Fall Semester for Outdoor Educators

Find a career in the outdoors

Come learn how to teach in the world’s best classroom—the outdoors. This course is designed for people who want to become professionals in the field of outdoor education. Go from the high peaks of Wyoming to the red canyons of Utah while backpacking, skiing, or climbing. Immerse yourself in a range of environments from camping in snow shelters to climbing granite domes. As you spend time in the outdoors, you’ll learn techniques for teaching in large and small groups, including facilitation and debrief skills. Other topics you will cover include risk management for groups in remote places, Leave No Trace, and first aid, with the opportunity to earn a Wilderness First Responder certification.

Leadership will also be a key focus of this course. Giving and receiving feedback after teaching a class becomes a lesson in communication. Learning to navigate off-trail is your opportunity to practice risk management and develop judgment. Reflecting on the different environments you travel through deepens your sense of place and sense of stewardship. You’ll form a tight network of peers who share your goals and passion for education. If teaching in the outdoors is your goal, then there’s no better way to gain real-world experience by spending time learning and teaching in the wilderness.

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Additional Details

Designed for those currently working in, studying, or planning to enter the field of outdoor education.

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Duration

87 days

Age

21+ yrs

Tuition

$16,900 to $17,460

Academic Credit

19 College Credits

  • 3 WFR
  • 2 Outdoor Educator
  • 3 Risk Management
  • 4 Skills Practicum
  • 4 Leadership Techniques
  • 3 Environmental Studies

Certifications

  • Leave No Trace Level 2 Educator
  • NOLS Level I Avalanche Training
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • CPR

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Equipment Deposit

$1000

Start/End

Lander, Wyoming

Fly In/Out

Riverton, WY (RIW)

Course Session Dates

Sep 12, 2025 - Dec 7, 2025

Lander, WY

$16,900 View Session

Sep 11, 2026 - Dec 6, 2026

Lander, WY

$17,460 View Session

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“I feel more comfortable making tough decisions, a sense of ease while teaching topics to a group and the ability to interact with my peers more effectively. Most importantly I feel like I can leave this course and take the knowledge I have gained and put it to use by leading trips into the backcountry professionally.”

— Ryley H., NOLS Fall Semester for Outdoor Educators grad

Financial aid & Scholarships

NOLS supports a variety of outside financial aid options:

  • AmeriCorps
  • 529 College Savings Plans
  • Veteran's Benefits (In Wyoming only)

If you are fluent in American Sign Language or Signed Exact English, you may be eligible to receive a full scholarship to your wilderness medicine course.