andes
A NOLS instructor recounts adventures from a rock climbing trip in Chile and Argentina that highlighted the importance of positivity in the face of adversity.
How to Hunker in Your Tent Without Getting Bored
Here are some ways to stay happy and occupied while you wait out a storm on a backpacking trip.
A First Responder Changes the Conversation about Mental Health
NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor discusses the mental challenges of emergency medicine and raises awareness of PTSD for first responders.
The 5 Components of Psychological First Aid
Wilderness First Responders need to know how to treat physical wounds. But it's also important to keep a patient's mental health in mind.
Improve Your Appetite for Uncertainty
Instructor Molly Herber shares her learnings about tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, one of the key leadership skills students learn on NOLS courses.
Rescue at Goblin Valley State Park
On a family trip in Utah, NOLS grad Shelli Johnson suddenly found herself using her Wilderness First Responder skills at the scene of a serious accident.
