to our world. - NOLS

“O ONE OF THE GREATEST LESSONS I LEARNED ON THE TRIP IS TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW
DIFFERENT PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES COLOR THE WAY THEY REACT TO A SITUATION.
Ilana Saxe, Teacher, Alaska Outdoor Educator ’07
Fredrik Norrsell
Madhu Chikkaraju
Take a deep breath. Exhale. You'll see and experience all Alaska has to offer. Prince
William Sound
Take a break and pass the trail food. Peanut butter pretzel, anyone? Matanuska Valley
ALASKA BACKPACKING AND SEA KAYAKING
Alaska is a land of incredible fjords, forested ocean coasts, and
high alpine meadows. Your monthlong adventure will give you a
chance to learn two wilderness travel skills, backpacking and sea
kayaking. While kayaking, you’ll follow a route in Prince William
Sound where glaciers flow directly into the ocean and a variety
of marine animals 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, the Kenai Mountains, 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 glacier-carved river
valleys, reaching open high country known as tundra. The vistas
here are wide, the mountains rugged, and the lessons lifelong.
DETAILS
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average Age: 19 • Duration: 30 days
Tuition: $4,770
Optional College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics, 2 hours Leadership Techniques,
2 hours Skills Practicum
Dates: page 106
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 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. Using either Whittier or
Valdez as a starting point, 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, the Talkeetna Mountains, or the Kenai Mountains. 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
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average Age: 26 • Duration: 30 days
Eligibility: Qualifi ed practicing or potential outdoor educators
Tuition: $4,175
Optional College Credit: 2 hours Outdoor Educator, 2 hours Risk Management,
2 hours Environmental Ethics
Dates: page 106
58
www.nols.edu • (800) 710-NOLS • admissions@nols.edu