TH E LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION | 2008 - NOLS
TH E LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION | 2008 - NOLS TH E LEADER IN WILDERNESS EDUCATION | 2008 - NOLS
T HE L EADER I N W ILDERNESS E DUCATION | 2008
- Page 2 and 3: Where in the world could a NOLS edu
- Page 4 and 5: Shawn Stratton Pascal Beauvais FIND
- Page 6 and 7: Roo Riley Rainbow Weinstock Rainbow
- Page 8 and 9: There is little doubt in my mind th
- Page 10 and 11: LEADERSHIP Rainbow Weinstock Tracy
- Page 12 and 13: NOLS provided me with the original
- Page 14 and 15: WILDERNESS Bryan Palmintier Ashley
- Page 16 and 17: My NOLS semester helped me develop
- Page 18 and 19: COLLEGE CREDIT Pascal Beauvais Alan
- Page 20 and 21: STAFF Brad Christensen Rich Brame B
- Page 22 and 23: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NOLS Rocky Mountain
- Page 24 and 25: Rocky Mountain WIND RIVER WILDERNES
- Page 26 and 27: ROCKY MOUNTAIN Rainbow Weinstock St
- Page 28 and 29: ROCKY MOUNTAIN Rainbow Weinstock Le
- Page 30 and 31: TETON VALLEY Every NOLS location of
- Page 32 and 33: Teton Valley SALMON BACKPACKING AND
- Page 34 and 35: TETON VALLEY “ THERE ISN'T A DAY
- Page 36 and 37: PACIFIC NORTHWEST Forest and ocean.
- Page 38 and 39: Pacific Northwest WADDINGTON RANGE
- Page 40 and 41: PACIFIC NORTHWEST Marco Johnson Stu
- Page 42 and 43: SOUTHWEST Welcome to the American S
- Page 44 and 45: Southwest GILA RANGE BACKPACKING Ne
- Page 46 and 47: ALASKA The boundlessness of the pla
- Page 48 and 49: Alaska ALASKA SEA KAYAKING Wildlife
- Page 50 and 51: ALASKA Allie Barker From north of t
T HE L EADER I N W ILDERNESS E DUCATION | <strong>2008</strong>
Where in the world could a <strong>NOLS</strong> education take you? <strong>NOLS</strong> operates in 14 different locations around the globe.
WELCOME TO OUR<br />
WORLD.<br />
Find your course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2<br />
Learn about <strong>NOLS</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Rocky Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Teton Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Yukon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Patagonia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Scandinavia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Baffin Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71<br />
Semester courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72<br />
Risk Management at <strong>NOLS</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> application form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . insert<br />
Application and admission policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109<br />
Course dates and tuitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110<br />
Become a <strong>NOLS</strong> Instructor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115<br />
The Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . 116<br />
Custom courses with <strong>NOLS</strong> Professional Training. . . . . . . . 117<br />
Cover photo: With Wyoming’s Mt. Hooker as a backdrop, Wind River Wilderness<br />
students practice off-trail route finding. Photographer: Juan Queirolo<br />
Back cover photo: Leadership in action: lead climbing in the Rocky Mountains.<br />
Photographer: Pascal Beauvais<br />
A special thanks to all the <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors and students<br />
who captured their <strong>NOLS</strong> adventures on camera for this<br />
year’s catalog! If you’d like to submit your course photos,<br />
email publications@nols.edu to find out how!<br />
Copyright by <strong>NOLS</strong>, July 2007 • Printed in Medford, Oregon on<br />
Forest Stewardship Council certified recycled paper with soy ink.<br />
For more about our sustainable printing practices, see the insert<br />
after page 108. • Graphic design by <strong>NOLS</strong>, Lander, Wyoming.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 1
Shawn Stratton<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
F<strong>IN</strong>D YOUR COURSE.<br />
LEARN TO LEAD<br />
Leadership is what sets <strong>NOLS</strong> apart from the rest. Whether you’re<br />
climbing Denali or embarking on a new business venture, these<br />
courses will teach you the skills to lead others to the top long after<br />
you’ve graduated.<br />
14 AND 15<br />
Wyoming Backpacking Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24<br />
Idaho Backpacking Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31<br />
16 AND OVER<br />
Wind River Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22<br />
Absaroka Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22<br />
Pacific Northwest Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37<br />
Gila Range Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42<br />
Alaska Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46<br />
Alaska Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49<br />
Yukon Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52<br />
Baja Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56<br />
Baja Coastal Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56<br />
18 AND OVER<br />
Himalaya Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64<br />
Australia Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68<br />
23 AND OVER<br />
Wind River Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22<br />
Alaska Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46<br />
Baja Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56<br />
Patagonia Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60<br />
MASTER A SKILL<br />
Want to become an experienced angler? Determined to climb an<br />
alpine mountain? Wish you could shred powder like the pros?<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is the premier skills school, and these courses give you the<br />
technical knowledge and practical experience to become competent,<br />
responsible wilderness travelers long after the course is over.<br />
16 AND OVER<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>/Orvis Wilderness Fly Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23<br />
Wind River Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25<br />
Rock Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25<br />
Wilderness Horsepacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27<br />
Whitewater River Expedition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27<br />
17 AND OVER<br />
Snowboarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32<br />
Skiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33<br />
North Cascades Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36<br />
Alaska Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47<br />
18 AND OVER<br />
Southwest Lightweight Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43<br />
23 AND OVER<br />
Rocky Mountain Light and Fast Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . .23<br />
Wilderness Horsepacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27<br />
Skiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33<br />
North Cascades Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36<br />
Alaska Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47<br />
2
David Anderson<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Roo Riley<br />
LEARN TWO SKILLS<br />
Practice two skills in one expedition! From learning to maneuver<br />
an oar rig through technical whitewater to placing protection on<br />
rock climbing routes, these expeditions give you the unique opportunity<br />
to travel by both land and water.<br />
14 AND 15<br />
Salmon Backpacking and Rafting Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30<br />
16 AND OVER<br />
Rock and River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26<br />
Salmon Backpacking and Rafting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30<br />
Alaska Backpacking and Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46<br />
30-Day Yukon Backpacking and Wilderness Canoeing . . . . . .53<br />
18 AND OVER<br />
Pacific Northwest Sailing and Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39<br />
Australia Backpacking and Sea Kayaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68<br />
TAKE <strong>TH</strong>E EXPEDITION OF A LIFETIME<br />
From the fjords of Scandinavia to the ancient Tibetan trade routes of<br />
the Himalayas, these once-in-a-lifetime expeditions take you to places<br />
that most people only dream about.<br />
17 AND OVER<br />
Waddington Range Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36<br />
18 AND OVER<br />
Denali Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47<br />
Brooks Range Backpacking and River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48<br />
Patagonia Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60<br />
Himalaya Mountaineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64<br />
Scandinavia Sea Kayaking and Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70<br />
Baffin Island Backpacking and Canoeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71<br />
23 AND OVER<br />
Brooks Range Backpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48<br />
Patagonia Backpacking and Fly Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> has taught me how to press the “off” button<br />
on my cell phone and computer. I realized I didn’t<br />
need to be dialed in at all times, and, without the<br />
distractions of everyday trivialities, how much I<br />
could learn and do in a month.<br />
Eliza Lehner, Wyoming Adventure ‘03, Rock Climbing ‘04<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 3
Roo Riley<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
ADVANCE YOUR CAREER<br />
Explore untouched wilderness—and get paid for it. If these words<br />
sound magical, then these courses are for you. Designed specifically<br />
for practicing or aspiring outdoor educators, these expeditions are<br />
packed with instruction on living, traveling and leading groups in<br />
the backcountry.<br />
16 AND OVER<br />
Wilderness First Responder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116<br />
18 AND OVER<br />
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24<br />
River Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26<br />
Winter Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32<br />
Pacific Northwest Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38<br />
Pacific Northwest Trip Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39<br />
Southwest Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42<br />
Alaska Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49<br />
Yukon Outdoor Educator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52<br />
Wilderness EMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Risk Management Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117<br />
21 AND OVER<br />
Semester for Outdoor Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Instructor Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114<br />
DO IT ALL<br />
Yearning to take an extended expedition? Want to earn up to 19 hours<br />
of college credit while you’re at it? Our semester courses have it all—<br />
backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, sea kayaking, sailing,<br />
caving and more. Ranging from 50 to 135 days in length, you’ll learn<br />
multiple technical skills while developing solid leadership.<br />
14 AND 15<br />
50-day Adventure Expedition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31<br />
17 AND OVER<br />
Semester in the Rockies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75<br />
Semester in the Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83<br />
Semester in Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85<br />
Semester in the Yukon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87<br />
Semester in Baja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89<br />
Semester on the Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103<br />
18 AND OVER<br />
Semester in the Pacific Northwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81<br />
Baja Ocean Semester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91<br />
Semester in Patagonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93<br />
Year in Patagonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95<br />
Semester in India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97<br />
Semester in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99<br />
Semester in New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101<br />
Year in the Sonoran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105<br />
Semester in the Amazon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107<br />
4
Fredrik Norrsell<br />
Don’t see what you want?<br />
Tracy Baynes<br />
• Give us a call. Our knowledgeable Admission<br />
Officers can help you find your dream course.<br />
Call (800) 710-<strong>NOLS</strong>, M-F, 8-5 MST<br />
• Use our online course finder. Search by<br />
location, skill, student age, course duration or<br />
starting month at www.nols.edu.<br />
• Let <strong>NOLS</strong> Professional Training custom<br />
build a course for your group. See the inside<br />
of the back cover for details.<br />
LEARN SKILLS FOR LIFE<br />
Since the beginning, teaching skills has been the very heart of <strong>NOLS</strong>. Students who come to the school know that they are going to<br />
learn—really learn—the skills they want. No matter what course you choose, <strong>NOLS</strong> is the skills school.<br />
Providing the instruction, tools and freedom to practice and use what you learn are the roots of our education. After a <strong>NOLS</strong> course,<br />
you’ll have the skills to comfortably and responsibly lead others in the backcountry.<br />
ON EVERY <strong>NOLS</strong> COURSE YOU’LL LEARN:<br />
<strong>LEADER</strong>SHIP AND TEAMWORK<br />
• Expedition Behavior: including tolerance for adversity,<br />
hard work, communication, and vision and action<br />
• Judgment and decision-making<br />
• Student expeditions<br />
• Team building<br />
• Problem solving<br />
• Self-confidence<br />
• Motivating others<br />
• Competence<br />
• Self-awareness<br />
OUTDOOR SKILLS<br />
• Route-finding and navigation, including map and compass use<br />
• Campsite selection<br />
• Preparing nutritious meals using a camp stove and fire<br />
• Sanitation and waste disposal<br />
• Ration planning<br />
• Equipment care and selection<br />
• Staying warm and dry<br />
• Emergency procedures and rescue techniques<br />
• Wilderness injury prevention and treatment<br />
• Hazard evaluation<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES<br />
• Leave No Trace camping and resource protection<br />
• Field natural history: animal and plant identification,<br />
astronomy, weather, geology and snow science<br />
• Human history<br />
• Understanding of pertinent regional environmental issues<br />
• Function, organization and local concerns of state and federal<br />
land management agencies<br />
• Wilderness ethics and practices for everyday life<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 5
There is little doubt in my mind that the<br />
memories and lessons of wilderness trips<br />
last a lifetime. About a year ago, I was able to<br />
climb the Grand Teton in Wyoming with my<br />
oldest daughter, Mara. Now, when we drive by<br />
the Grand, she looks at the mountain differently;<br />
she looks at it intimately. As a parent, that is one of the greatest<br />
gifts I could give her, the gift of love for the outdoors.<br />
Tendencies throughout the world, however, seem to be moving<br />
alarmingly in the other direction. Increased use of passive entertainment—TV,<br />
video games and computers—has offset the time<br />
previously dedicated to free playtime in the outdoors. These trends<br />
have certainly gotten our attention at <strong>NOLS</strong> as they have significant<br />
implications for the health and well-being of our society. We know<br />
at <strong>NOLS</strong> that lessons learned in the outdoors lead to lifelong recreation<br />
skills, an appreciation for natural history, a strong environmental<br />
ethic, and well-developed leadership techniques. Students<br />
also leave their <strong>NOLS</strong> courses in the best shape they’ve ever been in.<br />
What more could you ask for in regards to your child being healthy<br />
and successful in this world?<br />
As you peruse this catalog for either yourself or a young adult<br />
in your life, remember the rewards of a strong connection to the<br />
wilderness. Come experience with <strong>NOLS</strong> what it is like to cook<br />
creatively and feed yourself well in the backcountry, communicate<br />
effectively with coursemates in order to achieve a common goal,<br />
and push your own capabilities beyond what you ever thought possible.<br />
And imagine what that experience could do in the life of a<br />
young person you love.<br />
John Gans, <strong>NOLS</strong> Executive Director<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> BOARD OF TRUSTEES | Michael Schmertzler, Chair (left)<br />
Joseph P. Allen, Vice Chair • Carolyn W. Rohlen, Secretary • Gregory<br />
M. Avis, Treasurer • F. Fox Benton III • Susan E. Chamberlin • Douglas<br />
E. Dalquist • Jane F. Fried • Daniel E. Garvey • Andrea J. Grant • R.<br />
Flip Hagood • Douglas S. Luke • Victoria E. Murden-McClure<br />
William C. Murdock • Robert W. Nimmo • Peter A. Roy • Amy E. Wyss<br />
Kei Yamamoto • Charles R. Gregg, Counsel • Herbert G. Ogden, M.D.,<br />
Medical Advisor • Homer L. Luther, Chairman Emeritus • Gene R.<br />
Tremblay, Chairman Emeritus • Joan K. Chitiea, Trustee Emeritus<br />
The National Outdoor Leadership School (<strong>NOLS</strong>) is a private, nonprofit, educational corporation.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code,<br />
and all contributions to <strong>NOLS</strong> are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.<br />
Fredrik Norrsell
WHY <strong>NOLS</strong>?<br />
Willy Hazlehurst<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> leads, and you will, too. The leader in wilderness education, <strong>NOLS</strong> teaches leadership skills that last a lifetime.<br />
WHY <strong>NOLS</strong>?<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> DEVELOPS <strong>LEADER</strong>S. We attract highly motivated students who want to learn how to lead.<br />
And that’s just what happens—our graduates find success everywhere: at school, at play, or at work.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> IS <strong>TH</strong>E SKILLS SCHOOL. Our hands-on, learn-by-doing approach means that our graduates<br />
get the skills they need to be competent, responsible wilderness travelers long after their course is over.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> EXPLORES REMOTE <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> ON EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS. What <strong>NOLS</strong> teaches<br />
cannot be learned in a classroom or on a city street. It takes practice to learn outdoor skills and time<br />
to develop leadership. The wilderness provides the ideal setting for this unique education.<br />
MORE <strong>TH</strong>AN 97% OF <strong>NOLS</strong> GRADUATES VALUED <strong>TH</strong>EIR <strong>EDUCATION</strong> SO MUCH <strong>TH</strong>EY’D<br />
RECOMMEND <strong>NOLS</strong> TO A FRIEND. There’s no better mark for how satisfied <strong>NOLS</strong> students are with<br />
their experience. In addition, more than 95% of <strong>NOLS</strong> students say they’ll use what they learned at<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> in other aspects of life.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> OFFERS <strong>TH</strong>E MOST EXTENSIVE COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR<br />
A <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong> EXPERIENCE. More than 75% of <strong>NOLS</strong> students who are of college<br />
age take a <strong>NOLS</strong> course for college credit. Students have successfully transferred the credits to over 400<br />
colleges around the country.<br />
AT <strong>NOLS</strong>, YOU’LL GET <strong>TH</strong>E SUPPORT OF <strong>TH</strong>E BEST STAFF <strong>IN</strong> <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong>.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> instructors get their start at other outdoor programs and then, after a competitive selection process<br />
and training by <strong>NOLS</strong>, they are ready to instruct for us .<br />
WHAT MAKES <strong>NOLS</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E <strong>LEADER</strong><br />
<strong>IN</strong> <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong>?<br />
Experience. More than 40 years of it,<br />
in fact. Founded in 1965 by legendary<br />
mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
takes people of all ages on real wilderness<br />
expeditions, teaching outdoor<br />
skills, leadership and environmental<br />
ethics in some of the world’s wildest<br />
and most awe-inspiring classrooms.<br />
With courses ranging from 10 days to<br />
a full academic year, students learn<br />
the skills necessary to be comfortable,<br />
responsible wilderness travelers and<br />
leaders long after their course is over.<br />
Other programs talk about leadership<br />
—at <strong>NOLS</strong>, you’ll do it!<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 7
<strong>LEADER</strong>SHIP<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
Tracy Baynes<br />
Brad Christensen<br />
Top left: Your highly skilled instructors will model leadership and then you’ll take the helm. Bottom left: At <strong>NOLS</strong>, you’ll work as a team to accomplish a goal, and have fun while you’re<br />
at it! Right and far right: Charting your course and scouting a river are opportunities to problem solve, a critical leadership skill.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> DEVELOPS <strong>LEADER</strong>S.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> leadership by Cynthia Arellano, Alaska Sea Kayaking Expedition ‘05, Alaska Outdoor Educator ‘06<br />
NATURAL LEARN<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
I was first introduced to <strong>NOLS</strong> by the Student Expedition Program<br />
(STEP), a leadership training program that works with <strong>NOLS</strong> to<br />
provide meaningful educational experiences for low-income students<br />
aspiring to go to college. The <strong>NOLS</strong> community has to be<br />
one of the most accepting and loving communities in the world,<br />
but I would not have been able to fully understand my leadership<br />
style were it not for the wilderness. There is something about getting<br />
up in the morning to the mirror-like tide creeping back to the<br />
ocean, to the reflection of brilliant sun on floating icebergs, and<br />
having the serenity to write and reflect. Without any distractions or<br />
influences that could alter my thinking, I had the opportunity of<br />
looking into myself and learning what kind of leader I truly am.<br />
LEARN<strong>IN</strong>G BY LEAD<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
During my <strong>NOLS</strong> expedition, the greatest learning moments were<br />
the leadership opportunities. At the beginning of the course, our<br />
instructors demonstrated what needed to be done, detailing time of<br />
departure, estimated time of arrival, and any dangers we may encounter<br />
along the way for each travel day. Soon enough, though,<br />
student leaders were stepping into that role. The day my turn came<br />
to be leader was the day I learned the most. I realized I must not<br />
only take care of myself, but I must be alert to my team and coursemates.<br />
Most importantly, I learned that a leader must herself be a<br />
follower, a listener, and part of the team.<br />
<strong>LEADER</strong>SHIP FOR LIFE<br />
The leadership skills I acquired throughout my <strong>NOLS</strong> experiences<br />
immediately transferred to the real world. I came back from my course<br />
ready for more, and after an internship at <strong>NOLS</strong> Alaska and a section<br />
of backpacking on an Alaska Outdoor Educator course, I have become<br />
an even stronger, more confident leader. My philosophy became<br />
teamwork and perseverance. Teamwork allows me to be a proficient<br />
captain to my volleyball team. Perseverance serves as motivation to<br />
never give up. My newly gained leadership skills will continue to guide<br />
my way of living in the work place and everywhere else.<br />
8
My newly gained leadership<br />
skills will continue to guide my<br />
way of living in the work place<br />
and everywhere else.<br />
Cynthia Arellano, Alaska Sea Kayaking Expedition ‘05,<br />
Alaska Outdoor Educator ‘06<br />
Moe Witschard
<strong>NOLS</strong> provided me with<br />
the original confidence<br />
and knowledge…that<br />
have allowed me to travel<br />
the world with my kayak.<br />
Brian Eustis, Baja Sea Kayaking ‘97, expedition whitewater kayaker,<br />
first descent of Yalong Jiang and source-to-sea descent of the Mekong River<br />
Brad Christensen
SKILLS<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
TC Rammelkamp<br />
Tracy Baynes<br />
Far left: Never paddled whitewater before? Your <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors will teach you everything you need to know. Left: Gear selection and placement are key skills you’ll acquire on a<br />
rock climbing course. Top right: Backcountry cooking at <strong>NOLS</strong> is a delicious art. Bottom right: Practical, hands-on learning is what develops solid technical skills.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> IS <strong>TH</strong>E SKILLS SCHOOL.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> skills by Brian Eustis, Baja Sea Kayaking ‘97, expedition whitewater kayaker, including the first descent of the Yalong Jiang River<br />
and a source-to-sea descent of the Mekong River<br />
LEARN<strong>IN</strong>G TECHNICAL SKILLS<br />
The initial push that changed the orbit of my life occurred on a<br />
beach in Mexico two weeks into my <strong>NOLS</strong> course. We had spent<br />
the day surfing waves and having a fantastic time. I came to the<br />
beach with a huge grin and my instructor said, “Hey, you look<br />
like you’re having a lot of fun. You should give whitewater kayaking<br />
a try.” I look at that moment as the beginning of everything<br />
that has made me who I am today. Of course, at the time it was<br />
just another great afternoon in Baja learning technical skills with<br />
my new <strong>NOLS</strong> friends.<br />
EXPERIENCE LEADS TO MASTERY<br />
My Baja Sea Kayaking course was full of firsts. My first trip to Mexico,<br />
my first time in a kayak and my first time spending an uninterrupted<br />
three weeks in the wilderness. Together, each of these “firsts”<br />
played a role in shaping my last ten years of exploration. It wasn’t<br />
until I was traveling in Vietnam many years later that I realized all<br />
my decisions after my <strong>NOLS</strong> course were based on a new set of values,<br />
experiences and desires that had first became apparent while in<br />
Mexico. Since then, those values have translated into expeditions<br />
and adventures from Tibet and Vietnam to Panama and Peru.<br />
SKILLS FOR A LIFETIME OF OUTDOOR PURSUITS<br />
After my <strong>NOLS</strong> course, I decided to get a summer job as a raft<br />
guide, specifically so I could live near a river and learn how to kayak.<br />
After graduating from college, I passed on a job offer in finance so<br />
I could spend one year kayaking before I got a “real job.” It was a<br />
slow change, but the one year led to two and two to three. Job opportunities<br />
changed from the field of finance and Wall Street to<br />
video kayaking, safety boating and documentary filmmaking.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> provided me with the original confidence and knowledge<br />
to feel scared yet comfortable making the decisions that have allowed<br />
me to travel the world with my kayak.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 11
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong><br />
Bryan Palmintier<br />
Ashley Wise<br />
Fredrik Norrsell<br />
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<br />
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 <strong>NOLS</strong> course.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> EXPLORES REMOTE <strong>WILDERNESS</strong><br />
ON EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> wilderness by Chip Giller, Pacific Northwest Wilderness ‘88, Founder and CEO of Grist.org<br />
MAGNIFICENCE OF TREES<br />
When I think about my <strong>NOLS</strong> experience, I remember the density<br />
and lushness of the Olympic National Forest, the magnitude of the<br />
land, the stately grandeur of the mountain peaks. I also remember<br />
becoming aware of my own comparative insignificance in the grand<br />
scheme of things (that’s a good thing!). It was my first true encounter<br />
with deep wilderness. I was just a kid from Massachusetts…and<br />
nothing could have prepared me for the size of those trees.<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E CORE OF <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
At age 17, I was one of the youngest members on our <strong>NOLS</strong> expedition.<br />
Looking back, this was a period in which I discovered a lot<br />
about myself as a leader. It was also a time when I recognized that<br />
humans are not at the center of the universe and that nature has an<br />
order and power all its own.<br />
The environment is many things to many people. For some, it’s<br />
backcountry isolation and old-growth forests. To others, it is the<br />
community in which they live and work—the trees, green spaces,<br />
and air that surrounds them. To others still, it is the lack of green<br />
space where they live, brought into focus by a poorly-sited power<br />
plant, or landfill, or freeway. Only a small number of people will<br />
ever experience wilderness as I did for the first time in the Olympics.<br />
F<strong>IN</strong>D<strong>IN</strong>G MY PLACE<br />
Today, as the founder and CEO of Grist.org, an online environmental<br />
news and information community touching nearly one million<br />
folks worldwide, I bring the knowledge I gained during <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
to work with me each day. It’s the realization that if we look outside<br />
of our narrow self-interests, we make the world a safer, cleaner,<br />
healthier place to live. Together we can be a force.<br />
So, while <strong>NOLS</strong> offers the transformative experience of connecting<br />
people to the wild, Grist reaches many others who may<br />
never visit the wilderness. Two different paths. But the end result<br />
is the same: an ever-growing group of folks who understand what’s<br />
at stake and are willing to take action—on behalf of themselves<br />
and the planet.<br />
12
I recognized that<br />
humans are not at the<br />
center of the universe and<br />
that nature has an order<br />
and power all its own.<br />
Chip Giller, Pacific Northwest Wilderness ‘88,<br />
Founder and CEO of Grist.org<br />
Rainbow Weinstock
My <strong>NOLS</strong> semester<br />
helped me develop a<br />
strong passion for<br />
environmental studies,<br />
history, art and<br />
experiential learning.<br />
Nora Oliver, Semester in the Southwest ‘06, Clark University<br />
Rainbow Weinstock
<strong>EDUCATION</strong><br />
Mac Henry<br />
Dave Anderson<br />
Julie Brown<br />
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<br />
Course. Right: Books and notebooks are an important part of a <strong>NOLS</strong> education, too.<br />
MORE <strong>TH</strong>AN 97% OF <strong>NOLS</strong> GRADUATES WOULD<br />
RECOMMEND A <strong>NOLS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong> TO A FRIEND.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> education by Nora Oliver, Semester in the Southwest ‘06, Clark University<br />
A DIFFERENT K<strong>IN</strong>D OF CLASSROOM<br />
There is nothing like challenging your educational potential by<br />
stepping into a classroom made of canyon walls and rock chairs<br />
with teddy-bear cacti as classmates. My <strong>NOLS</strong> Semester in the<br />
Southwest brought me from the typical four-walled classroom to a<br />
wall-less classroom of infinite possibilities. It was a hands-on tangible<br />
education and active experience rather than passive lectures.<br />
Ninety days in the desert taught me not only the practical skills of<br />
living in the backcountry, but lessons in biology, history, ecology,<br />
and hydrology as well: how cacti survive in harsh environments,<br />
what types of animals roamed the lands we traveled on, and the science<br />
and history of the ground we slept on.<br />
COLLEGE CREDIT<br />
The education I gained during my <strong>NOLS</strong> semester helped me develop<br />
a strong passion for environmental studies, history, art and<br />
experiential learning and, subsequently, plan for my bachelor’s degree.<br />
I earned the equivalent of one semester of college credit<br />
through the University of Utah during my course, and I will transfer<br />
those credits to my current university in Worcester, Massachusetts.<br />
The skills I learned have also opened many doors to new<br />
learning opportunities and qualified me for unique jobs, such as<br />
my summer position as a natural resource instructor at the Green<br />
Mountain Conservation Camp in Vermont in addition to other<br />
well-regarded positions at my university.<br />
<strong>EDUCATION</strong> <strong>TH</strong>AT LASTS<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> helped me realize that experiential education can be one of<br />
the best ways to learn skills and knowledge of the backcountry such<br />
as Leave No Trace principles, first aid care, and how we impact the<br />
world around us. I have found that the lessons I learned through<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> have influenced how I live my day-to-day life in the frontcountry.<br />
Now I live with more awareness of the green spaces and<br />
natural environment around me and how my actions affect those<br />
areas for better or worse.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 15
COLLEGE CREDIT<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Alan Neilson<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
Top left: At <strong>NOLS</strong>, 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<br />
your syllabus. Right: Encounters with wildlife provide a rich learning experience in the backcountry that you won’t find indoors.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>’ COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAM IS<br />
UNPARALLELED <strong>IN</strong> <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong>.<br />
For nearly 30 years <strong>NOLS</strong> has offered college credit through the<br />
University of Utah, one of the nation’s premier research universities.<br />
Every <strong>NOLS</strong> course is approved for credit and more than 75% of<br />
our college-age students take advantage of this option. Four hundred<br />
colleges and universities nationwide have accepted<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>/University of Utah credit, and many others grant their own<br />
credit for <strong>NOLS</strong> courses.<br />
Optional undergraduate and graduate credit is offered for the following<br />
University of Utah courses:<br />
• Natural History of Regional Ecosystems (Biology)<br />
• Environmental Ethics, Leave No Trace and Leadership<br />
• Group Leadership Techniques<br />
• Wilderness Skills Practicum and Leadership<br />
• Risk Assessment, Management and Decision-Making<br />
• Wilderness First Responder<br />
These courses are offered through the University’s departments of<br />
Biology, Health Education, and Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Details<br />
for your course are available from the <strong>NOLS</strong> admission office.<br />
ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> and Central Wyoming College (CWC) in Riverton,<br />
Wyoming have partnered to offer two degree programs:<br />
Associate of Science in Environmental Science and Leadership:<br />
During the <strong>NOLS</strong> portion of this degree program, you’ll develop<br />
environmental awareness and conservation ethics. At CWC you’ll<br />
complement this with a classic natural science education.<br />
Associate of Arts in Outdoor Education and Leadership: Designed<br />
for students interested in careers in outdoor education or environmental<br />
education and activism, this degree program combines one or<br />
more <strong>NOLS</strong> courses with education and liberal arts courses at CWC.<br />
16
<strong>NOLS</strong>: AN <strong>EDUCATION</strong>AL VALUE<br />
Most <strong>NOLS</strong> courses cost just $ 140 per day. When you invest in a <strong>NOLS</strong> course you benefit from all of the elements that make<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> the best value in the outdoors:<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E BEST TEACHERS <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E BUS<strong>IN</strong>ESS | You’ll learn more because <strong>NOLS</strong> demands more experience and training from its<br />
instructors than any other outdoor program.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> EXPEDITION PLANN<strong>IN</strong>G | You’ll explore real wilderness. <strong>NOLS</strong> knows the routes and holds permits in some of the world’s<br />
deepest backcountry.<br />
TOP OF <strong>TH</strong>E L<strong>IN</strong>E EQUIPMENT AND GOOD EATS | You’ll be happy and comfortable using equipment designed to <strong>NOLS</strong> specs<br />
and preparing meals using good ingredients and the <strong>NOLS</strong> Cookery, the most acclaimed cookbook in the outdoors.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> <strong>IN</strong>DUSTRY-LEAD<strong>IN</strong>G RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM | You’ll be a responsible wilderness traveler learning from the<br />
leaders of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and the conveners of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> PUBLIC POLICY | You’ll travel awe-inspiring wild country and develop a wildland ethic. <strong>NOLS</strong> doesn’t just explore the<br />
backcountry, we have a department of dedicated staff working to protect it.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH | You’ll achieve because <strong>NOLS</strong> constantly fine-tunes its educational program based on<br />
research and more than 40 years of experience.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> COLLEGE CREDIT PROGRAM | You’ll receive credit for your <strong>NOLS</strong> experience. <strong>NOLS</strong> has developed relationships on<br />
college campuses across the country making it easy for you to get the credit you deserve.<br />
F<strong>IN</strong>ANCIAL AID<br />
While a <strong>NOLS</strong> course is a great value, many students need assistance to achieve their educational goals. That’s why we offer the<br />
best financial aid resources in outdoor education. Contact the <strong>NOLS</strong> admission office or visit www.nols.edu for more information<br />
and applications.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | More than $ 900,000 in scholarship aid is available at <strong>NOLS</strong> every year. Scholarships are<br />
awarded on a rolling basis and are based on merit and need.<br />
CONSORTIUM AGREEMENTS | Students at a college that accepts credit earned for a <strong>NOLS</strong> semester may be able to use their<br />
federal financial aid through a consortium agreement between <strong>NOLS</strong> and the college.<br />
FEDERAL F<strong>IN</strong>ANCIAL AID AND AMERICORPS | Central Wyoming College (CWC) processes federal financial aid and Ameri-<br />
Corps stipends for <strong>NOLS</strong> students.<br />
VETERANS ADM<strong>IN</strong>ISTRATION BENEFITS | Many <strong>NOLS</strong> courses are eligible for VA Benefits. VA refund policies apply.<br />
DIRECT CREDIT<br />
These colleges offer their own credit and process financial aid for a<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> education:<br />
• Central Wyoming College, Riverton, WY<br />
• College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME<br />
• Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT<br />
• Northland College, Ashland, WI<br />
• Penn State University, University Park, PA<br />
• Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, AK<br />
• Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, VT<br />
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY<br />
• SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY<br />
• SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY<br />
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH<br />
• University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD<br />
• University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada<br />
• University of Montana-Western, Dillon, MT<br />
• University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY<br />
• Western State College, Gunnison, CO<br />
ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS<br />
The following colleges allow the easy transfer of University of Utah<br />
credit and process financial aid for a <strong>NOLS</strong> education:<br />
• Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK<br />
• Aurora University, Aurora, IL<br />
• Collège Mérici, Québec, Canada<br />
• Clemson University, Clemson, SC<br />
• Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA<br />
• Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH<br />
• Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY<br />
• Kyushu Lutheran College, Kyushu, Japan<br />
• Northwest College, Powell, WY<br />
• Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smiths, NY<br />
• Prescott College, Prescott, AZ<br />
• Quest University Canada, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, Canada<br />
• Radford University, Radford, VA<br />
• Unity College, Unity, ME<br />
• University of Maine, Presque Isle, ME<br />
• Utah State University, Logan, UT<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 17
STAFF<br />
Brad Christensen<br />
Rich Brame<br />
Brad Christensen<br />
Top: Centrally administered in Lander, Wyoming, <strong>NOLS</strong> International Headquarters supports the school’s global operations. As a result, you get the same high quality <strong>NOLS</strong> experience<br />
wherever you take your course. Left: From issuing to logistics, each <strong>NOLS</strong> location is locally staffed by experienced outdoor professionals. Right: Multiple generations of <strong>NOLS</strong> staff<br />
and family gathered in 2005 to celebrate our 40 th anniversary.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> GIVES YOU <strong>TH</strong>E SUPPORT OF <strong>TH</strong>E BEST<br />
STAFF <strong>IN</strong> <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong>.<br />
BEST STAFF, BEST RESULTS<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>’ strength is its staff of nearly 800 individuals worldwide,<br />
every one of them dedicated to delivering high quality wilderness<br />
education. <strong>NOLS</strong> staff are driven by the school’s mission and inspired<br />
by our graduates who are active, positive leaders with environmental<br />
ethics and outdoor skills.<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E BEST SUPPORT<br />
The <strong>NOLS</strong> program isn’t farmed out to subcontractors. Our expedition<br />
team takes care of all those little details that make your<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> experience a great adventure: great gear properly fit; good,<br />
nutritious food and plenty of it; awe-inspiring backcountry; cutting-edge<br />
curriculum; and industry-leading risk management. This<br />
attention to detail means that <strong>NOLS</strong> consistently delivers the most<br />
fun, educational wilderness adventures available anywhere.<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E BEST <strong>IN</strong>STRUCTORS<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is without peer when it comes to selecting and training our<br />
instructional staff. <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors get their start at other outdoor<br />
programs. After gaining experience and a competitive selection<br />
process, they are ready for <strong>NOLS</strong> instructor training and an apprenticeship.<br />
Only then are they able to teach for <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
And that is just the start. <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors can participate in<br />
more than 60 instructor seminars to further hone their skills and,<br />
with help from the <strong>NOLS</strong> Instructor Development Fund, they embark<br />
on ambitious expeditions worldwide. This training and experience<br />
means that you’ll learn skills, develop leadership and have<br />
the time of your life!<br />
18
Diversity Manager. Tania helps <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
seek a broader audience to participate in<br />
and benefit from outdoor education. She<br />
manages to complement her love of rock<br />
climbing with its obvious counterpart,<br />
classical orchestra music.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Patagonia Director. Instructor since<br />
1992. A child of the ‘80s, a native of Lander,<br />
and a 1989 Wind River Mountaineering grad,<br />
Judd has dedicated 18 years to <strong>NOLS</strong> and has<br />
always valued the school’s culture of excellence,<br />
respect, communication and teamwork.<br />
Instructor since 2003. After working for<br />
other wilderness programs, Becca came to<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> for its beautiful classrooms, extended<br />
backcountry courses, and some of the best<br />
winter camping around; this art history and<br />
environmental studies major loves to ski!<br />
Risk Management Director. Instructor<br />
since 1978. An avid cyclist and passionate<br />
Nordic skier, Drew oversees safety, training<br />
and research throughout the school and<br />
helps lead the national Wilderness Risk<br />
Managers Committee.<br />
Photographers this page: Brad Christensen, Judd Rodgers, Becca Parkinson, Kyle Leemon, Liza Howard, Jake MacArthur, Brian “Duck” Murphy, Abby Warner, Vinay Sirsi, Moe Witschard<br />
Curriculum Manager. Instructor since<br />
1981. John develops <strong>NOLS</strong>’ educational resources,<br />
ensuring the school’s 500 instructors<br />
have the latest tools in wilderness education at<br />
their fingertips. Of his many outdoor interests,<br />
his local National Association for Search and<br />
Rescue branch keeps him very busy.<br />
Public Policy Director. Instructor since<br />
2004. Jennifer, a 1988 Wind River Wilderness<br />
graduate, oversees public policy and environmental<br />
sustainability initiatives on a national<br />
and international level to protect the vitality of<br />
wilderness lands where <strong>NOLS</strong> operates.<br />
WMI Curriculum Manager. Instructor<br />
since 1973. Founder of the Wilderness<br />
Risk Management Conference. Even<br />
though he has taught wilderness medicine<br />
in East Africa, New Zealand and Australia,<br />
Tod still feels the Wind River Range is one of<br />
the most exotic places on the planet.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Instructor and WMI Instructor<br />
since 2003. Growing up an Army brat, Liza<br />
grew accustomed to change and challenges<br />
and has collected a list of pursuits that reflect<br />
her varied interests: degrees in history and education,<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> and WMI courses from Arizona<br />
to Alaska, and, coming soon, a nursing degree.<br />
Instructor since 2003. In addition to teaching<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> students in his favorite desert and<br />
mountain classrooms, Oscar educates people<br />
about wilderness ethics in his native Mexico.<br />
In 2006, he earned <strong>NOLS</strong>’ Field Staff Award<br />
for his outstanding contributions in the field.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Teton Valley Director. Instructor<br />
since 1989. Abby believes the skills students<br />
learn at <strong>NOLS</strong> are truly universal.<br />
From field instructor to branch director to<br />
mom, Abby relies on her leadership, teamwork<br />
and organizational skills daily.<br />
Instructor since 1987. With a whopping 454<br />
weeks in the field, KG recently earned <strong>NOLS</strong>’<br />
Master of Outdoor Education Award. A certified<br />
classroom teacher and native of Kenya,<br />
his passions include training rescue teams<br />
in the mountains of East Africa and guiding<br />
through his expedition and safari business.<br />
Risk Management, <strong>NOLS</strong> Professional<br />
Training. Instructor since 1994. Liz loves<br />
working for <strong>NOLS</strong> because it helps people<br />
learn to make good decisions for themselves,<br />
whatever situation they find themselves in.<br />
Instructor since 1998. “Be a clarity-seeking<br />
missile” is one of the philosophies by which<br />
Vinay lives and teaches. The organization<br />
and enthusiasm he brings to his courses rub<br />
off on those around him and contribute to<br />
the authentic <strong>NOLS</strong> India experience.<br />
Instructor since 1999. “I wouldn’t trade my<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> experiences for anything,” says Wendy,<br />
who vowed to teach for the school after her<br />
Semester in the Rockies in 1995. Besides rock<br />
climbing and teaching, her passions include<br />
sled dog racing, and she recently became the<br />
first female Canadian Sled Dog champion.<br />
Instructor since 2000. Duck is a river expert<br />
who attributes <strong>NOLS</strong> founder Paul Petzoldt,<br />
his time in the Marines, and rivers<br />
themselves as his sources of inspiration. He<br />
believes wild rivers can provide students<br />
with the best of wilderness educations.<br />
Instructor since 2003. With a degree in<br />
environmental education and years of experience<br />
canoeing, climbing, trekking, and<br />
practicing yoga, Sarah loves to share her<br />
passion for the wilderness with her students.<br />
A native of Canada, she helped pioneer the<br />
first <strong>NOLS</strong> Baffin Island course.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 19
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Rocky Mountain is the crystal clear lakes and stunning<br />
glacier-carved granite cirques of the famous Wind River<br />
Mountains, the sprawling meadows and deep rivers of the Absarokas,<br />
and the hidden red canyons of Utah’s slickrock country. The desert<br />
rivers and the sweeping sagebrush vistas are where the first <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
courses ventured into the wilderness over 40 years ago. Being here,<br />
backpacking and climbing in the mountains, scrambling through<br />
the canyons and rafting the rivers, is what a <strong>NOLS</strong> course is all about.<br />
The heart of our operation is Lander, Wyoming, the small<br />
town that <strong>NOLS</strong> founder Paul Petzoldt hand-picked in 1965 as<br />
the base of operations for his innovative outdoor school. With a<br />
population of seven thousand, Lander is a remote mountain<br />
town but is easily accessed via air or road. After your course, your<br />
photo album will be filled with pictures of the backcountry, but<br />
20
David Anderson<br />
In 1965, Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains is where <strong>NOLS</strong> founder Paul Petzoldt’s dream became a reality.<br />
Lander will remain in your mind as the mecca where outdoor<br />
adventures begin.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Rocky Mountain also operates the Three Peaks<br />
Ranch in Boulder, Wyoming. Set on the western edge of the Wind<br />
River Mountains, this working ranch is home to the school’s<br />
horsepacking courses. With more than 60 horses, the ranch also<br />
re-supplies many Rocky Mountain courses on horseback.<br />
The <strong>NOLS</strong> Utah River Base in Vernal, Utah is also part of<br />
the <strong>NOLS</strong> Rocky Mountain family, where whitewater rafting, canoeing<br />
and kayaking are our specialties. This facility was designed<br />
and built specifically for its easy access to the Green River.<br />
With a wide-range of course offerings and exquisite landscapes<br />
of mountains, canyons and rivers, <strong>NOLS</strong> Rocky Mountain<br />
is the ideal place to start your wilderness education.<br />
21
Rocky Mountain<br />
W<strong>IN</strong>D RIVER <strong>WILDERNESS</strong><br />
This is the original <strong>NOLS</strong> course and the most popular expedition<br />
we offer. For 30 days, you’ll explore the Wind River Mountains, a<br />
wilderness range renowned for its pristine lakes and rugged mountain<br />
beauty. You’ll be amazed at the sense of accomplishment you<br />
have at the end of a challenging hiking day. After carrying a pack efficiently<br />
loaded with everything you need to the top of your first<br />
high mountain pass, you’ll descend into a glacial valley and help<br />
lead your hiking group to camp. You and your peers will take turns<br />
baking pizzas over a camp stove and catching cutthroat trout for<br />
dinner. At night, a crisp sky filled with stars will shroud your tent<br />
as you rest for the next stimulating day of exploration and learning.<br />
In addition to hiking as many as 120 miles on and off trail, you’ll<br />
rock climb, fly fish, learn how to use a GPS, and summit towering<br />
granite mountains. The leadership skills you master here will serve<br />
you well in the wilderness and beyond.<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length:<br />
16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 30 days<br />
16 & 17 Only • Duration: 30 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days<br />
40 & Over • Average age: 49 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tu ition: $3,650 (16 & Over); $3,920 (16 & 17 Only); $3,005 (23 & Over; 40 & Over)<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum (16 & Over; 16 & 17 Only); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23, 40 & Over)<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
Instructor Sean Bowditch presents the fly in a mountain lake below Pingora Peak in<br />
Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains.<br />
Kevin Bergstrom<br />
ABSAROKA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Yellowstone National Park’s wild eastern neighbor is Wyoming’s Absaroka<br />
(Ab-sor-ka) Range, a vast wilderness region with some of the<br />
most remote territory in the Lower 48. You’ll travel through broad<br />
river valleys surrounded by sheer glacier-carved cliffs, camp under<br />
towering conifers, and hike across alpine plateaus where the tallest<br />
plants are only a few inches high. You’ll fly fish for large cutthroat<br />
trout, effectively ford high mountain rivers, practice GPS and compass<br />
navigation, and learn how to camp and travel in bear country.<br />
Along with grizzlies, other fauna you’re likely to see are eagles,<br />
bighorn sheep, elk, moose, black bears, coyote and recently re-introduced<br />
gray wolves. For students craving remote, rugged land<br />
filled with wildlife, this is your course; you’ll see more wildlife here<br />
than almost anywhere else <strong>NOLS</strong> operates. And you won’t just<br />
study out here; in the Absarokas, you’ll live the lessons you need to<br />
skillfully travel in the mountains long after your course ends.<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $3,575<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
Off-trail travel helps students master navigational skills while instilling a deep appreciation<br />
for the diverse alpine ecosystem.<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
22
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
Juan Queirolo<br />
Big wilderness provides a true sense of perspective.<br />
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong> LIGHT AND FAST BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Are you an athlete who enjoys outdoor adventures? Want to learn<br />
the latest in lightweight backpacking techniques? Then this course<br />
is for you. Partnering with GoLite and BackpackingLight.com, we<br />
are offering the first authentic lightweight backpacking course in<br />
the world of outdoor education. This adventure starts in the equipment<br />
room as you and your instructors organize your gear and food.<br />
Then the fun begins—shaving the ounces. How light can you go?<br />
Outfitted with 25- to 30-pound packs (10-15 pounds without<br />
food and fuel), you and your coursemates will be off to one of<br />
Wyoming’s most remote and wild ranges. You will travel light and<br />
fast, covering miles and enjoying the wilderness as you never<br />
thought imaginable—without the burden of a heavy load. Plan to<br />
learn cutting edge lightweight techniques like cooking one-pot<br />
meals and staying warm and dry with minimal gear while honing<br />
traditional backpacking skills like navigation and Leave No Trace.<br />
After two weeks, you’ll leave with the knowledge and skills to plan<br />
and execute your own lightweight adventures.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>/ORVIS <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FLY FISH<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The only course at <strong>NOLS</strong> dedicated solely to fishing, this expedition<br />
is an angler’s dream. Orvis guides will teach you the fly fishing<br />
skills to be an ace on the water while your <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors<br />
turn you into an outdoor expert. After an intensive two-day<br />
Orvis fly fishing seminar to help you perfect your cast and learn<br />
to “match the hatch” and read the water, you’ll shoulder your pack<br />
and head into the Wind River Mountains for a 20-day wilderness<br />
fishing expedition where cutthroat, brook, brown, golden and rainbow<br />
trout abound.<br />
If you love the mountains and dream of being a fly fishing<br />
guide, this mix of mountain living skills, leadership and angling is<br />
ideal training. Or, simply camp where the big fish are and show up<br />
your friends and family on the next annual fishing trip. Your course<br />
will end on a world-renowned trout-fishing river with an Orviscertified<br />
guide for six days of personal instruction in drift boat handling,<br />
rowing techniques and big water fishing. By the end of this<br />
30-day course you will be “The Compleat Angler.”<br />
Age and Length: 23 & Over • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days<br />
40 & Over • Average age: 49 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $3,005<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $6,510<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours<br />
Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 23
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
Student Becca Fahrner “hunts” the large, wild trout that have made the Wind River Mountains famous.<br />
WYOM<strong>IN</strong>G BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G ADVENTURE<br />
FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS<br />
Having fun, learning about the outdoors, traveling from camp to<br />
camp, rock climbing, fly fishing, exploring and achieving—that’s<br />
what a <strong>NOLS</strong> Backpacking Adventure is all about! And a<br />
Wyoming Backpacking Adventure is a true wilderness expedition<br />
designed for young people. For the entire 30 days of the course,<br />
your mode of travel will be your own two feet, not a crowded van.<br />
You’ll be with students your own age and <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors who<br />
aren’t just summer staff but some of our most skilled and highly<br />
trained educators who specialize in teaching teenagers. Gain independence<br />
and take responsibility for yourself and your companions.<br />
Learn outdoor living skills, but also learn how to get<br />
along with your group and how to be a leader even when you are<br />
in the back of the pack. If you do, when you get back home, you’ll<br />
have the skills to enjoy outdoor activities on your own and the<br />
leadership qualities to help you step it up in the classroom, on the<br />
playing fields, or anywhere you want to succeed.<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 14 & 15 Only • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $4,435<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong> OUTDOOR EDUCATOR:<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G WI<strong>TH</strong> ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G OR WFR<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> specializes in teaching teachers. In fact, we have been inspiring<br />
and teaching outdoor educators for over 40 years. On this<br />
course, you’ll learn the latest in outdoor education skills and techniques<br />
from some of the best-trained outdoor educators in the<br />
world in order to prepare you for the outdoor profession. This<br />
course offers either a 23-day backpacking expedition with a 4-day<br />
climbing camp or a 30-day backpacking expedition with a combined<br />
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. Taught<br />
mostly in the field, the WFR will add a bonus to your outdoor resumé.<br />
The backpacking sections for both expeditions are packed<br />
with how-to’s on living, traveling and leading groups in the backcountry.<br />
Granite peaks that reach 13,000 feet and high mountain<br />
lakes and rivers will teach you what it takes to lead and educate others<br />
in Wyoming or Montana’s rugged ranges and beyond.<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 23 days or 30 days with WFR<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $3,050 (23 days); $4,420 (30 days)<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment (23 days); 2 hours<br />
Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 3 hours WFR (30 days)<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
24
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
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.<br />
W<strong>IN</strong>D RIVER MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The rugged, glacier-carved Wind River Range is famous for its sheer<br />
granite headwalls, soaring spires, and towering 13,000-foot summits<br />
covered with rock and surrounded by glaciers. This remote<br />
range is also famous for mountaineering expeditions that have a<br />
perfect blend of glacier travel, snow ascents and rock climbing.<br />
You’ll learn real mountaineering skills such as belaying, rappelling,<br />
climbing techniques and anchor placement—all while traveling<br />
over, around and through the rocky, steep terrain of the Wind<br />
Rivers. Your route will allow you to learn rock, snow and ice climbing<br />
techniques that will lead to longer, more technical climbs like<br />
the 13,804-foot Gannett Peak, Wyoming’s highest mountain. At<br />
the same time, you’ll master the camping, hiking and leadership<br />
skills necessary to thrive in the mountain environment and beyond.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $3,800<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk<br />
Assessment<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This course is a comprehensive immersion into the sport of traditional<br />
(“trad”) rock climbing. You’ll learn the fundamentals of<br />
climbing on some of Wyoming’s famous sheer granite walls and<br />
towering spires. Your instructors will emphasize such skills as climbing<br />
techniques, rope systems, anchors, rappelling and belaying, protection<br />
placement, risk management and lead philosophy. You’ll<br />
have ample opportunity to practice your climbing skills while you<br />
develop a strong foundation in wilderness ethics and experience extended<br />
backcountry living and traveling. With a student to instructor<br />
ratio of 4:1, you’ll get the personal attention necessary to<br />
develop your climbing and backcountry skills rapidly.<br />
Age and Length:<br />
16 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 21 or 30 days<br />
16 & 17 Only • Duration: 21 days<br />
Tuition: $3,765 (21 days); $4,475 (30 days)<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment (21 days); 2 hours Environmental<br />
Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment (30 days)<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 25
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
Learn from the best: Instructor Madhu Chikkaraju demonstrates bouldering skills on the 16 & Over Rock Climbing course.<br />
ROCK AND RIVER<br />
Imagine mastering two skills in two very different wilderness environments,<br />
the stunning canyons of Wyoming and the whitewater of<br />
Utah’s Green River. The climbing section in either Sinks Canyon<br />
outside Lander, Wyoming or Vedauwoo near Laramie, Wyoming<br />
explores granite, limestone and sandstone rock as well as stunning<br />
canyon scenery. You’ll learn movement on rock, knots, rope handling,<br />
belaying, anchors, protection placement, traditional and<br />
sport climbing systems, rappelling, and risk management. If you<br />
are ready, experience the thrill of being on the sharp end of the rope<br />
while lead climbing. The other component of your course will take<br />
you through Green River’s Desolation and Gray canyons, where<br />
you’ll master rowing oar boats and captaining paddle rafts and learn<br />
to steer a whitewater kayak through class I-III+ rapids. You’ll live<br />
and travel within the canyon’s sheer sandstone walls rimmed with<br />
sage and piñon pine, experiencing what it takes to organize and lead<br />
your own river trips.<br />
RIVER GUIDES<br />
If you relish the anticipation of a raft slipping silently across flat<br />
water toward a line where the river disappears and a big rapid<br />
churns or crave the roar of whitewater and the chance to command<br />
your own crew as you lean into each paddle stroke, you’ve come to<br />
the right place. Expert <strong>NOLS</strong> river instructors will teach you the essentials<br />
of whitewater boating on a course designed to give you the<br />
skills you need to become a raft guide throughout the United States.<br />
It’s even early enough in the season to allow you to apply for summer<br />
guiding jobs. Utilizing two different sections of Utah’s Green<br />
River, you’ll learn to read rapids, rig boats, captain paddle rafts, row<br />
oar rigs, repair all the associated equipment, and gain a solid foundation<br />
in <strong>NOLS</strong>’ core leadership curriculum and latest river rescue<br />
techniques. We’ll also give you the skills necessary to completely<br />
outfit a group for river travel. By the end, you’ll be commanding<br />
your craft with confidence, ready to guide friends or clients in places<br />
where the flat water ends and adventure begins.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $5,005<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming or Vernal, Utah (depending on course date)<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming or Salt Lake City, Utah (depending on course date)<br />
College Credit: 4 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 21 days<br />
Tuition: $4,220<br />
Course start/end: Vernal, Utah<br />
Fly in/out: Vernal, Utah or Salt Lake City, Utah<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Leadership Techniques<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
26
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
Brad Christensen<br />
“<strong>TH</strong>E S<strong>IN</strong>GLE MOST IMPORTANT <strong>TH</strong><strong>IN</strong>G<br />
I GA<strong>IN</strong>ED DUR<strong>IN</strong>G MY <strong>NOLS</strong> SEMESTER<br />
COULD WALK <strong>IN</strong>TO AN UNFAMILIAR<br />
SITUATION, ADAPT TO IT AND SUCCEED.<br />
WAS A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE <strong>TH</strong>AT I<br />
”<br />
Eric Gilbert, Semester in the Rockies ‘96<br />
Brad Christensen<br />
Bryan Palmintier<br />
Your <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors will teach you everything you need to know about whitewater river<br />
expeditioning by giving instruction and then letting you take the lead.<br />
Big skies and wide open spaces: Horsepacking courses retrace the steps of the early<br />
West’s fur trappers.<br />
WHITEWATER RIVER EXPEDITION<br />
Imagine expeditioning 125 miles through the breathtaking canyons<br />
of Utah’s wild Green River, the birthplace of whitewater boating.<br />
This course offers a thorough introduction to travel skills on the<br />
same river that launched General John Wesley Powell’s famous 1869<br />
expedition. You’ll learn to kayak, captain a paddle raft, and row an<br />
oar rig as you negotiate the whitewater of Desolation and Lodore<br />
canyons. You begin in calm water and progress to moving water,<br />
learning increasingly advanced maneuvers. As the canyons get<br />
steeper and the rapids get bigger, instruction shifts to hydrology,<br />
hazard evaluation and rescue techniques. Rapids like Disaster Falls<br />
and Hells Half-Mile, named by Powell himself, offer exciting challenges<br />
while exploring this magnificent river.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> HORSEPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
There’s nothing quite like seeing the wilderness on horseback.<br />
We’ll take you from the <strong>NOLS</strong>-owned and operated Three Peaks<br />
Ranch into the wilderness of the Wind River Range and immerse<br />
you in the basics of Western horsemanship—care and feeding,<br />
horse behavior and herd dynamics, tack, saddling, and riding—<br />
and other unique skills of packing and traveling with horses. You’ll<br />
care for your saddle horse and work together with a partner to<br />
load and lead your packhorse. You’ll also be in charge of your own<br />
well-being in the backcountry, learning how to choose a good<br />
campsite and cook a good meal. Share this wilderness experience<br />
not only with your fellow students and instructors, but also with<br />
the worthy companionship of horses.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 18 • Duration: 16 days<br />
Tuition: $3,360<br />
Course start/end: Vernal, Utah<br />
Fly in/out: Vernal, Utah or Salt Lake City, Utah<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
Semester in the Rockies, page 75<br />
Semester for Outdoor Educators, page 79<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear<br />
Age and Length:<br />
16 & Over • Average age: 18 • Duration: 21 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 27 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $4,410 (16 and Over); $3,005 (23 and Over)<br />
Course start/end: Boulder, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Jackson, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Environmental Ethics (16 and Over); 2 hours<br />
Skills Practicum (23 and Over)<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 27
TETON VALLEY<br />
Every <strong>NOLS</strong> location offers an array of core courses and specializes<br />
in skills that take advantage of our unique locations.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Teton Valley specializes in adventure courses for 14- and<br />
15-year-old students, winter courses and water courses. West of the<br />
Continental Divide, we operate on one of the region’s most celebrated<br />
rivers and travel through a host of lesser known, but no less<br />
stunning, mountain ranges.<br />
As the hub of <strong>NOLS</strong>’ adventure programs, we offer two<br />
weeks of hiking, four weeks of hiking and rafting, and a brand new<br />
50-day expedition for those 14- and 15-year-olds ready for a summer<br />
with <strong>NOLS</strong>. We are also the home of <strong>NOLS</strong>’ winter ski program.<br />
Based in Driggs, Idaho, we are mere minutes away from our wilderness<br />
classroom, sitting snuggly against the base of the famed Tetons.<br />
This magnificent range, the mountains extending off its southern<br />
28
Phil Schneider<br />
Enjoying a bluebird powder day is just one of the adventures <strong>NOLS</strong> Teton Valley has to offer.<br />
and western flanks, and nearby Grand Targhee Resort are renowned<br />
for deep powder snow and fantastic skiing and snowboarding.<br />
In the summer, these same slopes come alive in a flurry of<br />
wildflowers, and <strong>NOLS</strong> Teton Valley turns its attention to a summer<br />
of backpacking and river exploration. The Frank Church-River<br />
of No Return Wilderness lies to the northwest and is the Lower<br />
48’s largest designated wilderness area. Sliced by the Salmon River,<br />
this area is home to our river courses and is known for exciting<br />
whitewater and excellent fishing.<br />
On your <strong>NOLS</strong> Teton Valley course, your tools of exploration<br />
will be rafts and backpacks, skis or snowboards, and boots<br />
or climbing shoes. Discover the Old West with us in the vast backcountry<br />
of Idaho, Montana and western Wyoming as you also discover<br />
your own capabilities of leadership and learning.<br />
29
Teton Valley<br />
SALMON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND RAFT<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
We’ve combined wilderness and whitewater into this course for an<br />
exciting 28-day backcountry adventure. You’ll begin backpacking<br />
for 18 days among the sculpted peaks and mountain meadows of<br />
the Beaverheads or Lemhi Range in Idaho. You’ll climb peaks and<br />
fish for trout as you learn to travel through rugged mountain terrain<br />
and forested hills. Group management in steep terrain and map<br />
reading are two of the skills you’ll learn on your way to becoming<br />
competent backcountry travelers. For the last 10 days you’ll swap<br />
backpacks for boats and raft the wild waters of the famous Salmon<br />
River. The Salmon bisects the Frank Church-River of No Return<br />
Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in the Lower 48. You’ll navigate<br />
the Salmon’s whitewater in paddle rafts and oar rigs, learning<br />
strokes, commands, guiding basics and advanced maneuvering. The<br />
Frank Church has an abundance of wildlife, including gray wolves,<br />
peregrine falcons, black bears and bald eagles. Fish species include<br />
native trout, sturgeon and Chinook salmon. After this course, you’ll<br />
know what it takes to complete a wilderness expedition, whether<br />
it’s getting through the mountains or down a river.<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 28 days<br />
Tuition: $4,885<br />
Course start/end: Salmon, Idaho/Riggins, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Boise, Idaho<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Whitewater paddling requires effective communication, teamwork and technical skills,<br />
all of which are part of the core <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum.<br />
Willy Hazlehurst<br />
SALMON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND RAFT<strong>IN</strong>G ADVENTURE<br />
FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS<br />
This course is designed for 14- and 15-year-olds who want to climb<br />
a peak and guide a paddle raft all in one action-packed month. You’ll<br />
see two very different environments on this course—high alpine vistas<br />
in the craggy Lemhis or Beaverheads and deep canyons along the<br />
famous Salmon River in Idaho—while learning two very different<br />
skills. For the backpacking section, you’ll discover wildlife, wildflowers<br />
and wilderness in some of the most breathtaking high-elevation<br />
terrain in the West. You’ll learn map and compass skills, backcountry<br />
cooking and Leave No Trace skills. You’ll also learn how to make<br />
decisions, develop confidence, and get along with your peers after a<br />
long day on the trail (we call this “expedition behavior”). The Salmon<br />
River bisects the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, a<br />
land of canyons reaching 6,300 feet from the river bottom and skirted<br />
by forests of lodgepole pine, spruce and Douglas fir. Here you’ll travel<br />
on rafts and oar rigs learning basic river skills like scouting, paddle<br />
strokes, hazard evaluation and rigging boats. You’ll work hard, have<br />
fun and return home with leadership skills to last a lifetime.<br />
Age and Length: 14 & 15 Only • Duration: 28 days<br />
Tuition: $5,000<br />
Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Instructor Mani Aryal guides an oar rig down the Main Salmon River.<br />
Moe Witschard<br />
30
TETON VALLEY<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
No “nature deficit disorder” here: On <strong>NOLS</strong> Adventure courses, teens learn real wilderness expedition skills while having fun and making friends for life.<br />
IDAHO BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G ADVENTURE<br />
FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR OLDS<br />
Independence, responsibility, achievement and fun…these qualities<br />
and more are the essence of this course. In a word: adventure. You’ll<br />
explore country you’ve only dreamed about. Whether you travel the<br />
Wyoming Range, the Snake River Range, the Beaverheads, the<br />
Beartooths or the Absarokas, the mountains will be unlike any classroom<br />
you’ve ever experienced with their fresh air and fresh opportunities.<br />
You’ll learn skills—backpacking, cooking, camping and<br />
navigation with a map—but you’ll also learn things like how to turn<br />
challenging situations into opportunities, how to get along with<br />
your group, or how to be a leader even when you’re following. This<br />
course will give you the tools you’ll need for a life of adventure in<br />
the classroom or the wilderness. Adventure courses are not a kid’s<br />
version of other <strong>NOLS</strong> courses. You’ll get the famous <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum<br />
taught by the same high quality instructors who teach for<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> in places like Patagonia and Alaska. And, as with every<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> course, these are field-based experiences where you’ll travel<br />
the country on foot and sleep under a blanket of stars.<br />
50-DAY ADVENTURE EXPEDITION<br />
NEW!<br />
FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS<br />
The ultimate in teenage adventure: 50 days away from home to see<br />
wild places, do cool things and make new friends. This expedition<br />
of a lifetime has five sections—backpacking, wilderness first aid certification,<br />
rock climbing, rafting, and a student expedition—and all<br />
of them leave plenty of time for just having fun in some amazing<br />
places with your coursemates. In the wide open mountain ranges of<br />
Idaho and Wyoming, on the famous Salmon River, and amidst the<br />
hobgoblin crags of Idaho’s City of Rocks, you’ll immerse yourself in<br />
the core <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum and hone your technical skills. At the<br />
end, you will put it all to the test on the student expedition when<br />
you and a small group of your peers take the lead, camping and<br />
traveling independently but with your instructors nearby. You will<br />
come away from this course with stronger leadership and outdoor<br />
skills, as well as a more developed environmental ethic, all of which<br />
build the foundation for future outdoor adventures and are usable<br />
every day at home. Be prepared to push your boundaries and discover<br />
your capabilities. Are you ready for the challenge?<br />
Age and Length: 14 & 15 Only • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $2,605<br />
Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Age and Length: 14 & 15 Only • Duration: 50 days<br />
Tuition: $7,600<br />
Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 31
TETON VALLEY<br />
“<br />
<strong>TH</strong>ERE ISN'T A DAY <strong>TH</strong>AT GOES BY WHEN<br />
I DON'T <strong>TH</strong><strong>IN</strong>K ABOUT <strong>NOLS</strong>. MY <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
COURSES WERE <strong>TH</strong>E BEST DAYS OF MY<br />
LIFE, AND WHAT I LEARNED <strong>TH</strong>ERE<br />
CONT<strong>IN</strong>UES TO APPLY TO MY<br />
”<br />
LIFE <strong>IN</strong><br />
<strong>TH</strong>E MOST SURPRIS<strong>IN</strong>G WAYS.<br />
Sarah Salisbury, Idaho Adventure ‘02, Wyoming Adventure ‘03<br />
Right: Instructor John Fitzgerald shows student Nate Straubinger<br />
how to complete a snow shelter, your backcountry home on winter courses.<br />
Brian Fabel<br />
Kevin Emery<br />
Becca Parkinson<br />
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.<br />
W<strong>IN</strong>TER OUTDOOR EDUCATOR<br />
Designed for practicing and aspiring winter educators, this course<br />
gives you the skills to teach in any winter wilderness. We begin with<br />
six days of workshops, including a Level I avalanche clinic and two<br />
days advancing your telemark skills with professional ski instructors<br />
at Grand Targhee Resort. Then, we’ll move into the backcountry<br />
for miles of skiing in unblemished powder. You’ll build<br />
elaborate snow kitchens and camp comfortably in snow caves, igloos<br />
or quinzhees. With coaching from your instructors, you’ll teach<br />
classes of your own and be taught by fellow students. For educators<br />
of all levels, teaching in the winter will polish your presentation<br />
skills and hone your class management. The longest of our winter<br />
courses, these 21 days provide some of the best expedition training<br />
at the school, preparing you to camp and lead well in any cold,<br />
snowy environment.<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 21 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators; moderate skiing ability.<br />
Tuition: $2,415<br />
Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
BACKCOUNTRY SNOWBOARD<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Are you seeking the exhilaration of a perfect ride in untracked powder?<br />
Want to learn the skills to transition from being an area rider<br />
to a backcountry boarder? Then come snowboarding with <strong>NOLS</strong>!<br />
You’ll venture through the mountains on your split board, improving<br />
your snowboarding skills and learning to be comfortable and<br />
happy outside in the winter. In this snow-covered playground, you’ll<br />
learn to travel responsibly in avalanche terrain—an increasingly important<br />
life skill for riders who are tempted out of ski areas into the<br />
untamed snowy wilderness. The adventure starts with snowboarding<br />
instruction at Grand Targhee Resort, but your course really happens<br />
in the backcountry. You’ll construct elaborate snow shelters,<br />
learn about working well with your peers and carve turns in fresh<br />
powder. Camping and traveling in the winter is a lot of hard work,<br />
and surfing down the mountain in knee-deep powder is a pretty<br />
cool reward.<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $2,010<br />
Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
32
TETON VALLEY<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Escape the lift lines and experience the thrill of the backcountry!<br />
BACKCOUNTRY SKI<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Just the thought of the Northern Rockies under a blanket of fresh<br />
snow is enough to excite most skiers. Now imagine the solitude of a<br />
winter night, the sky blanketed in endless stars. On a <strong>NOLS</strong> ski<br />
course, you’ll (re)discover the joy of backcountry skiing. Living and<br />
traveling in this wild environment requires new skills and offers new<br />
challenges. To be a competent and responsible backcountry winter<br />
traveler, you’ll need a strong foundation in avalanche education. We<br />
will teach you the skills and put you in terrain where you need to make<br />
real decisions. This course is also excellent preparation for any big<br />
mountain expedition where snow and cold are everyday factors. You’ll<br />
start with two days of telemark instruction at Grand Targhee Resort<br />
before heading into the backcountry with a pack and sled, where the<br />
snow is deep and the tracks are few. You’ll dig elaborate snow shelters<br />
and discover the tricks and systems for a lifetime of winter fun.<br />
Because we know it can be hard to get away, and we know<br />
digging a snow shelter can seem like a big hurdle, we have designed<br />
a shorter, gentler progression for those 23 and older who either have<br />
less time or want a little more initial support. While you will still be<br />
immersed in winter and learn to live and travel well, this expedition<br />
starts with two nights in a yurt—a unique man-made shelter complete<br />
with a wood stove. This allows participants to ease into winter<br />
and gain quick access to untracked skiing. It may also be the<br />
start of not-to-be-missed annual yurt trips with friends!<br />
Instructors Evan Horn and Kayden Will teach students the techniques to assess avalanche<br />
danger, a key part of the curriculum on all ski and snowboard courses.<br />
Age and Length:<br />
17 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 14 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 35 • Duration: 12 days<br />
Tuition: $1,680 (17 & Over); $1,915 (23 & Over)<br />
Course start/end: Driggs, Idaho<br />
Fly in/out: Idaho Falls, Idaho<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 33
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
Forest and ocean. Glacier and river. Heather and pine. This is<br />
the Pacific Northwest, with its temperate rain forests, its stunning<br />
ice-covered volcanoes, and its hidden bays and coves. Here<br />
you’ll find jagged, glacier-carved mountains and valleys, cascading<br />
streams, and lush old-growth forests. Home to bald eagles, black<br />
bears, mountain goats, elk, porpoises and whales, this will be your<br />
classroom for an all-too-brief time.<br />
The Pacific Northwest is the birthplace of the outdoor industry<br />
and <strong>NOLS</strong> has been the region’s outdoor education pioneer for<br />
almost 35 years. Our state-of-the-art facilities in Conway, Washington,<br />
set among 30 acres of meadows and magnificent trees, were built<br />
in 1991 and specifically designed to support <strong>NOLS</strong>’ educational expeditions.<br />
Just an hour north of Seattle, <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest is<br />
easily one of the most convenient <strong>NOLS</strong> locations to reach.<br />
34
Bryan Palmintier<br />
High camp on Sasquatch Pass in the Waddington Range is the epitome of a <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest mountaineering experience.<br />
We’ll outfit you with everything you’ll need for an expedition<br />
into spectacular backcountry, from Oregon to British Columbia.<br />
Whatever your method of exploration—sea kayaking,<br />
rock climbing, glacier mountaineering, backpacking or sailing—<br />
you’ll be in for the experience of a lifetime. We offer a wide variety<br />
of course options and specialize in courses for educators and<br />
trip leaders. The Outdoor Educator courses that feature backcountry<br />
travel, glacier travel and rock climbing are truly signatures<br />
of <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest.<br />
This is a place that we know well—and you will, too. We’ll<br />
teach you how to camp without leaving an impact, how to cook a<br />
tasty meal over a camp stove and work as part of a team to explore<br />
the rugged Pacific Northwest.<br />
35
Pacific Northwest<br />
WADD<strong>IN</strong>GTON RANGE MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This demanding expedition travels into British Columbia’s remote<br />
Coast Mountains, including the Waddington Range, Whitemantle<br />
Range and Homathko Icefield, for a month-long experience in rock,<br />
snow and ice mountaineering skills. Here you’ll get the biggest and<br />
most remote glaciers <strong>NOLS</strong> travels on south of Alaska and more<br />
time to practice actual mountaineering since these courses either<br />
travel in or out of the field via plane. In this very remote area of<br />
huge glacial plateaus, long granite spires, deep fjords and snowcapped<br />
peaks along the rugged coast of British Columbia, you’ll<br />
learn what it takes to get a team ready to summit. Whether you’re<br />
the first one to the top or not, you’ll get to practice your newfound<br />
skills on at least one peak attempt. For tons of technical glacier<br />
mountaineering and a place few people have ever been, this expedition<br />
is a true adventure that will provide both.<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 31 days<br />
Tuition: $4,630<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours<br />
Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Instructor Liza Cochran heads for the summit of Eldorado Peak, passing her expertise<br />
in alpine travel on to her students.<br />
Paul Koubek<br />
NOR<strong>TH</strong> CASCADES MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Washington’s North Cascades, often referred to as the “American<br />
Alps,” encompass some of America’s most spectacular scenery—jagged<br />
peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and more glaciers than any<br />
other location in the Lower 48. Many of the world’s top mountaineers<br />
use this area as their training ground; the reasonable access combined<br />
with challenging mountain classrooms continue to make this range<br />
one of the best places in the world to learn to be a mountaineer. The<br />
pace is gradual in the beginning, as you travel through lush, old-growth<br />
forests and tangled alder thickets, and it eventually gains momentum<br />
as you ascend to the North Cascades’ majestic, snow-clad peaks. You’ll<br />
get a well-rounded base of snow, ice and crevasse rescue mountaineering<br />
skills, with some potential for rock climbing. With a student<br />
to instructor ratio of 5:1 and many days of practice, you’ll receive an<br />
unparalleled <strong>NOLS</strong> mountaineering education.<br />
Age and Length:<br />
17 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 31 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 33 • Duration: 17 days<br />
Tuition: $3,800 (17 & Over); $3,125 (23 & Over)<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment (17 & Over); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over)<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Students Jasmine McEachern and Thomas Wells scout route options on the flanks of<br />
Glacier Peak.<br />
Alexis Alloway<br />
“ ”<br />
EMPLOYERS AND SCHOOLS <strong>IN</strong>CREAS<strong>IN</strong>GLY RECOGNIZE <strong>TH</strong>E VALUE OF EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST <strong>TH</strong>EORY.<br />
I HAVE NO DOUBT <strong>TH</strong>AT MY <strong>NOLS</strong> ALUMNI STATUS HELPED ME LAND A SPOT <strong>IN</strong> MEDICAL SCHOOL.<br />
36
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
Alexis Alloway<br />
Wish this was your commute to school every morning? At <strong>NOLS</strong>, you learn every step of the way.<br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The Pacific Northwest is a richly diverse wilderness classroom, ranging<br />
from jagged, glacier-carved mountains and valleys, to evergreen<br />
forests and stands of lodgepole pine. These popular backpacking<br />
courses have two options for exploring this region. Early season<br />
courses travel in the Pasayten Wilderness in north central Washington,<br />
while late season courses backpack through Olympic National<br />
Park on the Olympic Peninsula. The Pasayten will forever<br />
alter your perceptions of the Pacific Northwest, boasting almost<br />
150 peaks over 7,500 feet in elevation. Rugged ridges in the west<br />
flatten into expansive plateaus toward the east, with deep drainages<br />
on both sides. The diverse vegetation changes from temperate rainforest<br />
to the fir, pine and larch more characteristic of the Rocky<br />
Mountains. Courses that travel in Olympic National Park will traverse<br />
from east to west while viewing the area’s rugged glaciercapped<br />
mountains and wide alpine meadows sparkling with<br />
avalanche lilies, larkspur and Indian paintbrush. Like the first Western<br />
explorers, you’ll travel along the wild and rugged Pacific coast,<br />
seeing stands of moss-covered old-growth and temperate rainforest.<br />
You’ll experience some demanding off-trail hiking as you visit<br />
pristine and rarely seen parts of the park.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 31 days<br />
Tuition: $3,475<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours<br />
Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Life in high definition: Hanging out at <strong>NOLS</strong> doesn’t involve a television or video games.<br />
Katie Jezek<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 37
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
Marco Johnson<br />
Student James Kim climbing in the North Cascades, often called the “American Alps.” Mountaineering at <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest means learning to travel on rock, snow and ice.<br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR:<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
With a team of dedicated teachers and a facility that’s ideal for expedition<br />
planning, we specialize in courses for educators at <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific<br />
Northwest. On this outdoor educator course you’ll get a variety<br />
of skills—backpacking, mountaineering and rock climbing—and experience<br />
a variety of terrain, from forests to glaciers and alpine rock.<br />
You’ll join a group of other motivated educators and outdoor leaders<br />
for one of two action-packed options, either a 24-day version or a<br />
31-day course for those with a more flexible schedule. On both, you’ll<br />
start out in temperate rainforests, working up to the jagged, snow-clad<br />
peaks of either the North Cascades or the Olympics. Here on the<br />
snowfields and glaciers you’ll practice mountaineering skills, attempt<br />
a peak ascent, and learn the ins and outs of teaching and leading in<br />
the backcountry. You’ll then switch gears for rock climbing—four<br />
days on the shorter course and ten days on the longer version—at either<br />
British Columbia’s Squamish or Washington’s Leavenworth areas,<br />
where sweeping granite walls provide the perfect classroom for learning<br />
climbing systems and techniques. Throughout the course, your<br />
veteran instructors will pass along an in-depth look at <strong>NOLS</strong>’ timetested<br />
teaching and programming methods as well as their strong enthusiasm<br />
for teaching in the wilderness.<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 24 or 31 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $3,050 (24 days); $3,795 (31 days)<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> has trained professional backcountry leaders in the field for over 40 years.<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Risk Assessment (24 days); 2 hours<br />
Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Skills Practicum (31 days)<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
38
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
Moe Witschard<br />
Instructor Matthew Ross launches into the surf. The Pacific Northwest has it all, from snowcapped mountaineering to world-class sea kayaking and sailing.<br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
NEW!<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Find the full beauty of the Pacific Northwest on this all-ocean<br />
coastal exploration. You will sea kayak the remote waters of Vancouver<br />
Island’s outer coast, visiting pristine sandy beaches and<br />
hidden tidal lagoons while traveling in the wake of the many First<br />
Nation peoples and early explorers who opened the trade routes<br />
in this region. Along the way, learn a range of technical skills including<br />
fundamental paddling strokes, weather analysis and the<br />
interpretation of tides and currents. During the sailing section,<br />
you’ll find yourself aboard a 36-foot keelboat to explore the remote<br />
Strait of Georgia and Desolation Sound. Along these<br />
wilderness coastlines, known for their precipitous headlands and<br />
abundant intertidal ecosystem, you’ll learn boat handling under<br />
sail and power, chart reading, coastal navigation, and seamanship.<br />
From helm to foredeck to navigation station, you will get<br />
hands-on opportunity to crew all the positions above and below<br />
deck. With a combo course like this one, you’re sure to grow into<br />
your sea legs.<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 31 days<br />
Tuition: $4,100<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours<br />
Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST TRIP <strong>LEADER</strong><br />
Washington’s wilderness areas are ideal training grounds for learning<br />
how to lead backpacking trips. Here you’ll join a diverse group of trip<br />
leaders for a packed overview of the <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum. The length<br />
and cost of this course is designed for potential outdoor leaders and<br />
educators who don’t have a lot of time or a huge budget but are motivated<br />
to learn the ABCs of leading groups in the backcountry. You’ll<br />
learn common leadership strategies through dynamic, on-the-trail<br />
teaching methods including scenarios, real-time problem solving and<br />
experiential learning. You’ll learn the intricacies of planning a trip<br />
that’s not based out of an outfitted facility and how to outfit expeditions<br />
of your own. Our students leave the Pacific Northwest with<br />
a higher level of competence and an inspiration to lead.<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 31 • Duration: 9 days<br />
Eligibility: Practicing trip leaders<br />
Tuition: $1,010<br />
Course start/end: Mount Vernon, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Semester in the Pacific Northwest, page 81<br />
Semester on the Borders, page 103<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 39
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
Welcome to the American Southwest, the rumpled horizon<br />
studded with the stick figures of Saguaro cactus, hidden<br />
nooks lush with watercress, granite strongholds glowing orange in<br />
the setting sun, the call of a Gambel’s quail, the smell of mesquite<br />
washed in a pounding desert rain.<br />
Now put yourself in the picture. You will be climbing, hiking,<br />
canoeing and caving in terrain as varied as those skills. And<br />
with consistently good weather, the Southwest is the perfect place<br />
to focus on each unique activity.<br />
Our headquarters on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona is a facility<br />
specially designed to meet your needs and those of your fellow<br />
coursemates. From here we explore the great landscapes of the<br />
region, close enough to an international airport to make your travel<br />
easy yet far enough away for an extended escape into the wilderness.<br />
40
Chris Bessonette<br />
The Southwest’s great weather and great rock help student Jodi Swain send a route at Cochise Stronghold.<br />
The Southwest is a place of amazing diversity, where plants<br />
and animals of the Neararctic intersperse with those of the<br />
Neotropics, a land of jaguar and mountain lion, javelina and whitetailed<br />
deer. Birds such as the coppery-tailed trogon and white-eared<br />
hummingbird fly the same skies as red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures.<br />
It’s a land that famed naturalist Aldo Leopold walked and<br />
called “near to being the cream of creation.”<br />
The Southwest is also a region of incredible human diversity.<br />
Courses pass through areas originally inhabited by ancient cultures,<br />
and evidence of their civilizations is still present. This is the<br />
place Apache leaders Cochise and Geronimo fought for and lived<br />
in. The area’s more recent Spanish influence is obvious as soon as<br />
you arrive in Tucson. With easy access, amazing diversity and challenging<br />
outdoor skills, a course at <strong>NOLS</strong> Southwest is hard to beat.<br />
41
Southwest<br />
GILA RANGE BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
New Mexico’s Gila Range is the birthplace of the American concept<br />
of wilderness, protected by Congress 40 years before the<br />
Wilderness Act was passed. The Gila today remains the same as it<br />
was then, a wild place of amazing contrasts and abundance. You’ll<br />
live here for 28 days, hiking beneath the same tall pines and up the<br />
same deep canyons that inspired the wilderness concept. On some<br />
days you’ll start on a snow-covered peak and arrive in a warm desert<br />
canyon at day’s end, the same canyons inhabited 900 years ago by<br />
the Mimbres culture and 100 years ago by the Apache. They chose<br />
this wild place for many of the same reasons you will: its beauty,<br />
abundant animal and plant life, fantastic variety of terrain and, most<br />
of all, its power to inspire the spirit.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $3,650<br />
Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona<br />
Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Environmental Ethics<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
You’ll follow in the footsteps of the Mimbres and Apache as you explore the Gila,<br />
American’s first designated wilderness area.<br />
Deborah Sussex<br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR:<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Are you an active or aspiring outdoor educator? If so, we’ve designed<br />
this course for you. This is your opportunity to develop the knowledge<br />
and skills necessary for teaching and leading field-based wilderness<br />
education programs. While in the desert, you’ll learn “hard<br />
skills,” such as backcountry travel, adapting minimum-impact techniques<br />
to an arid ecosystem, first aid, and map reading. We will also<br />
give you an inside track into the fundamentals of running wilderness<br />
education courses with an overview of program supervision,<br />
risk management and <strong>NOLS</strong> administrative practices.<br />
After building a foundation of program knowledge, the<br />
course dives into a 19-day backpacking expedition in the remote<br />
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge where you’ll learn the backcountry<br />
living skills you need to lead others on wilderness trips. You’ll travel<br />
among saguaro cactus, mesquite, ocotillo and palo verde trees where<br />
quail, songbirds and raptors share the skies and desert bighorn<br />
sheep, mountain lions and javelina move across the land. Then 10<br />
days at Cochise Stronghold, a maze of granite pinnacles in the Dragoon<br />
Mountains where the Chiricahua Apache and their leader,<br />
Cochise, took refuge, rounds out the curriculum. Renowned for its<br />
excellent climbing, the Cochise provides an ideal classroom for<br />
learning rock climbing skills such as anchor systems, knots, and top<br />
rope site management.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 31 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $3,825<br />
Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona<br />
Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Instructor Lauren Reich topping out on a multi-pitch at Cochise Stronghold. You’ll<br />
benefit directly from the experience and skill of your instructors.<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
42
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
Steven Brutger<br />
Students Andy Basset, Liz Cassarella, Chris Kenyon, and Radovan Bakalovic descend into camp. The deserts of the Southwest are a rich and diverse ecosystem.<br />
NEW! SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Leave your hiking boots and water bottles at home; trail<br />
shoes and hydration bladders are all the rage these days. We are taking<br />
on the latest innovation in backpacking and want you right<br />
there with us; let us help you lighten your load.<br />
Partnering with GoLite and BackpackingLight.com, we are<br />
proud to offer this cutting-edge course in the deserts of the Southwest.<br />
Your adventure starts in the equipment room as <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors<br />
outfit you with the latest in lightweight gear and pull<br />
together a specialized ration for your expedition, helping you shave<br />
ounces for the lightest possible load without compromising safety<br />
or functionality. Then, for the next two weeks, you’ll explore the<br />
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, one of Arizona’s most remote<br />
ranges, in a way you may never have thought possible, with only 25<br />
pounds on your back. The only thing we won’t go light with on<br />
this course is our core curriculum. You’ll still master the leadership<br />
and outdoor living skills that <strong>NOLS</strong> is built upon while learning the<br />
specific skills of lightweight backpacking. Expect to leave this course<br />
with the skills and background necessary to plan and execute your<br />
own lightweight adventures.<br />
Southwest Lightweight Backpacking is a chance to explore the backcountry with less<br />
gear and lighter packs.<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 15 days<br />
Tuition: $3,005<br />
Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona<br />
Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Semester in the Southwest, page 83<br />
Semester on the Borders, page 103<br />
Year in the Sonoran, page 105<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 43
ALASKA<br />
The boundlessness of the place will grab you at first, for<br />
there is nowhere as far-flung as Alaska. It will alter your<br />
concept of space. Tundra, sky, mountain and sea: Alaska is a<br />
place you don’t just visit; you experience it. Glaciers calve into<br />
the sea, arctic tundra stretches beyond the horizon, the rugged<br />
and expansive mountains reach into the sky, wildlife is abundant,<br />
and humans are scarce. The Land of the Midnight Sun<br />
has a whopping 238 million acres of public land, and you’ll have<br />
the chance to explore a slice of it.<br />
Though part of the United States, this place is different.<br />
The round-the-clock daylight of summer, the vast geographic distance<br />
from the Lower 48, and the various cultures set it apart. You<br />
won’t need a passport or visa for your trip to Alaska, but you will<br />
feel a long way from home.<br />
44
Chris Bessonette<br />
Expand your definition of wilderness while exploring the awe-inspiring tundra, mountains and waters of Alaska.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> first came to this incredible country in 1971. Since<br />
then we have established a state-of-the-art headquarters in the historic<br />
Matanuska Valley outside Palmer. From here (or one of our<br />
operations bases in Fairbanks or Petersburg) we’ll outfit you with<br />
everything you need for an expedition into the wild. Our headquarters<br />
is built to make your course a success, and our staff is<br />
handpicked to make your experience a great one.<br />
No other organization offers the breadth of opportunities<br />
in Alaska that <strong>NOLS</strong> does. From the Arctic Circle to North America’s<br />
highest peak, Denali, to the Southeast Alaska archipelago,<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is there. Backpacking, sea kayaking, or mountaineering:<br />
No matter how you choose to explore Alaska on your <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
course, you’ll learn all you need to know about living and traveling<br />
in this vast wilderness.<br />
45
Alaska<br />
ALASKA SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Wildlife and water. Mountain and forest. Since 1971, <strong>NOLS</strong> students<br />
have been exploring the wilds of Alaska in sea kayaks. There’s<br />
no better way to take in Alaska’s dramatic coastline than by gliding<br />
on the water. You’ll have an up-close view of stunning scenery and<br />
a chance to see plenty of wildlife, including whales, golden eagles,<br />
porpoises, sea otters, seals and sea lions. Along the way you’ll learn<br />
how to sea kayak, even if you’ve never held a paddle. You’ll hone<br />
your wilderness skills, have fun, and practice your leadership as you<br />
explore wild, wonderful Alaska.<br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>EAST ALASKA 30-DAY SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Your launching point for this course is Petersburg, Alaska, located in<br />
the heart of Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage. This archipelago is a<br />
remote land of forest and ocean. Beaches jut up against dense temperate<br />
rain forests, where giant spruce and hemlock rise to neckcraning<br />
heights. Much of your time will be spent near Kuiu Island,<br />
an ancient forest home to black bears, wolves, Sitka black-tailed deer,<br />
moose and river otters. You’ll learn to plan routes and navigate them<br />
using nautical charts, as well as hone technical skills such as paddling<br />
and how to make open-water crossings. You may be rewarded<br />
by catching halibut or salmon, or seeing the humpback and orca<br />
whales that abound in the area.<br />
PR<strong>IN</strong>CE WILLIAM SOUND 23-AND-OVER SEA<br />
KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Our 23-and-over courses paddle in Alaska’s world famous Prince<br />
William Sound, past towering tidewater glaciers that moan and<br />
crackle, crystal-blue icebergs bobbing on the ocean’s surface, and<br />
wooded coves perfect for camping. The sea teems with various<br />
forms of life, and you’ll have the ideal vantage point to view it all.<br />
Sea birds wheel in the sky overhead while tidal pools with starfish,<br />
anemones and other small creatures dot the shorelines. You’ll work<br />
hard paddling with all your gear stowed in your boat, but you’ll<br />
have opportunities to play as well. There are fish to catch and so<br />
many things to learn about in your explorations.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length:<br />
16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 30 days<br />
16 & 17 Only • Duration: 30 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 30 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $3,715 (16 & Over); $3,005 (23 & Over)<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska or Petersburg, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska or Petersburg, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics, 2 hours Leadership Techniques, 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum (16 & Over; 16 & 17 Only); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over)<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Prince William Sound’s deep fjords and massive tidewater glaciers are sure to impress.<br />
ALASKA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Alaska is a land of incredible fjords, forested ocean coasts and high<br />
alpine meadows. You’ll see much of this wild country as you explore<br />
it on foot and in a sea kayak. Your month-long adventure will<br />
give you a chance to learn two wilderness travel skills, backpacking<br />
and sea kayaking, while exploring two very different environments,<br />
the waters of Alaska’s Prince William Sound and the mountains of<br />
Southcentral Alaska. Your sea kayak will follow a route where glaciers<br />
flows directly into the ocean and seals, sea otters, many species<br />
of birds and even whales are easy to spot. You’ll learn how to handle<br />
your boat in different conditions of wind and tide, and also how<br />
to be a good leader and keep a positive attitude after a long day of<br />
paddling. The mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the<br />
Talkeetnas or the Chugach Range will be your home for the backpacking<br />
section. Here you’ll start below tree line and head into the<br />
mountains along glaciated river valleys, reaching open high-country<br />
known as tundra. The vistas here are wide, the mountains<br />
rugged, and the lessons lifelong.<br />
Tracy Baynes<br />
46<br />
“<strong>NOLS</strong> TAUGHT ME <strong>TH</strong>E IMPORTANCE<br />
OF GIV<strong>IN</strong>G NATURE <strong>TH</strong>E RESPECT<br />
AND CARE IT DESERVES.<br />
Eric Hubbell, Alaska Mountaineering ‘04<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average Age: 18 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $4,300<br />
”<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 112
ALASKA<br />
Julie Brown<br />
Students navigate around deep crevasses in the Eastern Alaska Range. Glacier travel is a technical skill necessary to tackle high peaks worldwide.<br />
ALASKA MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This course takes you to a place in Southcentral Alaska often referred<br />
to as “the mountain kingdom of North America,” where a chain of<br />
rugged mountain ranges and spectacular glaciers converge to make a<br />
mountaineer’s dreamscape. Within this region you’ll explore either the<br />
coastal Chugach Range, the interior Alaska Range, which is the backbone<br />
of North America’s highest peaks, or the Wrangell-St. Elias<br />
Range, the highest coastal range in the world. The specific route<br />
for each course is entirely season-dependent, with expeditions in the<br />
early season climbing mostly above snow line to access terrain via huge<br />
snowfields, and courses operating in the later season completing technical<br />
glacier routes on ice. All routes on the course for students ages<br />
17 and older are classically Alaskan with long approaches on large glaciers,<br />
and all routes provide an ideal training ground for learning to live<br />
and travel responsibly and efficiently in challenging mountain terrain.<br />
The shorter course for students ages 23 and older flies directly onto<br />
an Alaskan glacier to maximize time for technical skill development.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length:<br />
17 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 30 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $4,820 (17 & Over); $3,335 (23 & Over)<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
(17 & Over); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over)<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
DENALI MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(Alumni only) The highest peak in North America—known as Denali<br />
or “Great One” by Alaskan Natives—is the site for this expedition<br />
designed for qualified <strong>NOLS</strong> graduates.<br />
Denali offers extremely challenging glacier travel and some<br />
of the most difficult weather in the world, so this course is one of<br />
the most demanding <strong>NOLS</strong> offers, both physically and mentally. In<br />
short, Denali is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. During the course<br />
you’ll attempt to climb the Muldrow Glacier route on the north<br />
side of the mountain. The expedition begins with a day of tundra<br />
hiking followed by several days of hiking up the lower rock-covered<br />
and icy expanses of the Muldrow Glacier. After a resupply at McGonagall<br />
Pass, you’ll continue up the Muldrow, encountering crevasses<br />
and deep snow. The route then ascends the dramatic Karsten’s<br />
Ridge to the Harper Glacier. There you’ll establish high camp at<br />
approximately 17,000 feet, from which you’ll attempt the 20,320-<br />
foot summit. This route has a remote wilderness flavor that is not<br />
found on the more frequented routes up the mountain.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 26 • Duration: 34 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified <strong>NOLS</strong> graduates<br />
Tuition: $7,150<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours<br />
Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 47
ALASKA<br />
Allie Barker<br />
From north of the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range to the Southeast Alaska archipelago, <strong>NOLS</strong> knows Alaska.<br />
BROOKS RANGE COURSES<br />
The Brooks Range is one of the wildest mountain ranges in North<br />
America. Stretched across the tundra north of the Arctic Circle, this<br />
Land of the Midnight Sun is defined by big open river bottoms, steep<br />
mountain slopes and expansive tundra. Much of the landscape lies<br />
above tree line and elevations range from sea level to over 9,000 feet.<br />
The mountains are spectacular and rugged, and rivers flow through<br />
wilderness for hundreds of miles. It’s possible to see Dall sheep,<br />
moose, caribou, wolves, black and grizzly bears, and lynx as you travel.<br />
You’ll fly into these courses with an experienced Alaskan bush pilot.<br />
BROOKS RANGE BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND RIVER<br />
You’ll spend the first 10 days of this extended arctic expedition on<br />
foot, moving across the tundra and up braided river channels. Then<br />
a bush plane will fly in to swap boots and backpacks for folding canoes<br />
and touring kayaks for a three-week trip down an arctic river,<br />
either the Sheenjek River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or<br />
the Noatak River in Gates of the Arctic National Park, one of North<br />
America’s largest mountain-ringed river basins.<br />
BROOKS RANGE BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Designed especially for students ages 23 and older, this 14-day<br />
course packs in backcountry travel lessons in the steep shale mountains,<br />
towering peaks and expansive tundra of the Arctic National<br />
Wildlife Refuge. This is not a guided tour. You’ll learn the skills in<br />
these two weeks needed to travel in a mountain environment long<br />
after your course ends.<br />
Teamwork in action: A group of students use the “eddy method” to safely cross the<br />
Chickaloon River.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length:<br />
18 & Over Backpacking & River • Average age: 22 • Duration: 40 days<br />
23 & Over Backpacking • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $6,775 (Backpacking & River); $3,960 (Backpacking)<br />
Course start/end: Fairbanks, Alaska/Palmer, Alaska (Backpacking & River)<br />
Fly in/out: Fairbanks, Alaska/Anchorage, Alaska (Backpacking & River)<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills<br />
Practicum (Backpacking & River); 2 hours Skills Practicum (Backpacking)<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Matt Deines<br />
48
ALASKA<br />
Above: Effectively leading your peers in the backcountry will transfer to life back at home<br />
as well. Below: Instructors demonstrate important safety skills before getting on the water.<br />
ALASKA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
An Alaska Backpacking course is a wilderness expedition in every<br />
sense, allowing you to explore beautiful landscapes in either the Talkeetna<br />
Mountains or the area just east of Denali National Park in<br />
the Alaska Range, where the trees disappear and the land stretches<br />
into alpine tundra plains with a backdrop of rugged and heavily<br />
eroded mountains. Out here it’s still light at midnight, and you’ll<br />
follow the tracks of the seasonal caribou migration. How to hike<br />
on tundra, identify the birds, flowers, wildlife and plants of the<br />
North Country, and keep warm, dry and happy even when it’s wet<br />
are all part of your backcountry curriculum. You’ll become a seasoned<br />
wilderness traveler, learning how to read a map, navigate off<br />
trail, and scan the horizon for grizzly, black bears, moose, wolves<br />
and Dall sheep.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length:<br />
16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 30 days<br />
16 & 17 Only • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $3,725<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Tracy Baynes Shawn Stratton<br />
ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR:<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
If you’re a practicing or aspiring outdoor educator, you know that<br />
learning to lead groups in two different skill areas is a professional<br />
advantage. This all-in-one course will prepare you to do just that,<br />
giving you the chance to learn how to lead on land and sea. Your<br />
classroom for the sea kayaking section is Prince William Sound with<br />
its plentiful wildlife and booming tidewater glaciers. Your route will<br />
begin in the coastal community of Whittier or Valdez, and will continue<br />
out onto the Sound. Along the way you’ll learn how to glide<br />
along the coast in a sea kayak and have a chance to practice your<br />
teaching skills in some of the most beautiful parts of the Sound.<br />
For the backpacking portion of the course, you’ll be in either<br />
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park or the Talkeetna Mountains, home<br />
to Dall sheep, grizzly and black bears, moose, and caribou. In this<br />
land of tundra and rocky passes, you’ll work with our veteran educators<br />
to learn skills such as risk management, ration planning and<br />
program supervision. By the end of this expedition, you’ll be better<br />
equipped to teach, lead and explore, whether in a boat or on foot.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average Age: 26 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $3,795<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This backpacking course takes you into Alaska’s sweeping tundra<br />
and steep mountain passes for a 24-day immersion into how to lead<br />
and teach in the wilderness. Your classroom will be Alaska’s<br />
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park or the Talkeetna Mountains, where<br />
you’ll start below tree line, head into the mountains along glaciated<br />
river valleys, and eventually reach the open tundra plains.<br />
Here’s where you’ll learn about effective teaching techniques<br />
and then get a chance to put those techniques into action. If you are<br />
already an outdoor educator, this will be a chance for you to pick up<br />
new skills and techniques. If you are an aspiring outdoor educator,<br />
you’ll be well on your way after collecting the lessons on this course.<br />
Your instructors are veteran educators, and you’ll have a chance to<br />
glean tips from them. Before the expedition even begins, you’ll spend<br />
a day in town learning about equipment, program supervision, risk<br />
management, rations planning and <strong>NOLS</strong> administrative practices.<br />
The lessons you learn in the open tundra will travel home<br />
with you, and for challenging, wild terrain and opportunities to see<br />
animals such as bear and caribou, there is no rival to this course.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 24 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $3,015<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Semester in Alaska, page 85<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 49
YUKON<br />
The Yukon Territory is an undiscovered wilderness paradise<br />
with little development, few people, and pristine backcountry.<br />
Located in the far northwest of Canada, this territory encompasses<br />
almost 500,000 square kilometers of pure, untouched wilderness:<br />
a piece of land the size of California populated by only 30,000 people.<br />
This northern paradise of wild, technical rivers and sweeping<br />
tundra begs exploration, and <strong>NOLS</strong> is happy to oblige.<br />
Whitehorse, dubbed “The Wilderness City” and capital of the<br />
Yukon, is incredibly accessible, just a two-hour plane ride from Vancouver<br />
or Calgary, and our base at <strong>NOLS</strong> Yukon is just minutes away<br />
from the airport. But from here, you’ll have access to some of the most<br />
remote and pristine wilderness on the globe. Because of its remote nature,<br />
the Yukon is a place where canoeing, hiking, self-reliance and outdoor<br />
competence are the way of life.<br />
50
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Canada’s Yukon Territory is a land far removed from the bustle of everyday life.<br />
During the summer, the land explodes from its three<br />
months of darkness for a season of almost continuous daylight. In<br />
this Land of the Midnight Sun, you’ll share the wilderness with<br />
caribou, bear, wolf, moose and migrating birds. Once in the backcountry,<br />
the only trails you’ll follow are those made by the wildlife<br />
and the only people you’ll see are your fellow coursemates.<br />
Paddle the rivers, walk the tundra plateaus, explore the boreal<br />
forest valleys and cross the rushing mountain streams on this remote,<br />
extended expedition. Whether you call Canada home or you’re traveling<br />
from abroad, the Yukon’s stunning rivers and little-used mountain<br />
ranges provide the ideal setting for a wilderness adventure. Get to know<br />
this renowned northern Canadian territory more intimately while challenging<br />
and strengthening your own technical and leadership skills.<br />
The <strong>NOLS</strong> Yukon experience is one you won’t want to miss.<br />
51
Yukon<br />
YUKON OUTDOOR EDUCATOR:<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND WHITEWATER CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This 30-day expedition for practicing and aspiring outdoor educators<br />
combines the skills of wilderness backpacking with northern<br />
whitewater canoeing in Canada’s Yukon Territory. A remote Yukon<br />
mountain range is the perfect classroom for developing the skills of<br />
the backcountry professional. You’ll find an abundance of mountain<br />
wildlife amidst the alpine wildflowers carpeting the tundra and valley<br />
floors enveloped by chest-high forests of dwarf birch and willow.<br />
After learning the hiking skills needed to manage groups in the remote<br />
backcountry, you’ll spend two weeks learning technical river<br />
skills, canoeing, teaching techniques and river rescue concepts. After<br />
a month in the rugged mountains and on the river, you’ll have a<br />
powerful set of water and mountain skills for future professional<br />
and personal adventures in the backcountry.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 29 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $3,465<br />
Course start/end: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
Fly in/out: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
YUKON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Roam through the Yukon’s magnificent and trail-less wilderness of<br />
forest, tundra, permafrost and stunning open mountain travel.<br />
You’ll explore and learn in the Yukon’s wild and remote unnamed<br />
mountain ranges, where you’ll climb far above tree line for awe-inspiring<br />
views and hike on open tundra, sharing the land with grazing<br />
caribou. The Yukon is the perfect training ground for mastering<br />
camping and traveling skills, especially in bear country, as well as developing<br />
leadership skills and teamwork. You’ll also enjoy fantastic,<br />
untapped fly and spin fishing in wild rivers that flow with the cleanest<br />
water you can find. Hiking here can be hard work, but the rewards<br />
are worth the effort. After just 27 days, you’ll come home<br />
with the skills and know-how to lead your own backpacking trips,<br />
although you’ll always long for the freedom of the Yukon.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 19 • Duration: 27 days<br />
Tuition: $3,250<br />
Course start/end: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
Fly in/out: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Adventures await around every corner in the Yukon Territory, home to some of the<br />
world’s most remote rivers.<br />
Mountain streams and wild tundra: Canada’s backcountry will teach you lifelong lessons<br />
about environmental ethics.<br />
Moe Witschard Pascal Beauvais<br />
“ ”<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E YUKON IS LIKE NO O<strong>TH</strong>ER PLACE I’VE EVER BEEN. <strong>TH</strong>E UNTOUCHED BEAUTY<br />
AND <strong>IN</strong>NOCENT YET DOM<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G FEEL AMAZED ME FROM DAY ONE.<br />
Travis Custer, Yukon Backpacking ‘04<br />
52
YUKON<br />
Steve Javorski<br />
Yukon backpacking students are true explorers, visiting isolated wilderness few people have ever seen.<br />
30-DAY YUKON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
AND <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Take full advantage of the remote, pristine Yukon wilderness and<br />
travel abroad without leaving the continent. This course is perfect<br />
for students wanting to develop two distinct skills, hiking and canoeing,<br />
be out for a month without resupply, and be on less technical<br />
rivers. With the diverse, captivating terrain, you’ll be able to<br />
focus on developing the skills to lead your peers in small groups.<br />
This course will enable you to pack all of your supplies for a month<br />
into a canoe. Your route offers true expedition river and lake travel<br />
with weeklong backpacking loops that provide incredible views to<br />
the rugged mountains and glaciers. You may even catch a glimpse<br />
of bear or caribou. If you like to fish, you’ll love the world-class fly<br />
fishing up here. In fact, this course has great fishing of all types.<br />
With the adventurous routes and a combination of skills, you’ll<br />
come home an excellent camper and leader with an unparalleled<br />
appreciation for Canada’s history and environment.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $3,750<br />
Course start/end: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
Fly in/out: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Instructor Roger Yim takes students down the Hart River, modeling paddling techniques<br />
and leadership skills on the water.<br />
Semester in the Yukon, page 87<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
Willy Hazlehurst<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 53
MEXICO<br />
Imagine a land of stark contrasts: ocean and desert, cactus and<br />
pine, teeming seas and sparse shores. This is the Baja Peninsula,<br />
a land of unique wilderness opportunity. <strong>NOLS</strong> Mexico is the<br />
home of our ocean-based program, and here you’ll learn how to<br />
sea kayak, sail and backpack. You’ll learn about the rich diversity of<br />
this marine ecosystem, about the whales and sea birds and fish that<br />
call Baja home. There will also be occasion to interact with the people<br />
of Baja, to practice your Spanish with everyone from fishermen<br />
to ranchers to local university students affiliated with <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
The center of our operation is the unique off-the-grid headquarters<br />
in Coyote Bay near Mulegé. We have been here for over 30<br />
years, and our high-tech, low-impact facility was specifically designed<br />
to meet the needs of our students. <strong>NOLS</strong> Mexico is recognized<br />
for excellence in sustainable building.<br />
54
Danielle Dignan<br />
Home of <strong>NOLS</strong>’ ocean-based program, <strong>NOLS</strong> Mexico is where you’ll learn how to live and travel in a water-filled wilderness.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>’ commitment to Baja is unparalleled. We are an important<br />
part of the peninsula’s community, with educational opportunities<br />
for local educators, students and land managers, as well as financial<br />
aid and scholarships for <strong>NOLS</strong> courses in both Spanish and English.<br />
We also have a long-standing partnership with the Universidad<br />
Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), collaborating with their<br />
departments of marine biology, geology, and alternative tourism.<br />
Baja is also a perfect starting point for budding international<br />
travelers. You will learn to travel safely and responsibly in the backcountry<br />
while having meaningful interactions with a diverse crosssection<br />
of local residents. You’ll be amazed at the diversity of this land,<br />
its flora and fauna, the skills you’ll learn and the people you’ll meet.<br />
Para información en español, visítenos en www.nols.edu/espanol.<br />
55
Mexico<br />
BAJA COASTAL SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
A <strong>NOLS</strong> sailing course will get you well on your way to sailing on<br />
your own and becoming a competent crew member. We use a<br />
unique yawl-rigged open boat to explore the coastline of the Baja<br />
California Peninsula. The Drascombe Longboat is a light, maneuverable<br />
craft perfect for learning sail basics, exploring shallow coves<br />
or hauling onto desert beaches. On this boat you’ll learn coastal<br />
navigation on waters rich with marine life, from intricate sea fans<br />
and colorful reef fishes to raucous sea lions and blowing whales, accessing<br />
places unreachable by larger boats. This course follows nature’s<br />
rhythms, so you may find yourself up before dawn or sailing<br />
until dusk to take advantage of a favorable breeze. There are bound<br />
to be some long, challenging days on the water, but there should<br />
also be time to wonder at the night sky or at the sea stars in a tidal<br />
pool. You’ll learn to read winds and waves with confidence, work as<br />
a crew with your coursemates, and, on windless days, practice rowing<br />
and towing. The boat will be your home on the water, but you’ll<br />
also be at home on the land, practicing Leave No Trace camping<br />
onshore in this unique desert that greets the sea.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 22 days<br />
Tuition: $3,625<br />
Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico<br />
Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
BAJA SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Baja Sea Kayaking has it all—technical skills, incredible scenery, leadership<br />
practice, and unique opportunities for cultural exchanges. On<br />
this course you’ll travel along the coastline of the Sea of Cortez, where<br />
the Sonoran Desert meets the water, carrying everything you need for<br />
your journey inside the hull of your sea kayak. Your instructors will<br />
teach you how to maneuver this craft onto remote beaches surrounded<br />
by cliffs and how to handle the boat when waves and winds<br />
begin to pick up. On land, you’ll practice cooking, Leave No Trace<br />
camping and beginning Spanish. As you move down the coast, you’ll<br />
see a land where cacti abound, as do dolphins and jumping manta<br />
rays. Free diving is a special part of this course, and you’ll often spend<br />
afternoons exploring coastal reefs and the vast array of multi-colored<br />
fish that inhabit them. You may even have the opportunity to catch<br />
and prepare fish for your fellow students or to enjoy the catch of the<br />
day from local fisherman. By the end of your expedition, you’ll walk<br />
away with the ability to lead your own sea kayaking adventure and<br />
an appreciation for this dramatic Mexican wilderness.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length:<br />
16 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 22 days<br />
23 & Over • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $3,105 (16 & Over); $2,990 (23 & Over)<br />
Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico<br />
Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques (16 & Over);<br />
2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over)<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
Yarrrgh, matey! Students learn sail theory while exploring intimate coves in the small,<br />
maneuverable Drascombe Longboat.<br />
Another amazing sunrise greets students on the Sea of Cortez as they rise early to paddle<br />
before the winds pick up.<br />
Brian Harper<br />
Ashley Wise<br />
56
MEXICO<br />
Julie Brown<br />
Practical, hands-on skills are the hallmark of a <strong>NOLS</strong> education. Be prepared to get wet!<br />
Todd Sutherland<br />
Above: Don Ford, Instructor and <strong>NOLS</strong> Alaska Director, takes advantage of a teachable<br />
moment to show his students a puffer fish. Above right: Sea kayaks provide an upclose<br />
glimpse of Baja’s underwater world.<br />
Cara Rudio<br />
Semester in Baja, page 89<br />
Baja Ocean Semester, page 91<br />
Year in the Sonoran, page 105<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
Para información de nuestros cursos para educadores en español,<br />
visítenos en nuestra página de Web: www.nols.edu/espanol.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 57
PATAGONIA<br />
Patagonia is a frontier of campos (ranches) hidden in isolated<br />
mountain valleys, among ragged icy peaks, and on turbulent<br />
rivers and island archipelagos. This is a land that demands<br />
exploration, and you will experience firsthand its dramatic<br />
peaks, valleys and waterways.<br />
At <strong>NOLS</strong> Patagonia, in the heart of Chilean Patagonia,<br />
our main base is a working farm of several hundred acres in the<br />
small town of Coyhaique. We do all of the planning and logistics<br />
to make your expedition into the wilderness an educational<br />
experience that lasts a lifetime. Here you’ll meet your instructors<br />
and get to know them and your fellow expedition members as<br />
you prepare for your course.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is an important contributor to the outdoor community<br />
in this region. Since 1992, <strong>NOLS</strong> has been offering spe-<br />
58
David Anderson<br />
Nature rules in this remote land of southern Chile. Your leadership techniques will be honed by the challenges and opportunities it throws at you.<br />
cialized courses for Chilean educators and park rangers, teaching<br />
No Deje Rastro (Leave No Trace), outdoor skills and leadership.<br />
The hallmarks of a <strong>NOLS</strong> Patagonia course are exploration,<br />
remoteness and fickle weather. Patagonia has mountains that have<br />
never been climbed and valleys populated by pobladores (subsistence<br />
ranchers). The conditions in this part of the world are extreme,<br />
but we will teach you how to hike and camp in the valleys,<br />
explore the mountains, paddle the archipelagos, and stop to enjoy<br />
the people you meet along the way.<br />
Leadership development comes quickly in these adverse<br />
conditions where teamwork is a necessity, not a luxury. You’ll return<br />
from Patagonia with communication skills, the ability to motivate<br />
yourself and others, and the proficiency to plan and carry out expeditions<br />
to the remotest corners of the world.<br />
59
Patagonia<br />
PATAGONIA MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The Patagonian Andes is the site of your mountaineering expedition.<br />
Among the peaks, expansive rivers and thick coastal rainforests,<br />
you’ll learn the techniques of alpine big-glacier mountaineering and<br />
camping in challenging weather, including all the skills to carry out<br />
remote expeditions and explore rugged and little-traveled mountain<br />
terrain. Teamwork, motivation, leadership and communication are<br />
critical components of the course, as are meticulous glacier travel,<br />
hazard evaluation and technical ropework. This course will offer you<br />
the challenges of unknown terrain and fierce alpine weather, preparing<br />
you for travel in any mountain area in the world.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 34 days<br />
Tuition: $5,470<br />
Course start/end: Coyhaique, Chile<br />
Fly in/out: Balmaceda, Chile<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
PATAGONIA SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
On this unique course, you’ll encounter a variety of spectacular environments,<br />
from remote picturesque valleys with views of glaciated<br />
peaks to the wet and verdant coast. You may also have a chance to<br />
meet the people who inhabit the rugged land of Patagonia. Your<br />
expedition includes a stunning drive along the famous Carretera<br />
Austral (the Southern Highway), taking you through small villages<br />
where you’ll glimpse rural Patagonian life. You’ll work to learn sea<br />
kayaking and expedition skills as you travel by lush temperate rainforests,<br />
numerous waterfalls, sweeping granite walls and glimpses<br />
of glaciers in the distance. Home to Andean condors, albatross, the<br />
world’s southernmost parrot, otters and southern sea lions, this region<br />
abounds with wildlife. You may encounter subsistence fisherman<br />
trapping crab or diving for shellfish, have the opportunity to<br />
meet a family living on a remote farm reachable only by water, or<br />
gain insight into a way of life that has changed little in 100 years.<br />
Patagonia’s challenging terrain, seldom-traveled glaciers, rough weather and remoteness<br />
all accelerate your leadership development.<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 23 & Over • Average Age: 40 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $3,005<br />
Course start/end: Coyhaique, Chile<br />
Fly in/out: Balmaceda, Chile<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
“<br />
60<br />
MY EXPERIENCE WI<strong>TH</strong> <strong>NOLS</strong> HAS BECOME<br />
<strong>IN</strong>VALUABLE MORE AND MORE EACH DAY.<br />
[IT] HELPED SHARPEN MY VISION FOR WHAT I<br />
WANTED TO GET OUT OF COLLEGE, AND I<br />
CAME BACK TO SCHOOL WI<strong>TH</strong> AN ENHANCED<br />
AND REFRESHED PERSPECTIVE ON LEARN<strong>IN</strong>G.<br />
”<br />
Bryant Leman, Fall Semester in Patagonia ‘02<br />
The Leave No Trace principle “plan ahead and prepare” takes on new meaning in the backcountry<br />
where students rely on topographic maps and navigational charts to find their way.<br />
Bruce Smithhammer
PATAGONIA<br />
Jake MacArthur<br />
Students hike through a campo in Espolon Valley. An inhabited wilderness, Patagonia offers rich cultural opportunities.<br />
PATAGONIA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND FLY FISH<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
For the backcountry fly fishing expedition of a lifetime, come to<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Patagonia. You will find the fabled wild brown and rainbow<br />
trout of Patagonia’s Aisen region that swim in the pristine rivers and<br />
freestone streams that lie in beautiful valleys. The fundamental<br />
travel and expedition skills that are the hallmark of a <strong>NOLS</strong> experience<br />
are coupled with a tailored fly fishing progression based on<br />
students’ individual knowledge and experience. Whether you are<br />
picking up a fly rod for the first time or have been fishing for years,<br />
this is the course for you. <strong>NOLS</strong> provides a remote, self-sufficient,<br />
educational expedition in what is quickly becoming one of the<br />
hottest fly fishing destinations on the planet.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 23 & Over • Average Age: 35 • Duration: 14 days<br />
Tuition: $3,005<br />
Course start/end: Coyhaique, Chile<br />
Fly in/out: Balmaceda, Chile<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
Semester in Patagonia, page 93<br />
Year in Patagonia, page 95<br />
Patagonia is home to world-class fly fishing, and you’ll experience it intimately as you<br />
travel and camp in this wild land.<br />
Rich Brame<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 61
<strong>IN</strong>DIA<br />
Dev Bhoomi, called “The Abode of the Gods,” is a land<br />
steeped in culture, history and mythology. It is also the setting<br />
for some of <strong>NOLS</strong>’ most culturally-oriented courses. You will<br />
explore the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of India—places of staggering<br />
beauty, high ranges and ancient civilizations. The holy river<br />
Ganga (Ganges) is born in these mountains, and some of the trails<br />
here are the oldest trade routes between India and Tibet.<br />
Our base in India is in the mountain town of Ranikhet in the state<br />
of Uttarakhand, a peaceful rural haven with spectacular views of<br />
the Himalayas where you’ll get acclimatized before heading for the<br />
high country. In the distance, you’ll see Nanda Devi, a 7,816-meter<br />
world famous peak that will be your companion during your stay.<br />
India courses begin in Conway, Washington at <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific<br />
Northwest. Here you’ll have an orientation meeting, get all<br />
62
AJ Linnell<br />
Get off the tourist track as you explore this sacred land and culture.<br />
the gear you need for the course and meet one of your instructors<br />
who will travel with you to India. Once abroad, you will get<br />
a complete introduction to the languages, myths, cultures and<br />
wild beauty of this country. At least one Indian <strong>NOLS</strong> staff<br />
member accompanies each course, and you’ll benefit from this<br />
person’s extensive knowledge of the region and its human and<br />
natural history.<br />
As you travel through rural India and hike from village to<br />
village, you’ll get an introduction to this country unlike any other<br />
outdoor program. You’ll hike through subtropical forests and high<br />
alpine meadows and maybe even observe Himalayan black bears<br />
or the elusive snow leopard. In your travels, you’ll attain heights<br />
you never thought possible and visit lush valleys in between.<br />
63
India<br />
HIMALAYA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The Kumaon and the Eastern Garhwal regions of the Indian Himalaya<br />
are rugged glacially-carved ranges world famous for climbing<br />
and trekking. Long ago, these low-lying valleys provided<br />
traditional trade routes between India and Tibet. You’ll visit teahouses<br />
and hike past fields that are still worked with water buffalo.<br />
You’ll accumulate backcountry skills and learn the core <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum<br />
while experiencing the land and culture on a staggering<br />
scale. And all the while, your cultural studies and classes in conversational<br />
Hindi will aid in your interactions with local villagers.<br />
Our travel takes us beyond the normal parameters of tourist<br />
treks, so you’ll be seeing an India that few foreigners ever encounter,<br />
deep into the remote Himalayan wilderness. You’ll make your way<br />
up high mountain passes, some reaching 15,000 feet above sea level,<br />
and travel through river valleys lush with foliage. You’ll sleep under<br />
the stars in tents, learn skills such as judgment and decision-making,<br />
and enjoy the people who live in this fascinating landscape.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 35 days<br />
Tuition: $5,860<br />
Course start/end: Conway, WA / New Delhi, India<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, WA / New Delhi, India<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours Skills<br />
Practicum<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
Kevin Emery<br />
HIMALAYA MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The remote and spectacular Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand<br />
is the setting for this high-altitude mountaineering expedition. In<br />
these surroundings, you’ll learn how to plan and carry out an international<br />
expedition, focusing on topics such as expedition planning, cultural<br />
awareness, high altitude physiology and mountaineering skills.<br />
Beginning your trek into the mountains at 5,500 feet, you’ll<br />
travel on trails through forests and small villages, interacting with<br />
the local people. Taking advantage of non-moving days to learn the<br />
technical skills necessary to move higher in an alpine environment,<br />
this course has the potential of going as high as 18,000 feet. The<br />
awe-inspiring views of the highest mountain range in the world<br />
make this a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The breathtaking scenery,<br />
variety of terrain and travel, and tremendous opportunities for cultural<br />
interactions are what make this course so special.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 24 • Duration: 40 days<br />
Tuition: $6,380<br />
Course start/end: Conway, WA / New Delhi, India<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, WA / New Delhi, India<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment;<br />
2 hours Leadership Techniques<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
Traveling in the Himalaya is a truly spiritual experience. Instructor Sue Bedient leads<br />
the way in the Milam Valley, with Nanda Devi in the background.<br />
Majestic views aren’t the only thing you’ll take in on your Himalaya Mountaineering course;<br />
you’ll also learn, practice and use technical skills like anchor building, pictured above.<br />
Alexis Alloway<br />
“ ”<br />
64<br />
AT <strong>NOLS</strong>, YOU REALIZE <strong>TH</strong>AT MOST <strong>TH</strong><strong>IN</strong>GS WOR<strong>TH</strong> KNOW<strong>IN</strong>G CAN’T BE TAUGHT–<br />
<strong>TH</strong>EY HAVE TO BE EXPERIENCED. –David Christal, Semester in Patagonia ‘04
<strong>IN</strong>DIA<br />
David Anderson<br />
Staggering beauty and a history of famed ascents make it easy to see why India is a popular <strong>NOLS</strong> location for learning mountaineering.<br />
Craig Lenske<br />
Above and left: Himalaya courses offer students the unique opportunity to encounter a<br />
different culture while learning wilderness skills.<br />
Kevin Emery<br />
Semester in India, page 97<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 65
AUSTRALIA<br />
Merely the name Australia brings to mind dozens of images:<br />
unusual wildlife and wide open space, flora found nowhere<br />
else on Earth, friendly people and different cultures. The Land<br />
Down Under is a wild continent that awaits discovery. It’s a land of<br />
waterfalls and crocodiles, of adventure and exploration.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> has been in Australia since 1996, and in that time<br />
we’ve concentrated our explorations in northwestern Australia, in<br />
places like the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Dramatic landscapes and<br />
intense colors define these regions—from vast plains and ancient<br />
mountains to huge tidal rivers and spectacular waterfalls in breathtaking<br />
gorges; you’ll never tire of the unique beauty of either place.<br />
Both areas are recognized as being the most remote territory<br />
on a continent known for its sparse population and untraveled<br />
expanse. On your course, you too will discover this remoteness,<br />
66
Erica Eschholz<br />
Instructor Allen O’Bannon enjoys Solea Falls, one of the many very out-of-the-way places to travel in Australia.<br />
learning from your instructors and enjoying the opportunity to explore<br />
a landscape not known to many.<br />
Our Australian headquarters is located in Broome, a community<br />
of less than 15,000 that was founded in the 1880s as a<br />
hub of the pearling industry. You’ll spend a day or so in this interesting<br />
little town before traveling into the field via four-wheel<br />
drive, bus or plane.<br />
For a number of years <strong>NOLS</strong> has also been involved with<br />
local Aboriginal groups. As a result, our semesters and backpacking<br />
courses have fantastic opportunities to mingle with these people,<br />
learning from them and their way of life. <strong>NOLS</strong> Australia is an adventure<br />
and an experience; you’ll live and travel here in ways no<br />
other program can offer.<br />
67
Australia<br />
AUSTRALIA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The rich cultural history, semi-tropical habitats and ancient land<br />
formations of the Kimberley make this part of Western Australia<br />
ideal for an educational expedition. You’ll travel in four-wheel drive<br />
vehicles, bus or light planes to a remote area of the Kimberley, where<br />
you’ll backpack through tight canyons, past secluded waterfalls, and<br />
over dry plateaus, exploring areas very few people have ever seen.<br />
Diverse bird, plant, mammal and reptile life make this an ideal place<br />
to study, interpret and enjoy some of nature’s wonders. You’ll see<br />
crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, geckos and birds, including cockatoos,<br />
kookaburras and honeyeaters. In this land of extremes, where<br />
days can be hot and nights cool, you’ll be challenged by uneven terrain<br />
and rocky hills. You’ll explore and navigate through woodlands<br />
of gum trees, cane grass and billabongs (water holes) one moment<br />
and hike to the top of an escarpment the next.<br />
The Aboriginal people have lived in this area for up to<br />
60,000 years, and you’ll learn about the Kimberley culture by<br />
spending a couple of days with our Aboriginal guides, discovering<br />
their traditional and contemporary lifestyles. Through informative<br />
classes and discussions, interaction with our guides, and travel<br />
through local cattle stations, you’ll leave this course with a new understanding<br />
of the rich and diverse natural and cultural history of<br />
the Kimberley and Australia.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 35 days<br />
Tuition: $5,325<br />
Course start/end: Broome, Australia<br />
Fly in/out: Broome, Australia<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques;<br />
2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
Students take a welcome break from the hot Australian sun with a dip in a billabong,<br />
Australian for water hole.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Archives<br />
AUSTRALIA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Western Australia’s Pilbara region has it all: rugged plateaus, blue<br />
waters and white sandy beaches. This region is one of the Earth’s<br />
oldest landmasses and will be your classroom as you travel on<br />
water and on land. You’ll begin your sea kayaking adventure in<br />
the waters surrounding the Dampier Archipelago, a group of 42<br />
rocky islands offering scrubby eucalyptus valleys and isolated<br />
coral reefs. Here you’ll have plenty of opportunity for learning<br />
sea kayaking skills, exploring the colorful marine ecosystem, and<br />
discovering the area’s rich human history, which includes the most<br />
prolific Aboriginal petroglyph site in the world. You’ll backpack<br />
either in the Kimberley or Pilbara, both offering ideal terrain to<br />
explore the Australian outback. The Kimberley has tight canyons,<br />
secluded waterfalls and plateaus, while the Pilbara has escarpments,<br />
watercourses, deep basalt gorges and cool oases. Hidden<br />
amongst this ruggedness are crystal clear rock pools and pockets<br />
of sub-tropical forest. Western Australia is home to a variety of<br />
birds, red kangaroos, emus, rock wallabies, geckos, and huge termite<br />
mounds. It can be rugged and it is hot here, but the natural<br />
history and uniquely Australian setting will give you an unparalleled<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> education.<br />
You’ll explore the rugged Pilbara coastline while learning all the basics of backcountry<br />
living and expedition behavior.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 45 days<br />
Tuition: $6,575<br />
Course start/end: Broome, Australia<br />
Fly in/out: Broome, Australia<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours<br />
Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Archives<br />
68
AUSTRALIA<br />
Jen Klewitz<br />
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.<br />
“<br />
”<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> FOSTERED MY ABILITY TO<br />
TAKE A STEP FORWARD AND LEAD<br />
O<strong>TH</strong>ERS AND HAVE FAI<strong>TH</strong> <strong>TH</strong>AT I<br />
HAVE <strong>TH</strong>E KNOWLEDGE AND<br />
ABILITY TO DO SO.<br />
Melissa Proctor, Australia Backpacking ‘03<br />
Left: Signs of the past greet sea kayakers in the Dampier Archipelago.<br />
David Summers<br />
Semester in Australia, page 99<br />
WANT<br />
MORE?<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 69
Scandinavia<br />
The Kingdom of Norway is the westernmost country of the<br />
Scandinavian Peninsula in Europe, flanked by Sweden, Finland<br />
and Russia in the east and the Norwegian Sea in the west.<br />
Your <strong>NOLS</strong> expedition north of the Arctic Circle will take you<br />
around rugged islands, in and out of fjords, and along coastal brim,<br />
the lowland area stretching from the ocean to the steep glaciated<br />
peaks of the Scandinavian Mountains.<br />
Near the same latitudes as Siberia, Greenland and Alaska, you’ll<br />
enjoy the long summer days of the midnight sun as you learn the<br />
technical sea kayaking and backpacking skills needed for an expedition<br />
of this nature anywhere in the world. From remote coastlines<br />
and limestone caves to forested valleys and high peaks, this<br />
unique backcountry classroom provides ample opportunity to immerse<br />
yourself in the core <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum.<br />
SCAND<strong>IN</strong>AVIA SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
NEW!<br />
AND BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
With the Salten Coast of Nordland and the lush tundra of the Swedish<br />
Lappland, Scandinavia beckons. Sea kayaking this impressive coastline<br />
offers a mix of remote paddling without any human encounters<br />
to days where you can purchase fresh food in the small fishing communities<br />
that dot the rugged shores. The Norwegian Sea has a rich<br />
marine life, abundant with cod, herring and halibut and is home to the<br />
largest deepwater coral reef in the world. The interior of Nordland,<br />
toward the border with Sweden, is dominated by the Scandinavian<br />
Mountains. Names like Stora Sjöfallets National Park, Sarek National<br />
Park, Ritsem and Akkajaure will become familiar to you as you navigate<br />
this UNESCO World Heritage Site, called Laponia. Your trekking<br />
will start in Norway at fjord level and move to higher elevations that<br />
are remarkably unspoiled. A mix of rolling hills and snow-covered<br />
peaks punctuated by glaciers, this area has been home to the Saami<br />
peoples for hundreds of years. Whether in your boat or on your feet,<br />
you’ll master leadership and outdoor living skills while immersing<br />
yourself in the culture and wilderness of Scandinavia.<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $4,400<br />
Course start/end: Narvik, Norway<br />
Fly in/out: Narvik, Norway<br />
College Credit: College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques;<br />
2 hours Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: 113<br />
Above: Jotunheimen National Park is punctuated by high peaks and hanging glaciers. Below:<br />
Learn to paddle and navigate a sea kayak among the Lofoten Islands of Arctic Norway.<br />
Lena Conlan Lena Conlan<br />
70
Baffin Island<br />
Baffin Island, the largest island in the Canadian Arctic, is a cold<br />
fusion of remote beauty and unique culture. Its vast, unspoiled<br />
tundra and tangle of spectacular mountains make it the perfect<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> destination. And, as one of the most sparsely populated regions<br />
in the world, you won’t have to share it with anyone.<br />
People near small Inuit communities are the only signs of<br />
human life you may see other than your own coursemates. More than<br />
140 years ago, Scottish whalers joined native Inuit groups on Baffin.<br />
Today whaling and fishing are still part of the island’s rugged life.<br />
You’ll start your adventure in Ottawa before flying to Iqaluit,<br />
the treeless island’s capital in the Canadian territory of Nunavut.<br />
Much of the land and water that surround it are protected national<br />
and territorial parks. Adventurous souls get ready, for this course is<br />
your ticket to a modern-day exploration of the far, far North.<br />
Moe Witschard<br />
BAFF<strong>IN</strong> ISLAND BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
In the surreal and mythical landscape of Baffin Island, you’ll embark<br />
on an arctic expedition that hikes along traditional Inuit travel routes<br />
and canoes down a Canadian heritage river. The adventure begins<br />
with a backpacking section through Katannilik (meaning “place of<br />
waterfalls”) Territorial Park where you’ll learn essential backpacking<br />
skills while sharing the land with wildlife. A tundra plane will fly in<br />
with supplies, and then you’re off down the Soper River (class I-II)<br />
in folding river canoes. The beauty of this river, coupled with a<br />
number of fun rapids, makes it an ideal setting to learn the basics<br />
of wilderness canoeing. Take advantage of the long arctic days as<br />
you explore topics such as ecology, geology and glaciology.<br />
Baffin Island is also home to the Inuit, and you will learn<br />
about arctic life and traditions during the cultural section in Kimmirut,<br />
an Inuit village of about 300. You may have opportunities to<br />
learn how to carve soapstone, work with seal and caribou skins, and<br />
talk with elders about the Inuit lifestyle. The lessons you will learn<br />
from these caring and wise people will travel with you for the rest<br />
of your life.<br />
Top: Students scout a rapid on the Soper River. Bottom: Instructor Sarah Manwaring-<br />
Jones marvels at Baffin Island’s surreal landscape.<br />
Moe Witschard<br />
DETAILS<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 30 days<br />
Tuition: $5,075<br />
Course start/end: Ottawa, Ontario / Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory<br />
Fly in/out: Ottowa, Ontario / Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 2 hours<br />
Skills Practicum<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 71
<strong>NOLS</strong> SEMESTERS<br />
<strong>TH</strong>REE<br />
MON<strong>TH</strong>S OF OUTDOOR LIV<strong>IN</strong>G,<br />
COLLEGE CREDIT AND MUCH MORE. <strong>TH</strong>E<br />
OUTDOOR SEMESTER IS UNIQUELY <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>, WHERE <strong>TH</strong>E OUTDOOR SEMESTER<br />
WAS BORN<br />
In 1974, <strong>NOLS</strong> invented the outdoor semester. Now, each year,<br />
800 students spend a semester at <strong>NOLS</strong> learning new skills, exploring<br />
new ideas, and making new friends while surrounded by<br />
wilderness. These 800 students, more than all other outdoor semester<br />
programs combined, benefit from more than 40 years of<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum development and innovation. One of them<br />
could be you.<br />
LEARN A VARIETY OF SKILLS<br />
All <strong>NOLS</strong> semesters are broken into a series of expeditions,<br />
called sections. These sections run from two weeks to a month<br />
in length and cover a wide variety of outdoor skill areas. They<br />
are as varied as your desire to learn. This variety means you’ll<br />
leave your <strong>NOLS</strong> semester with a series of valuable outdoor<br />
skills and experience in a number of different environments.<br />
<strong>EDUCATION</strong> COMES ALIVE<br />
On your <strong>NOLS</strong> semester you’ll learn about the ecology of your<br />
wilderness classroom while you earn natural history and other<br />
credits from the University of Utah. Your lab will be the outdoors,<br />
and the rivers and trails will be your syllabus.<br />
<strong>LEADER</strong>SHIP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS<br />
WILL NOTICE<br />
Spending several months as a part of an expedition means you’ll<br />
be both a leader and an active follower. Unlike campus or work<br />
where some issues can be overlooked, on a <strong>NOLS</strong> semester the entire<br />
group is reliant on one another for safety and comfort. Communication,<br />
conflict resolution, motivating yourself and<br />
motivating others cannot be ignored. You’ll return home changed.<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E PERFECT “TIME-OUT”<br />
Most students on <strong>NOLS</strong> semesters come to <strong>NOLS</strong> as a semester<br />
away from their college campus, but we are increasingly seeing<br />
young people enrolling as a transition period between high<br />
school and college. Additionally, more adult learners are taking<br />
a <strong>NOLS</strong> semester as a “time-out” between careers.<br />
Three months of outdoor living, college credit and much more.<br />
The outdoor semester is uniquely <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
72
Kevin Kerr<br />
Each year, 800 students embark on a <strong>NOLS</strong> semester to complement their college education, transition between high school and college, or take a “time-out” between careers.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 73
Rainbow Weinstock
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
<strong>TH</strong>E ROCKIES<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> invented the outdoor semester, and<br />
this course is where it all began. A Semester<br />
in the Rockies will take you on a wild west<br />
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
“tour de force” while giving you a complete set<br />
of skills to lead and teach in the backcountry,<br />
whether in the field of outdoor education or with<br />
your own friends and family. Our grads are<br />
among the most well-rounded and self-sufficient<br />
backcountry travelers in the world. They can paddle<br />
a canoe down a class III rapid, make a quick<br />
medical decision miles from the nearest road,<br />
and navigate through winding slot canyons.<br />
You’ll see some of the great American<br />
West’s most treasured spots, carving a telemark<br />
Instructor Lauren Edwards on a classic crack climb, “Wine and Roses,” in Fremont Canyon, Wyoming.<br />
David Anderson<br />
turn through the winter wilderness on one section<br />
and jamming your hands into cracks while<br />
climbing Devil’s Tower National Monument on<br />
the next. Because the Rockies are a mecca for<br />
outdoor activities, the Semester in the Rockies<br />
offers a variety of skill sets, allowing students to<br />
choose the combinations they prefer.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(summer and fall) Map reading, route-finding, cooking and Leave No Trace practices will<br />
become second nature as you travel through Wyoming’s Wind River or Absaroka ranges.<br />
Advanced topics covered on this section include fly fishing, baking, off-trail navigation,<br />
GPS use and environmental ethics.<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(fall option only) The rugged glacier-carved Wind River Range is the ideal environment<br />
for learning wilderness mountaineering. The climbing, belaying and rappelling skills you’ll<br />
learn on this section will enable you to challenge yourself on technical peak ascents while<br />
honing other fundamental backcountry skills.<br />
W<strong>IN</strong>TER<br />
(fall and spring) The Rocky Mountains’ harsh and beautiful winter environment will create<br />
some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of your semester. After breaking trail<br />
from camp to camp, you’ll “dig in,” building a snow shelter for you and your coursemates to<br />
camp in. Much time will also be devoted to practicing your telemark turn or snowboarding<br />
technique on backcountry slopes and assessing snow and avalanche conditions.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This fast-paced section takes place in some of the West’s most famous climbing areas, from<br />
Nevada’s Red Rocks to Idaho’s City of Rocks and the Needles in South Dakota. It begins<br />
with a foundation of skills such as bouldering, belaying, rappelling, knots and climbing<br />
techniques. We’ll emphasize advanced topics such as anchor construction, direct aid, belay<br />
escapes and gear selection. If you’re ready, there will also be opportunities to lead climb.<br />
Roo Riley<br />
Above: The churning rapids of Utah’s Green River provide<br />
the perfect progression for learning to paddle an oar rig.<br />
Left: Route finding in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains.<br />
RIVER TRAVEL<br />
This multi-day expedition through Utah’s scenic river canyons will introduce you to the fun<br />
and excitement of whitewater. Whether in a kayak, a canoe, an oar raft or a paddle raft,<br />
you’ll learn to read the water, scout rapids, and execute maneuvers such as eddy-turns, peelouts<br />
and ferries. Depending on your craft, advanced skills such as surfing, playboating, raft<br />
captaining and solo canoeing will also be taught and practiced on this very hands-on section.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 75
Brad Christensen
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
Fredrik Norrsell<br />
Steven Brutger<br />
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,<br />
you’ll gain the skills you need to become a competent horseperson on a Rocky Mountain horsepacking section.<br />
HORSEPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(spring option only) From <strong>NOLS</strong>’ Three Peaks Ranch at the base of the Wind River<br />
Range, you’ll learn and practice the skills needed to enjoy an extended horsepacking expedition.<br />
Four days at the ranch encompasses saddling, riding, packing and getting to<br />
know your horses; then, you’ll embark on a two-week trip exploring Wyoming’s wilderness<br />
on horseback.<br />
CANYON<br />
(fall and spring) Developing and expanding your own leadership style and environmental<br />
ethics are the focus of this section, which culminates in a multi-day, student-led expedition.<br />
You’ll travel through the unmistakable red rock canyons of southern Utah where<br />
you’ll study Anasazi rock art and ruins, desert ecology, canyoneering, and land-use politics.<br />
Imagine yourself rappelling down pour-offs and negotiating deep canyon pools as you and<br />
your coursemates explore this stunning canyon country.<br />
Alexis Alloway Zeke Farwell<br />
Navigating southern Utah’s canyonlands is an experience<br />
you won’t find anywhere else.<br />
Above: History comes alive at the Anasazi ruins of Grand<br />
Gulch. Left: On the river section, you’ll travel through an<br />
amazing landscape of towering canyon walls.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST AID (WFA)<br />
(fall and spring option) The Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong> (WMI) presents<br />
this 16-hour section specific to wilderness emergencies. The course is the approved certification<br />
for the American Camping Association, the United States Forest Service, and many<br />
other governmental agencies and outdoor programs.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST RESPONDER (WFR)<br />
(fall and spring option) Offered by WMI of <strong>NOLS</strong>, this 80-hour section is for outdoor<br />
professionals and will give you the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions<br />
in remote settings.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G SUMMER<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 94 days (fall); 87 days (spring); 68 days (summer)<br />
Offered fall, spring, summer<br />
Tuition: $10,375 (spring); $10,790 (spring with WFR); $9,565 (summer); $10,600 (fall); $11,250 (fall with WFR)<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: Fall and spring: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours<br />
Skills Practicum; 3 hours WFR credit (sections with WFR); 2 hours Risk Assessment. Summer: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental<br />
Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum; 2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 110<br />
GAP YEAR SEMESTER<br />
Are you in between high school and college? If you’re 17 or older, there’s a special Semester<br />
in the Rockies for you! See page 110 for details.<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 77
Fredrik Norrsell
SEMESTER FOR<br />
OUTDOOR EDUCATORS<br />
There’s only so much you can learn about<br />
outdoor education indoors. That’s why we’ve<br />
created the <strong>NOLS</strong> Semester for Outdoor Educators,<br />
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
a chance for professional outdoor educators and<br />
students studying outdoor education to get into<br />
the wilderness and out of the classroom.<br />
This 94-day semester is jam-packed with an<br />
entire curriculum dedicated to the field of outdoor<br />
education. You’ll be with other professionals and<br />
students ages 21 and older who want to learn<br />
outdoor skills and leadership as they fine-tune<br />
how they teach those skills to others. This is your<br />
chance to translate your theoretical knowledge<br />
about outdoor education into reality.<br />
The <strong>NOLS</strong> Semester for Outdoor Educators<br />
means more time teaching and more focus on<br />
topics like group management and field and intown<br />
administrative practices. By the end of your<br />
semester, you’ll be a well-rounded outdoor educator,<br />
ready to work for almost any outdoor educational<br />
program in the country.<br />
Kevin Bergstrom<br />
Above: Practice belaying at Devil’s Tower. Left: Instructor<br />
Julia Fairbanks in Utah’s Dirty Devil Wilderness Study Area.<br />
More classes, more certifications and a focus on several skill areas make the Outdoor Educator Semester a perfect<br />
choice for aspiring and practicing educators.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(fall only) A quick introduction to camping and hiking in the Wind River Range will kick<br />
off the OE Semester in the fall before heading back to <strong>NOLS</strong> International Headquarters<br />
in Lander for an introduction to program administration and personnel.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST RESPONDER (WFR)<br />
Presented by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong>, this 80-hour section prepares<br />
outdoor professionals to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote settings.<br />
CANYON<br />
Travel through the red rock canyons of southern Utah for a month as you study and teach<br />
natural history, desert ecology, canyoneering and land-use politics.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll practice teaching basic skills such as bouldering, belaying and knots while learning<br />
to teach more advanced topics such as anchor construction, direct aid and belay escapes.<br />
W<strong>IN</strong>TER<br />
After a Level I Avalanche seminar and time spent practicing your telemark turns, you’ll<br />
leave from the <strong>NOLS</strong> Three Peaks Ranch for the winter wonderland of the Winds. Your<br />
backcountry skiing skills will progress as you learn practical winter expedition skills like<br />
snow shelter building, snow science, and assessing snow and avalanche conditions.<br />
CERTIFICATIONS<br />
In addition to the WFR and Level I Avalanche described above, you will also earn your Masters<br />
of Leave No Trace and Defensive Driving certifications.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 21 & Over • Average Age: 25 • Duration: 94 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Eligibility: Qualified practicing or potential outdoor educators<br />
Tuition: $11,600 (fall); $11,260 (spring)<br />
Course start/end: Lander, Wyoming<br />
Fly in/out: Riverton, Wyoming<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 2 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum; 2<br />
hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Outdoor Educator; 3 hours WFR credit<br />
Dates: page 110<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 79
Katie Jezek
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E<br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
The wilderness of the Northwest—your home<br />
for two and a half months—is like no other<br />
region in the country. In close proximity to <strong>NOLS</strong>’<br />
Pacific Northwest headquarters are steep, heavily<br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
glaciated mountains, impressive forests of towering<br />
evergreens, outstanding rock climbing areas,<br />
and miles of wilderness coastline. You’ll explore<br />
all these environments, from jamming your hands<br />
into granite cracks on a climb to taking the helm<br />
of a 36-foot sailboat in British Columbia waters.<br />
Throughout, you’ll be experiencing things few<br />
other semesters at <strong>NOLS</strong> offer, including keelboat<br />
sailing in Canada and a coastal hiking section<br />
where you’ll study the coast’s marine life and end at<br />
the Makah Indian Nation. From the snow-capped<br />
peaks and clear mountain lakes to old-growth<br />
forests and tidal waters, you’ll explore, navigate,<br />
learn and practice your skills, returning home with<br />
a solid foundation in wilderness expeditioning.<br />
Offered exclusively on the Semester in the Pacific Northwest, coastal backpacking affords students the unique opportunity<br />
to learn about tide charts and marine biology while camping and traveling along the beach.<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong> TRAVEL<br />
The intricacies of backcountry living are revealed as you move through this stunning environment,<br />
from packing your pack efficiently to staying warm and dry in a wet and sometimes<br />
chilly climate. You’ll travel in canoes for four days of this section to see the area from<br />
a unique perspective, and then you’ll hike up through forested valleys to areas of snow and<br />
ice where you’ll learn specialized mountaineering skills such as ice axe use, rope systems<br />
and handling, crevasse rescue, and crampon use. You’ll learn how to cope with uncertain<br />
weather, steep slopes and complicated route finding.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
At a base camp at one of the Northwest’s many great climbing areas, you’ll immerse yourself<br />
in the finer points of rock climbing techniques and systems. You’ll progress at your own<br />
speed, moving into skills such as belay and rappel techniques and protection placement.<br />
There will be an emphasis on risk management throughout this section as you advance<br />
from single pitch to multi-pitch climbing.<br />
Julie Brown<br />
COASTAL BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Natural history abounds as you travel though the splendid environments of the Olympic<br />
National Park. On the coast, you’ll visit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and<br />
then embark on a coastal expedition, studying life in tidal pools and camping and traveling<br />
beside the ocean. You’ll learn about tide charts, weather patterns and identifying coastal<br />
hazards. You’ll also visit the Makah Cultural Center for a glimpse into the region’s human<br />
history. This section culminates in a student led expedition in the mountains, during which<br />
you’ll plan and complete a six-day hike with your fellow students.<br />
SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
A 36-foot sailboat will be your moving classroom during this segment of your adventure. Boats<br />
will sail in pairs, each carrying a group of five students and an instructor, as you learn the finer<br />
points of seamanship, including how to handle your boat under sail or power, read charts and<br />
navigate. This will also be a true test for everything you’ve learned about leadership and expedition<br />
behavior as you and your coursemates cook and sleep on board as one tight-knit crew.<br />
Alan Neilson<br />
Above: 36-foot Catalina cruisers will be your home and<br />
classroom during your sailing section. Left: Rock climbing<br />
sections start with the basics, progressing from top-roping<br />
(pictured) to multi-pitching and more.<br />
DETAILS FALL<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 77 days<br />
Offered fall<br />
Tuition: $10,150<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 111<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 81
Rainbow Weinstock
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E<br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
ASemester in the Southwest will give you a<br />
unique glimpse into the American Southwest’s<br />
living desert. Your notions of a barren,<br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
sandy desert environment will be forever changed<br />
as you discover this place alive with plants and<br />
animals like coyote, javelina, mountain lions,<br />
peregrine falcons, mesquite and cactus. The different<br />
sections on this semester will take you<br />
from the rushing waters of the Rio Grande to the<br />
Ashley Wise<br />
ponderosa pine forests of the Gila Range. You<br />
will find yourself jamming your fingers and feet<br />
into granite cracks and crawling on your hands<br />
and knees through decorated limestone caves.<br />
Along with natural history, you’ll also discover<br />
the desert’s rich human history and have plenty of<br />
time to travel through the areas once inhabited by<br />
these ancient cultures. In this land of constant sun,<br />
backpacking, caving, climbing and canoeing will<br />
prepare you for an independent student expedition<br />
as the grand finale of your semester.<br />
Your skills and confidence will grow with each passing day as you paddle down the legendary Rio Grande.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST AID (WFA)<br />
Hosted by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong>, this 16-hour section covers first<br />
aid specific to wilderness emergencies and is essential for anyone spending extended time<br />
in the outdoors.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The Gila Range in New Mexico, the first designated wilderness area in the U.S., or the<br />
rugged mountains of the Galiuros in southeastern Arizona will be your classroom for the<br />
backpacking section. Both destinations offer varied terrain and beautiful surroundings while<br />
you hone your backcountry living skills.<br />
CAV<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This section explores the extensive underground world near the famous Carlsbad Caverns in<br />
New Mexico or the brilliant caves in southeastern Arizona. You’ll have a unique chance to<br />
marvel at an underground wilderness environment few people ever see or even know exists.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The Cochise Stronghold, a land of towering granite domes, is one of the best climbing locations<br />
in Arizona. As you hone your climbing risk management and judgment skills, you’ll<br />
move at your own pace from the fundamentals of top-roping and anchor building to more<br />
complex techniques like multi-pitch climbing.<br />
CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll paddle down the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, where water has carved<br />
out spectacular canyons in the Chihuahuan Desert. You’ll learn how to read whitewater, practice<br />
river rescue techniques, and experience scouting rapids while safely identifying hazards.<br />
Rainbow Weinstock<br />
Above: Instructor and Southwest Assistant Director Lindsay<br />
Nohl tops out on a multi-pitch climb at Cochise. Left:<br />
Caving is an otherworldly experience and the Semester in<br />
the Southwest is the only place at <strong>NOLS</strong> to experience it.<br />
<strong>IN</strong>DEPENDENT STUDENT EXPEDITION<br />
Upon successful completion of the previous sections, you’ll have the opportunity to apply all<br />
of your accumulated knowledge by planning and executing an autonomous student expedition.<br />
Heading out in either the Galiuros or Gila, this is the highlight of the Southwest semester.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 88 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Tuition: $10,750 (fall); $10,625 (spring)<br />
Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona<br />
Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 111<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 83
Pascal Beauvais
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
ALASKA<br />
ALASKA<br />
Your Semester in Alaska includes everything<br />
from forested coastlines to the snow and ice<br />
of the high mountain peaks to the tundra and<br />
rivers in between. In the long days of the northern<br />
summer, you’ll have plenty of time to learn<br />
about and travel through wild Alaska. In the Land<br />
of the Midnight Sun, your rhythms will change as<br />
you fall into sync with the way of the North.<br />
Hiking takes you to the continent’s largest<br />
assemblage of glaciers and its greatest collection<br />
of peaks over 16,000 feet in elevation. The semester’s<br />
mountaineering section travels even further<br />
into this area, an ideal training ground for<br />
learning to live and climb on snow and ice. Finally,<br />
you will spend 23 days sea kayaking in<br />
Prince William Sound. Amidst all this activity, you<br />
With everything from tidewater glaciers to sea otters, Prince William Sound is a perfect marine classroom.<br />
Tracy Baynes<br />
can also expect an extensive environmental studies<br />
curriculum, giving you a unique perspective<br />
on some of the world’s most stunning wilderness.<br />
After honing skills and leadership for 75 days<br />
at <strong>NOLS</strong> Alaska, you can be confident traveling in<br />
a variety of wilderness settings.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll explore the wilderness coastline of Prince William Sound by starting with basics,<br />
such as learning how to load your sea kayak, then moving to more advanced topics in<br />
a gradual progression that allows for quality learning. Classes will include paddling<br />
techniques, ocean hazards, tidal evaluation, natural history and risk management. You’ll<br />
camp among the spruce or on rocky beaches and glean lessons from your instructors<br />
and coursemates.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Learning how to pack a backpack and walk lightly on the tundra of the Talkeetna Mountains<br />
kicks off this section. Then you’ll progress to studying flora and fauna of the region,<br />
learning practical leadership skills, and practicing Leave No Trace camping techniques.<br />
Map reading, river crossing, bear camping, hazard identification and decision-making will<br />
all be part of your continuing education.<br />
GLACIER MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This section includes intensive skill training for living and climbing in Alaska’s glaciated<br />
mountains. You’ll learn things such as belaying, anchors, rope systems, crevasse rescue and<br />
ice climbing techniques while practicing basic glacier camping and travel. Crossing vast<br />
fields of snow and ice in rope teams will require using the clear judgment and technical<br />
and decision-making skills that you have honed all semester.<br />
Julie Brown<br />
Above: Glacial moraine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.<br />
Left: On top of the world in the Chugach Range.<br />
DETAILS SUMMER<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 75 days<br />
Offered summer<br />
Tuition: $9,975<br />
Course start/end: Palmer, Alaska<br />
Fly in/out: Anchorage, Alaska<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 112<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 85
Louis Sass
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E<br />
YUKON<br />
YUKON<br />
This action-packed, semester-long learning<br />
adventure begins and ends in Whitehorse,<br />
Yukon Territory, Canada, and is one of our most<br />
unique wilderness leadership semesters. It takes<br />
place entirely in Canada’s North Country, where<br />
remote, wild land stands unparalleled. For 76<br />
days your expedition will explore the wilds of the<br />
Yukon with a backpack, canoe and mountaineering<br />
gear, seeing few people along the way. In fact,<br />
with a population of only 30,000, six caribou and<br />
one moose to every Yukon resident, and a grizzly<br />
bear to every Yukon family of four, you’re more<br />
likely to share this vast wilderness with animals<br />
than with humans.<br />
Along your route, you and your coursemates<br />
will fish, cross unnamed rivers, summit unnamed<br />
peaks, and explore the same areas that historic gold<br />
seekers traveled over 100 years ago. After a semester<br />
in this beautiful wilderness, you’ll be a comfortable<br />
traveler in the backcountry with unmatched<br />
technical expeditionary skills in whitewater canoeing<br />
and glacier, snow and ice mountaineering.<br />
Home to some of the world’s most remote and exciting rivers, the Yukon Territory provides a visually stunning, adrenaline-pumping<br />
classroom for learning to whitewater canoe.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
From our base in Whitehorse, you’ll embark on the first phase of your adventure: a backpacking<br />
section through the river valleys, alpine tundra and boreal forests of the Yukon<br />
Territory. You’ll move up remote mountain valleys, planning routes and choosing campsites.<br />
You’ll learn camping and travel skills pertaining to grizzly bear country—and a ton about<br />
being comfortable outdoors—while traveling through meadows and tundra and bushwhacking<br />
through trees and over passes in all kinds of weather.<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
What you learn about mountain weather, leadership and route finding on the backpacking<br />
section will prepare you to face the high glaciers on the mountaineering section. The<br />
Yukon’s mountains are an ideal classroom for learning technical mountaineering skills<br />
such as negotiating rocky mountain passes, icefalls and glaciers. You’ll climb stunning<br />
peaks while learning rope team, crampon and other techniques to move over snow, ice and<br />
rock terrain.<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
WHITEWATER CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll finish the semester with over three weeks on the Hess River (not far from the<br />
Northwest Territories). The Yukon provides some of the best, little-known whitewater in<br />
the world, and you’ll not only learn the skills to run rapids successfully, but also travel<br />
through them without leaving a trace. As your technical maneuvers improve, you’ll be<br />
polishing your backcountry and leadership skills while you explore and live under the<br />
midnight sun.<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Above: River crossings require patience and teamwork. Left:<br />
Students celebrating on the summit of Mount Redemption.<br />
DETAILS SUMMER<br />
Features world-famous Orvis fly fishing curriculum and gear.<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 22 • Duration: 76 days<br />
Offered summer<br />
Tuition: $9,450<br />
Course start/end: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
Fly in/out: Whitehorse, Yukon<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 112<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 87
Tom Bol
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
BAJA<br />
MEXICO<br />
Flanked by the Pacific Ocean on the west and<br />
the Sea of Cortez on the east, the Baja California<br />
Peninsula is a land of extremes and contrasts.<br />
Granite and volcanic mountain ranges<br />
extend over 1,000 miles down the peninsula’s<br />
central spine, and Picacho del Diablo, a 10,126-<br />
foot peak in the northern mountains, is snow-covered<br />
in winter months. The rest of Baja California,<br />
while still very rugged and mountainous, is Sonoran<br />
Desert country, receiving less than 10 inches<br />
of rainfall a year. Here exists an amazing variety of<br />
desert life, including more than 110 species of<br />
cacti. For three months, you’ll explore these contrasting<br />
environments on foot, in a sea kayak, and<br />
under a sail while having ample opportunities for<br />
cultural and Spanish language interactions with<br />
local students, educators, ranchers and fisherman.<br />
You will learn the skills you need to visit<br />
these ecosystems and communities comfortably<br />
and responsibly in the future.<br />
Baja, where the mountains meet the sea. Students Drew Farwell and Danny Kaufman enjoy the view from the summit of<br />
Picacho del Diablo.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Starting with the finer points of Leave No Trace camping, route selection, map reading, risk<br />
management, and hazard evaluation, the backpacking section of a Baja Semester takes you<br />
deep into the desert and mountains of beautiful Mexico. Classes will include discussions on<br />
group dynamics, leadership techniques, geology, wildlife identification and informal Spanish<br />
instruction. As you move through this environment, you may meet and get acquainted<br />
with local ranchers who call this remote land home.<br />
SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Your mode of travel for this section will be a 22-foot Drascombe Longboat, a great open<br />
boat that will let you explore the remote coves that larger sailing vessels can’t reach. You’ll<br />
move along the coastline, camping on shore during the night and hoisting sail during the<br />
day. In the midst of learning coastal navigation, teamwork, seamanship, anchoring, sail<br />
trim, line handling and steering, you may take time off to snorkel the warm waters of the<br />
ocean and discover the underwater life of Baja.<br />
Alexis Alloway<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Along with learning coastal kayaking skills like navigation, rolling, surfing and paddle<br />
strokes, you’ll also focus on free diving skills, water risk management, and, perhaps, spear<br />
fishing. Desert natural history is also a large part of these sections because it’s easy to take<br />
advantage of land-based activities when the sea is too rough for travel. Some semesters<br />
make an open water crossing to explore uninhabited islands located in the Gulf of California,<br />
while others visit San Nicolás, a remote fishing village where you’ll spend some time<br />
learning about the local culture. You’ll travel through these protected wildlands, observing<br />
the abundant bird and marine life and becoming enchanted with this land and its people.<br />
Julie Brown<br />
Above: Baja’s coast is full of hidden coves that beg exploration.<br />
Left: Instructor Danielle “Digger” Dignan at the<br />
bow of a Drascombe Longboat, the perfect boat to learn<br />
the art of sailing.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 78 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Tuition: $10,925 (fall); $10,675 (spring)<br />
Course start/end: Ensenada, BCN, Mexico (fall); La Paz, BCS, Mexico (spring) / Mulegé, BCS, Mexico (fall, spring)<br />
Fly in/out: San Diego, California, USA (fall), La Paz, BCS, Mexico (spring) / Loreto, BCS, Mexico (fall, spring)<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 112<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 89
Mac Henry
BAJA<br />
OCEAN SEMESTER<br />
MEXICO<br />
A<strong>NOLS</strong> semester without the hiking boots?<br />
That’s right. The Baja Ocean Semester is oneof-a-kind!<br />
You’ll explore the eastern edge of the<br />
Baja Peninsula, where the freshly scrubbed beaches<br />
of the Sonoran Desert meet the Sea of Cortez, your<br />
waterway for the duration of your semester.<br />
As your expedition heads south from the<br />
Bahía de Los Angeles to the La Paz Islands, your<br />
watercraft will switch from sea kayak to Drascombe<br />
Longboat to keelboat as your skills to<br />
travel safely and responsibly over water develop.<br />
When not practicing navigation and boat handling,<br />
you will have the opportunity to free dive<br />
and possibly even spear fish at different points<br />
in your journey.<br />
The rugged Sonoran mountain ranges and<br />
blue-green waters will create the perfect backdrop<br />
as you learn the many facets of seamanship, as well<br />
as the <strong>NOLS</strong> core curriculum that will allow you to<br />
lead others safely and comfortably in the ocean<br />
wilderness that covers two-thirds of our planet.<br />
Six hands are better than two: Teamwork is an essential part of what will help you succeed on a <strong>NOLS</strong> semester.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST AID (WFA)<br />
Your adventure will be just beginning as you arrive at <strong>NOLS</strong> Mexico, our facility in Coyote<br />
Bay near Mulegé. Here you’ll have 16 hours of first aid training specific to wilderness<br />
emergencies and essential for backcountry travelers, presented by the Wilderness Medicine<br />
Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
After dialing your first aid skills for the expedition ahead, you’ll get right on the water with<br />
your sea kayak. Rolling, wet exits, surf landings, and efficient paddle strokes will get you<br />
ready to navigate down this wild desert coast. By the end of these 30 days, you’ll be well<br />
on your way to becoming a well-rounded ocean traveler with a feel for the winds and a developing<br />
sense of tides and currents.<br />
LONGBOAT SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
During this month-long section, you’ll learn the essentials of sail theory aboard a 22-foot<br />
Drascombe Longboat, a perfect boat to nail down the fundamentals. You will appreciate<br />
its maneuverability in small coves along with its capability to make larger crossings to islands.<br />
Leadership, seamanship, navigation and oceanography will be expanded upon, as<br />
well as further mastering your Leave No Trace camping skills on shore.<br />
Ashley Wise<br />
KEELBOAT SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
By the end of your semester, you’ll be ready to tackle keelboat sailing and work with your<br />
coursemates as a high-performing crew. These 40-foot boats will be your home for the final<br />
10 days of your semester, each carrying seven students and an instructor. As you move further<br />
from the shore and closer as a crew, you’ll practice all of the skills you’ve acquired thus<br />
far—from sail theory to leadership to impeccable expedition behavior—in order to drive<br />
this large, complex sailboat.<br />
Moorings Photos<br />
Above: After mastering the basics, you’ll venture further from<br />
shore aboard a 40-foot keelboat. Left: From desert shores<br />
to teeming seas, Baja California is a land of stark contrasts.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 75 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Tuition: $13,250 (fall); $13,000 (spring)<br />
Course start/end: Mulegé, BCS, Mexico / La Paz, BCS, Mexico<br />
Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico / La Paz, BCS, Mexico<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
4 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 112<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 91
David Anderson
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
PATAGONIA<br />
Deemed one of the most challenging semesters<br />
at <strong>NOLS</strong>, the Semester in Patagonia has<br />
strong leadership outcomes on account of adapting<br />
PATAGONIA<br />
to and operating in harsh weather. Teamwork,<br />
communication and problem solving are critical<br />
to the success of this expedition.<br />
You begin your semester in Coyhaique,<br />
Chile for 10 days of wilderness first aid training<br />
before stepping into the backcountry for 70 days.<br />
Once on this unique continuous expedition, your<br />
transition between sections includes swapping<br />
mountaineering gear for sea kayaking gear as<br />
Home to some of the world’s largest icefields, Patagonia is yours to explore.<br />
Ignacio Grez<br />
your group rendezvouses with another Patagonia<br />
semester on an opposite route.<br />
You’ll hike and camp in Patagonia’s valleys<br />
and mountains and sea kayak in breathtaking<br />
Patagonian archipelagos, stopping to visit with locals<br />
along the way; some knowledge of Spanish<br />
will enhance these cultural opportunities. The grand<br />
finale of this remote adventure is the extended<br />
student expedition, when you and a small group<br />
of your peers earn the privilege of planning and<br />
traveling a route independent of your instructors.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST RESPONDER (WFR)<br />
Before embarking into the field, you and your coursemates will receive an 80-hour WFR<br />
training taught by staff of the Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong> (WMI). This is the<br />
standard course for outdoor professionals and provides you with the tools to make critical<br />
medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations.<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong> TRAVEL<br />
You’ll move up remote mountain valleys, plan routes, and choose campsites. Early in the<br />
course, your instructors will lead you, helping you to read maps, find routes, and judge<br />
and evaluate hazards. They will then step back incrementally until you find yourself in<br />
charge. Some days you’ll be named “leader of the day” and be responsible for a small group<br />
of your fellow students. Depending on the weather and how your entire group is progressing,<br />
you may have a chance to cross vast glaciers, work on such skills as tying knots and<br />
handling ropes, and stage crevasse rescue scenarios.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Most of Chile is off the beaten path for world travelers, and the island chains of the southern<br />
part of the country are no exception. You’ll learn about the dynamic environment of the region,<br />
strong currents, tidal fluctuations and fickle weather. Instruction will include paddling<br />
techniques, rescue skills, route planning and coastal weather. You’ll also study the natural history<br />
of the area while you continue to hone your leadership and communication skills.<br />
EXTENDED STUDENT EXPEDITION<br />
After you’ve successfully completed the previous three sections, you’ll move into the student<br />
expedition. Typically, groups of four to six students travel without immediate instructor supervision<br />
for a 7- to 10-day hike through the wilds of Patagonia. Before setting out, and<br />
under the supervision of your instructors, your group will craft a travel plan, work out a proposed<br />
route, and get ready to use and refine what you’ve learned over the past months.<br />
Craig Lenske<br />
Above: Paddle hard and pod up! Left: Rugged, remote and<br />
unpredictable, Patagonia demands leadership and teamwork.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 80 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Tuition: $13,500 (fall); $13,200 (spring)<br />
Course start/end: Coyhaique, Chile<br />
Fly in/out: Balmaceda, Chile<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum; 4 hours Risk<br />
Assessment; 2 hours Expedition Planning; 3 hours WFR credit<br />
Dates and Sections: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 93
Reed Boeger
YEAR <strong>IN</strong><br />
PATAGONIA<br />
This is it—the longest course type at <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
This extended expedition packs in outdoor<br />
skills, wilderness certifications and international<br />
PATAGONIA<br />
culture to create one of our most unique adventures.<br />
From mountain travel on remote peaks to sea<br />
kayaking along Patagonia’s archipelagos and rock<br />
climbing at the foot of the Andes, the components<br />
form a comprehensive backcountry immersion.<br />
With a strong focus on Spanish language<br />
and cultural interaction, the Year in Patagonia<br />
course allows you to spend one section living<br />
and working with local poblador families. Along<br />
with developing an appreciation of Patagonian<br />
culture, you’ll also see more of this region’s remote<br />
and breathtaking scenery than most visitors.<br />
And the course offers certifications for<br />
students interested in outdoor careers around the<br />
world, including Leave No Trace Master certification<br />
and Wilderness First Responder (WFR).<br />
The Patagonia Year brings <strong>NOLS</strong> students into the lives and homes of Chilean pobladores.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll practice your Spanish as you backpack up scenic mountain valleys and visit remote<br />
ranches called campos. Learning how to leave a minimal impact on this environment leads<br />
to Leave No Trace Master certification, and you will also participate in a 2- to 3-day service<br />
project with Conservacion Patagonica to help with the creation of a new national park in<br />
Chile known as Valchac.<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The large glaciers and rarely-climbed peaks of the Patagonian Andes will be your classroom<br />
for this section. Alpine mountaineering techniques and how to live and camp in a harshweather<br />
alpine environment are parts of the curriculum.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST RESPONDER (WFR)<br />
As part of your comprehensive wilderness education, the Year in Patagonia includes an 80-<br />
hour Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course taught by staff of the Wilderness Medicine<br />
Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong> (WMI).<br />
CULTURAL<br />
During this section you’ll live on mountain campos with poblador families, helping them<br />
with the daily chores of subsistence living. This is your chance to put your language skills<br />
to use while fully experiencing the unique Patagonian culture.<br />
Ignacio Grez<br />
EXTENDED STUDENT EXPEDITION<br />
Typically, groups of four to six students travel without immediate instructor supervision for a<br />
7- to 10-day hike through the wilds of Patagonia. Your group will craft a travel plan, work out<br />
a proposed route, and get ready to use and refine what you’ve learned over the past months.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll be in Argentina for this section, at the foot of the Argentine Andes. Near the mountain<br />
town of Bariloche, you’ll set up a base camp for your rock climbing adventures.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The fjords of southern Chile offer breathtaking scenery and fickle weather. Your expedition<br />
into this region will include lessons in paddling techniques, rescue skills, planning routes<br />
and Patagonia’s natural history.<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Above: Leadership in action: kicking steps to the top of a<br />
snow slope. Left: Patagonia’s vast and sometimes austere<br />
landscape is unlike anywhere else on Earth.<br />
DETAILS ACADEMIC YEAR<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 135 days; 67 days (fall), 68 days (spring)<br />
Offered fall-spring<br />
Tuition: $23,000<br />
Course start/end: Coyhaique, Chile<br />
Fly in/out: Balmaceda, Chile<br />
College Credit: 4 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
4 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Expedition Planning; 2 hours Outdoor Educator; 3 hours WFR credit<br />
Dates and Sections: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 95
Kevin Emery
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
<strong>IN</strong>DIA<br />
<strong>IN</strong>DIA<br />
Touch down in the ancient world of the Himalayas<br />
and prepare for a semester packed<br />
with unparalleled language and cultural opportunities<br />
in one of the most breathtaking backcountry<br />
classrooms in the world. The Himalaya, or<br />
“abode of snow,” swings in a wide arc across four<br />
countries and includes Everest and K2 but<br />
reaches even higher in imaginations.<br />
This semester begins at <strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest<br />
in Conway, Washington to prepare rations<br />
and pack gear, then it is off to Delhi. Your adventure<br />
begins with a ride to the north Indian town of<br />
Ranikhet, a quiet rural town at 6,000 feet in the<br />
foothills of the Himalaya.<br />
Starting here, you will learn to travel lightly<br />
through the valleys of the Kumaon and Garhwal,<br />
where the thick conifer and broad-leaf trees of<br />
the lower altitudes turn to evergreens, birch,<br />
rhododendron and juniper forests in the high<br />
ridges and shrubs, sedges, grasses and wild<br />
flowers in the alpine zone.<br />
Views from Milam Valley: Nanda Devi East, one of the high peaks of the Himalayas. Once a trade route between India<br />
and Tibet, this valley will be your classroom for part of your <strong>NOLS</strong> India Semester.<br />
P<strong>IN</strong>DARI VALLEY BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
A nine-day hike to the Pindari Valley will introduce you to this wilderness and to the skills<br />
you need to travel comfortably and responsibly, while also helping you build the leadership<br />
techniques you’ll carry with you the rest of your life. You’ll journey through villages while<br />
gaining spectacular views of the Himalaya and its wildlife, crossing some passes in the<br />
9,500- to 10,500-foot range.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> ADVANCED FIRST AID (WAFA)<br />
Back in Ranikhet, you’ll experience the rural mountain life while you receive your Wilderness<br />
Advanced First Aid certification through the Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
This 40-hour course focuses on injury stabilization, treatment and evacuation guidelines<br />
of patients in backcountry environments.<br />
WHITEWATER RAFT<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This 12-day section is based in the area around Rishikesh, one of the holiest spots in the<br />
Hindu tradition and home to much of its ritual and mythology. You will begin rafting on<br />
the holy Ganga (Ganges) as you hone paddling fundamentals. Once your skills advance and<br />
you begin to “read” the water, you’ll be ready for a few multi-day expeditions where you will<br />
learn to be paddle captain and row an oar raft.<br />
Kevin Emery<br />
CULTURAL<br />
Stretch your mind and body during these seven days. You will be introduced to and get insights<br />
into the key principals of Hatha Yoga as well as learn conversational Hindi. In the<br />
afternoons, you will visit nearby villages and practice your Hindi and also go on short treks<br />
to visit temples and other historical monuments.<br />
MILAM VALLEY BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The Milam (Johar) Valley was once the trade route between India and Tibet. You’ll travel<br />
in those traders’ footsteps through remote villages, lush river valleys and flower-strewn<br />
meadows, with alpine glaciers in the distance. The trek will culminate with an independent<br />
student group expedition where you will use every skill you've acquired so far.<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
Above: Practicing Hatha Yoga in the place it originated<br />
will stretch your body and your mind. Left: Elevate and<br />
immerse yourself in this sacred land and culture.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 80 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Tuition: $12,900 (fall); $12,700 (spring)<br />
Course start/end: Conway, Washington / New Delhi, India<br />
Fly in/out: Seattle, Washington / New Delhi, India<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
4 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 97
Brooke Cunningham
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Australian semesters are expeditions of discovery<br />
in a land of great contrasts.<br />
The spring semester consists of canoeing,<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
backpacking and cultural sections. For 75 days,<br />
you’ll travel as a group through northwestern<br />
Australia’s Kimberley region, a place so remote<br />
you’ll get there by four-wheel drive vehicle or<br />
light plane, and you won’t return to civilization<br />
until the semester ends.<br />
Jen Klewitz<br />
The summer semester includes backpacking,<br />
sea kayaking, sailing and cultural sections,<br />
where you’ll explore the Kimberley and the Pilbara<br />
regions, learning how to be comfortable in<br />
both bush and marine environments.<br />
You’ll see crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies,<br />
geckos, cockatoos, kookaburras and honeyeaters,<br />
as well as huge termite mounds. Both semesters<br />
also spend time on the coast, with opportunities to<br />
see turtles, a variety of reef fish species, coral and<br />
other marine animals. The uniqueness of Australia’s<br />
natural surroundings makes this an ideal place for<br />
you to challenge yourself, learn and have fun.<br />
A semester in Australia provides the opportunity to experience the diverse landscape of the country. Here, students<br />
hike through the northern Kimberly’s lush eucalyptus groves.<br />
CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(spring only) During this five-week section, you’ll travel through the heart of the Kimberley,<br />
both by canoe and on foot. You’ll paddle and portage your boat and gear down the Drysdale<br />
River, one of the most remote rivers in the world, while you learn the intricacies of canoe travel<br />
and develop your leadership style. You’ll also take exploratory day hikes into the wilderness.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(summer only) You’ll begin your sea kayaking adventure in the waters surrounding the<br />
Dampier Archipelago, a group of 42 rocky islands offering scrubby eucalyptus valleys and<br />
isolated coral reefs. Here you’ll have the opportunity to learn sea kayaking skills, explore the<br />
colorful marine ecosystem, and visit the most prolific Aboriginal petroglyph site in the world.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Your backpacking section will be in the Kimberley, in areas that offer everything from<br />
gorges and grasslands to billabongs (water holes) and waterfalls. You’ll learn about the local<br />
cattle stations and how to backpack effectively in this hot, dry environment. You may also<br />
use everything you’ve learned up until now on a student expedition.<br />
CULTURAL<br />
(spring only) You’ll head out by bus and small boat to the Bardi Aboriginal homelands for<br />
a week on the coast and islands of the Indian Ocean. You’ll study the marine ecology and learn<br />
Bardi crafts and traditions like boomerang and spear making.<br />
(summer only) You’ll visit a local Aboriginal community, like Jarlmadangah, for a few days<br />
where you will learn about their traditional and present day lifestyles.<br />
SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(summer only) To round out your coastal skills, you’ll spend a week aboard a large, traditional<br />
55-foot sailing yacht exploring the Broome coastline. You will learn the fundamentals<br />
of basic coastal cruising, which include maneuvering a vessel under power and sail,<br />
along with coastal navigation and seamanship.<br />
Jim Chisolm<br />
Above: <strong>NOLS</strong> employee Duane Achoo dons his Aboriginal<br />
ceremonial dress. Left: The Kimberley’s Drysdale River.<br />
DETAILS SPR<strong>IN</strong>G SUMMER<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 20 • Duration: 70-75 days<br />
Offered spring, summer<br />
Tuition: $12,600 (spring); $10,250 (summer)<br />
Course start/end: Broome, Australia<br />
Fly in/out: Broome, Australia<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
4 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 99
Fredrik Norrsell
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
The <strong>NOLS</strong> Semester in New Zealand is an exciting<br />
educational opportunity in a remarkable<br />
country. Your classroom will be New<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
Zealand’s South Island, a varied region of alpine<br />
grasslands, snowfields, rainforests, rugged<br />
mountains, spectacular gorges and broad valleys<br />
with unique birds and plants found nowhere else<br />
in the world, like the mischievous Kea, the<br />
Marco Johnson<br />
world’s only mountain parrot.<br />
For 75 days, learn about the region’s natural<br />
history and culture as you travel through the island’s<br />
forests, called the “bush,” which contain ancient<br />
remnants of Gondwana Land, the prehistoric<br />
continent. Along the way, you’ll spend two days<br />
with the local Maori, who will teach you about their<br />
history, culture and connection to the land. Then,<br />
whether you choose to canoe, sea kayak, or sail,<br />
you’ll practice technical skills along New Zealand’s<br />
coastlines or rivers, a dramatic contrast to the environment<br />
of your hiking sections. And no matter<br />
where this semester takes you, you’ll experience<br />
the varied and unpredictable weather of the “roaring<br />
forties”—the apt nickname for the conditions<br />
often found at these latitudes.<br />
New Zealand’s breathtaking high country is the perfect setting to develop solid leadership and backpacking skills.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
This month-long section will be the core of your semester as you learn the basics of backcountry<br />
travel amidst the steep and spectacular landscape of New Zealand’s Southern<br />
Alps. Most students find this section the most physically demanding, but also the greatest<br />
learning opportunity.<br />
CULTURAL<br />
You’ll visit a local Marae (meeting site) for a two-day cultural experience with a community<br />
of Maori, the original human inhabitants of New Zealand. You’ll learn about the traditions,<br />
art and mythology of a warlike people with a deep and sacred connection to the land.<br />
CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(optional dates) For two and a half weeks, you’ll follow the South Island rivers like the<br />
Clarence (Wai-au-toa), Hurunui or the Waiau. You’ll learn the essentials of canoe expeditioning<br />
as you paddle through some of New Zealand’s most classic hill country.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(optional dates) You’ll spend two weeks sea kayaking in either the Marlborough Sounds<br />
or around Bank Peninsula. This section will begin with basic maneuvering, with additional<br />
classes on paddling techniques. You’ll also have classes on navigation, tides and currents, marine<br />
weather and communications, and other aspects of seamanship.<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G SKILLS<br />
(optional dates) Up to three weeks long, this section provides a solid foundation of mountaineering<br />
skills that build on the skills you learn backpacking. You will travel in the challenging<br />
and dramatic alpine environments of one of several areas: Arthurs Pass National<br />
Park, the Arrowsmith Range, the Ahuriri/Ruataniwha Conservation Park or the Nelson<br />
Lakes National Park.<br />
SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
(spring only) This 10-day section takes place in the Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds<br />
regions. In two sailing yachts, you will cook and live aboard, rotating crew positions and<br />
learning the fundamentals of basic coastal cruising.<br />
TC Rammelcamp<br />
Above: Students paddle hard through the whitewater of<br />
the Clarence River. Left: Kayaks let you get up close and<br />
personal with New Zealand’s stunning coastline.<br />
DETAILS FALL SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average Age: 20 • Duration: 75 days<br />
Offered fall, spring<br />
Tuition: $14,350 (fall); $14,100 (spring); (includes 12.5% New Zealand Goods and Services Tax)<br />
Course start/end: Christchurch, New Zealand<br />
Fly in/out: Christchurch, New Zealand<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 101
Pascal Beauvais
SEMESTER ON<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E BORDERS<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E BORDERS<br />
There’s no doubt about it, this is one of the<br />
most geographically diverse semesters at<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>. Your adventure will begin in the Southwest<br />
desert, a land of cactus and javelina, and as<br />
winter subsides you will move north, concluding<br />
in the lush Pacific Northwest with its snow-covered<br />
peaks and forested islands.<br />
During the only spring semester that combines<br />
both desert travel and maritime skills, you’ll<br />
experience a wide variety of adventures that will<br />
allow you to be a well-rounded wilderness traveler<br />
on land and sea.<br />
You’ll begin at <strong>NOLS</strong> Southwest in Tucson,<br />
Arizona for a Wilderness First Aid course, backpacking<br />
and climbing, and then transition to<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Pacific Northwest outside Seattle, Washington<br />
for sailing and sea kayaking. From scaling<br />
a rock wall in Arizona to slicing through the waters<br />
of British Columbia, you’ll learn a lot and<br />
have the time of your life. By visiting these two<br />
very different regions in North America, you’ll see<br />
just how versatile the <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum is.<br />
Two distinct environments and four different skill sets make the Semester on the Borders a great way to get off campus<br />
and have the time of your life while still earning college credit.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST AID (WFA)<br />
Hosted by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong>, this 16-hour section covers first<br />
aid specific to wilderness emergencies and is essential for anyone spending extended time<br />
in the outdoors.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll begin your wilderness expedition in the rocky Galiuros Mountains that rise abruptly<br />
from the Southwest desert. Designated wilderness since 1964, this land of rugged cliffs and<br />
brightly colored rocks will be where you learn the essentials of backcountry travel.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Arizona’s Cochise Stronghold promises warm, sunny weather and enough climbing routes<br />
to keep you roped up and cranking hard. The area’s tall domes make it an ideal base from<br />
which to learn top-roping, climbing movements and even multi-pitch skills.<br />
SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
The coastal sailing section takes place in the northern reaches of the Strait of Georgia and<br />
Desolation Sound in British Columbia, Canada. You’ll learn how to sail and navigate 36-<br />
foot sailboats, each carrying a group of students and an instructor. On-water classes include<br />
boat handling, charts, coastal navigation and seamanship.<br />
Doug Demarest<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
You’ll paddle the remote waters of British Columbia’s central coast on this section, visiting<br />
pristine sandy beaches, majestic fjords, ancient moss-covered rain forests, remote islands and<br />
sea caves. At the same time, you’ll learn a range of technical skills, from basic to advanced sea<br />
kayaking strokes to weather awareness and knowledge of tides and currents. Whales, sea lions<br />
and wolves are just a sample of the wildlife you could see on this amazingly wild waterway.<br />
Deborah Sussex<br />
Above: Learning to lead in the Galiuros Wilderness. Left:<br />
What goes up, must come down. Rappelling is a basic<br />
rock climbing skill you’ll learn at the crag.<br />
DETAILS SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Age and Length: 17 & Over • Average Age: 21 • Duration: 86 days<br />
Offered spring<br />
Tuition: $11,980<br />
Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona/Conway, Washington<br />
Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona/Seattle, Washington<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 6 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
2 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates and Sections: page 111<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 103
Tom Bol
NEW!<br />
YEAR <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E<br />
SONORAN<br />
SONORAN<br />
Just one year ago, <strong>NOLS</strong> created the longest<br />
course in the history of outdoor education,<br />
135 days, the equivalent of a year at college. We<br />
are excited to introduce for this fall our second<br />
such course, the new 135-day Sonoran Year.<br />
The Sonoran Desert spans 120,000 square<br />
miles from the American Southwest to the tip of<br />
Baja California, Mexico. Your <strong>NOLS</strong> year will be<br />
one of crossing boundaries, from the U.S. to<br />
Mexico and from the arid desert to the sea. You’ll<br />
sea kayak, sail, climb and hike in the unique<br />
Sonoran ecosystem, the most lush, diverse desert<br />
in North America, while also learning about the<br />
distinctive local cultures through Baja natural<br />
history and Southwestern literature.<br />
The Sonoran Year will take you far from the<br />
classroom and place you right in the middle of<br />
your education. When you return to campus<br />
you’ll have new skills, motivation and a year’s<br />
worth of college credit.<br />
Ashley Wise<br />
Above: Backpacking is a thread that runs through your<br />
entire Sonoran Year. Left: Calm waters and crisp sunsets<br />
are your reward after a day of coastal sailing in Baja.<br />
Sometimes it seems like the sun sets too early when you’re enjoying the ideal climbing conditions of the desert Southwest.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G, SOU<strong>TH</strong>WESTERN LITERATURE AND BAJA CULTURE<br />
Backpacking will be the thread that runs through your entire year. First you’ll explore the<br />
Gila Range, setting the foundation for your course, then you’ll travel through the Galiuros<br />
Wilderness to study the celebrated writers of the American Southwest. In Mexico, you’ll<br />
learn about Mexican ranchero culture in the Sierra de San Francisco.<br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Cochise Stronghold is a beautiful remote climbing area in the Dragoon Mountains of Arizona<br />
that provides excellent opportunities to cover a comprehensive climbing curriculum,<br />
including moving on rock as well as rope and anchor systems.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST RESPONDER (WFR)<br />
Presented by WMI of <strong>NOLS</strong>, this 80-hour certification designed for outdoor professionals<br />
will give you the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote settings.<br />
<strong>LEADER</strong>SHIP <strong>EDUCATION</strong> AND DEVELOPMENT SEM<strong>IN</strong>AR (LEADS)<br />
This closer look at the <strong>NOLS</strong> leadership curriculum is designed to explore in greater depth<br />
your own style of leadership and that of your coursemates.<br />
SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Paddling the wild desert coastline of the Baja Peninsula includes hands-on expedition planning,<br />
interpreting tides and currents, reading weather conditions, and exploring the underwater<br />
world through snorkeling, free diving, and, potentially, spear fishing.<br />
COASTAL SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G, BAJA NATURAL HISTORY AND WHALE-WATCH<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
While on our 22-foot Drascombe Longboat you’ll work toward mastering the mechanics of<br />
sailing this open boat, including sail and line handling, wind awareness, anchoring procedures<br />
and capsize recovery. Then you will spend time with local naturalists, students and fisherman<br />
observing endemic flora and fauna, global warming evidence, and the migration of gray whales.<br />
<strong>IN</strong>DEPENDENT STUDENT EXPEDITION<br />
Independent travel is an important part of an extended <strong>NOLS</strong> experience, and the successful<br />
completion of the Sonoran Year will culminate in an opportunity for you to apply<br />
all of your accumulated knowledge and skills to an autonomous student expedition.<br />
DETAILS<br />
ACADEMIC YEAR<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 135 days; 65 days (fall), 70 days (spring)<br />
Offered fall-spring<br />
Tuition: $19,500<br />
Course start/end: Tucson, Arizona (fall) / Mulegé, BCS, Mexico (spring)<br />
Fly in/out: Tucson, Arizona (fall) / Loreto, BCS, Mexico (spring)<br />
College Credit: 4 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 8 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
4 hours Risk Assessment; 2 hours Expedition Planning; 3 hours WFR credit<br />
Dates: page 111<br />
Pascal Beauvais<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 105
Matt Carlson
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong><br />
<strong>TH</strong>E AMAZON<br />
Join <strong>NOLS</strong> for an expedition into a place with<br />
more species of plants and animals, more<br />
free-flowing freshwater, and the largest intact<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E AMAZON<br />
areas of rainforest left in the world.<br />
You’ll see trees in all different shapes and<br />
sizes, vines that wrap through the forest, colorful<br />
orchids and bromeliads, monkeys crashing over<br />
the treetops, snakes and lizards on the forest<br />
floor, capybara, toucans and macaws, and lots of<br />
insects. The jungle is vast, but you’ll get an entire<br />
semester to traverse the Amazon Basin from<br />
A break for culture: Students visit a rubber tapper, whose home has been elevated for the rainy season.<br />
Fabio Olivera<br />
south to north.<br />
Your 80-day adventure explores places such<br />
as the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands, the Brazilian<br />
Highlands, and one of the Amazon’s remote<br />
tributaries that runs into the main basin. You’ll also<br />
get a chance to meet the rainforest’s local peoples,<br />
including seringueiros (rubber tappers/frontiers<br />
people). If you crave a remote tropical expedition,<br />
get ready for the haunting sounds and smells of<br />
the jungle.<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FIRST AID (WFA)<br />
The first few days of your course will be spent learning first aid at the <strong>NOLS</strong> Amazon base<br />
before leaving to start your expedition.<br />
AMAZON RIVER TRAVEL<br />
You may begin your river section by practicing paddling and river safety skills in the Brazilian<br />
Highlands for 7 to 10 days before entering the Amazon Basin proper. Then, for the next fourweek<br />
section of river travel, you’ll navigate canoes down the upper tributaries of the Madeira,<br />
Tapajos or Negro rivers and wind past the native ribeirinhos, indigenous tribes, gold miners<br />
and fishermen on your way to the main Amazon River. You’ll plunge into the heart of jungle<br />
river travel here as you hone your paddling skills and learn both tropical and river hazard management<br />
while negotiating rapids one day and paddling long stretches of still water the next.<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
There are two hiking sections, one in the Brazilian (or Guiana) Highlands, where you will<br />
practice backpacking and land navigation, and one in the rainforest uplands of the Amazon<br />
Basin. Here you’ll learn the intricacies of camping in a rainforest, sleeping in hammocks,<br />
and finding routes. Cultural interactions with indigenous peoples are possible, as<br />
are opportunities for small group travel and a student expedition.<br />
CULTURAL<br />
The Amazon Basin’s biodiversity is matched only by the cultural diversity of its inhabitants.<br />
From locals living off fruits, plants, fish and the land to indigenous tribes with intact<br />
cultural practices, the Amazon offers a window into a unique and exotic world.<br />
Throughout your semester you will spend time with caboclos, seringueiros and indigenous<br />
people in their communities as you travel on foot and by riverboat. Our options include<br />
staying with local families, contributing to community projects, and visiting isolated riverside<br />
communities. At the end of your river section you will visit and live with a ribeirinho<br />
community for four to five days before finishing in Santarem.<br />
Matt Carlson<br />
Above: Hiking in the Curicuriari Mountains of Sao Gabriel<br />
da Cachoeira, Brazil. Left: Students Andrew McCoy and<br />
Joey Barrios take in the rich beauty of the rainforest.<br />
DETAILS FALL<br />
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 80 days<br />
Offered fall<br />
Tuition: $13,250<br />
Course start/end: Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil / Santarem, Brazil<br />
Fly in/out: Cuiaba, Brazil / Santarem, Brazil<br />
College Credit: 2 hours Biology; 2 hours Environmental Ethics; 4 hours Leadership Techniques; 4 hours Skills Practicum;<br />
4 hours Risk Assessment<br />
Dates: page 113<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 107
RISK MANAGEMENT AT <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
<strong>IN</strong>DEPENDENT STUDENT TRAVEL<br />
At <strong>NOLS</strong> you’re taught the outdoor leadership and skills you need<br />
to take others into the backcountry comfortably and responsibly.<br />
On most of our courses, one of the ways we help you develop<br />
into an outdoor leader is by giving you the opportunity to travel<br />
without instructors. By the end of the second week of many <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
courses, you will travel in student groups without instructors for a<br />
day at a time. To prepare for this, you’ll have classes and practical<br />
experience with staff in backcountry travel. You’ll learn decisionmaking<br />
processes from your instructors, and they’ll observe, coach<br />
and help you develop your leadership.<br />
If your instructors decide that your group is ready, the culminating<br />
experience of many courses is the student expedition. For<br />
several days of your course, you and a few of your coursemates will<br />
travel without an instructor. You will put your traveling, navigation,<br />
camping, and leadership skills to use.<br />
Your instructors help the course divide into groups, select a<br />
leader and plan a route. You will know your instructors’ route and<br />
campsites (usually no more than a day away). You and your group<br />
make the daily leadership decisions but still have all the benefits of<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>’ support systems. This is excellent preparation for the backcountry<br />
trips you will lead for family and friends after you get<br />
home and is often cited by our alumni as the highlight of their<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> course.<br />
RISK MANAGEMENT<br />
The recognition and management of the inherent risks and hazards<br />
of living and traveling in remote wild areas is taught and practiced<br />
on every course. <strong>NOLS</strong> is committed to helping promote a positive<br />
learning environment and physical and emotional well-being for all<br />
students. We are very proud of our excellent record managing the<br />
risks of wilderness travel.<br />
Most of our students first hear about <strong>NOLS</strong> from our graduates.<br />
This is probably the best indication of how our graduates value<br />
their <strong>NOLS</strong> experience. We are sure they would be the first to join<br />
us in reminding you and your family that <strong>NOLS</strong> courses are not<br />
easy and involve travel through rugged terrain in which there are<br />
real dangers. The management of our activities with respect to these<br />
dangers is a fundamental part of the <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum. Good physical<br />
conditioning and a positive mental attitude are essential. Each<br />
student plays an important role in the success of a <strong>NOLS</strong> course.<br />
You will be responsible for transporting your own gear. You<br />
will sleep outdoors, possibly in co-ed tent groups, prepare your own<br />
meals and be expected to care for yourself in weather conditions<br />
that can be extreme. On many courses there are opportunities for<br />
students to travel independently of instructors in groups of at least<br />
three for one or more days. There are times, such as in town at the<br />
beginning and end of the course or between semester sections, when<br />
students are not supervised by <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
Wilderness activity involves hazards; rockfall, wild rivers and<br />
freezing temperatures can pose a risk to even the most experienced<br />
outdoor leader. Activities ranging from simple day hikes to climbing<br />
glaciers can, due to error in judgment or the unpredictable forces<br />
of nature, become dangerous and potentially life-threatening.<br />
Our courses are isolated expeditions. The remoteness of the<br />
areas in which we travel can create complex emergency situations<br />
that have no simple solutions. It is not uncommon to be days from<br />
Learning how to identify hazards and adapt behavior is a key part of every <strong>NOLS</strong> course.<br />
medical help, but <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors are trained in first aid, specifically<br />
wilderness medicine, which is the specialty practice of adapting<br />
and applying first aid knowledge and skills to the unique<br />
circumstances of remote wilderness travel. <strong>NOLS</strong> also has comprehensive<br />
wilderness emergency response and evacuation procedures<br />
and is a leader in the use of appropriate field communication technology<br />
in remote wilderness locations.<br />
We carry a radio, cellular or satellite telephone or other electronic<br />
communication devices on each of our courses for life threatening<br />
emergencies, but this does not guarantee communication<br />
from the field to our support bases. Radios and portable phones<br />
can be unreliable depending on terrain, atmospheric conditions and<br />
other variables. Independent student travel groups may be separated<br />
from the radio or phone for 24 hours or more.<br />
The majority of medical incidents—sprains, flu, diarrhea,<br />
etc.—may be treated in the field. A more serious incident, such as a<br />
fracture, will require evacuation of the patient to a medical facility.<br />
It is important you understand that there are risks. Some adventure<br />
programs say that they can guarantee your safety. <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
does not. The risk of injury, even serious injury or death, is unavoidable<br />
in the outdoor environment in which we teach. Indeed,<br />
much of the value of a <strong>NOLS</strong> course lies in learning how to identify<br />
hazards and adapt behavior, not only on the course, but also<br />
for a lifetime of enjoying the outdoors.<br />
When you come to <strong>NOLS</strong>, you will be attending the school<br />
that sets the standards in wilderness risk management, wilderness<br />
medicine and student well-being. We have published one of the<br />
leading texts on wilderness medicine, and <strong>NOLS</strong>’ Wilderness Medicine<br />
Institute (WMI) is at the cutting edge of this growing field.<br />
We are the leaders of the national Wilderness Risk Managers Committee,<br />
and each year <strong>NOLS</strong> Professional Training convenes the<br />
Wilderness Risk Management Conference for outdoor educators<br />
and adventure program administrators.<br />
Before you arrive on your <strong>NOLS</strong> course, thoroughly read all<br />
materials we send you and call us if you have questions. A report<br />
on <strong>NOLS</strong> risk management and history is available from our admission<br />
office.<br />
Willy Hazelhurst<br />
108
APPLICATION AND ADMISSION POLICIES<br />
HOW TO APPLY<br />
The easiest way to apply for a <strong>NOLS</strong> course is online at www.nols.edu.<br />
Or, you can fill out the application in this catalog and fax or mail it<br />
along with the $ 65 non-refundable application fee. After reviewing<br />
your application, we will enroll you on the course of your choice. If<br />
appropriate, be sure to provide several choices in order of preference.<br />
An enrollment packet containing a course description, equipment<br />
list, travel information and other materials to help you prepare<br />
for your course will be forwarded to you. You must return the following<br />
information from the enrollment packet:<br />
• student agreement and release form<br />
• statement of good standing, transcript and student information<br />
form (semester students only)<br />
• health form<br />
• insurance form<br />
All forms and a $ 250 non-refundable deposit are due 14 days<br />
after the receipt of your packet. The remaining tuition is due 75<br />
days before your course.<br />
ADMISSION POLICIES<br />
Final acceptance is contingent upon the receipt and approval of the<br />
materials listed above. <strong>NOLS</strong> seeks students who are motivated to<br />
learn outdoor skills and develop leadership, are in good health physically<br />
and emotionally, and are socially responsible.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is not an appropriate choice for individuals dealing with<br />
behavioral, motivational or rehabilitation issues. We will deny admission<br />
to anyone we believe to be unable to meet the physical,<br />
mental, social or safety demands of our courses.<br />
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is committed to ensuring an environment in which diversity<br />
is a fundamental value. We believe that greater diversity will enhance<br />
the quality of <strong>NOLS</strong> and enrich understanding between students,<br />
employees and the broader community. <strong>NOLS</strong> welcomes<br />
individuals for employment or student application regardless of<br />
race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, color,<br />
national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status.<br />
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> students come to us from a wide variety of backgrounds.<br />
Some have quite a bit of outdoor experience; many others’ greatest<br />
outdoor accomplishment has been sleeping out in the backyard. If<br />
you are in good health physically and emotionally and are motivated<br />
to learn you can excel on a <strong>NOLS</strong> course. The desire to learn<br />
and participate is the most important factor for success.<br />
STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPL<strong>IN</strong>E<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> will expel any student who exhibits behavior that is unsafe or<br />
disrupts or distracts from the educational mission of a course. Harassment,<br />
use of alcohol, illegal drugs and other substances, misuse<br />
of prescription medications, theft or misuse of property, low motivation,<br />
and disregarding instructions are examples of behavior that<br />
will lead to expulsion. If a student is expelled, there will be no refund.<br />
No experience necessary: a good attitude and a desire to learn are the most important<br />
factors for success on a <strong>NOLS</strong> course.<br />
CANCELLATION POLICIES<br />
If you cancel or leave a course for any reason:<br />
• between 15 and 29 days prior to the course starting date, <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
will retain 25 percent of the course tuition.<br />
• between 8 and 14 days prior to the course starting date, <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
will retain 50 percent of the course tuition.<br />
• less than 8 days prior to the course starting date and once the<br />
course has begun, there will be no refunds.<br />
TRANSFER POLICIES<br />
If you transfer from one course to another:<br />
• 30 or more days prior to the course starting date, there will be a<br />
$<br />
25 processing charge.<br />
• 29 days or less prior to the course starting date, regular cancellation<br />
and refund charges will apply.<br />
Although we rarely need to do so, we reserve the right to cancel a<br />
course or change a course duration, tuition or location. <strong>NOLS</strong> is<br />
not responsible for costs associated in these cases. We recommend<br />
that you consider refundable airplane tickets and tuition insurance.<br />
CONTACT US<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Admissions<br />
Phone: (800) 710-<strong>NOLS</strong> (6657)<br />
Fax: (307) 332-1220<br />
Email: admissions@nols.edu<br />
Talk to a <strong>NOLS</strong> Alumni Rep: alumni_reps@nols.edu<br />
Hours:<br />
8am–7pm, Monday-Thursday, MST<br />
8am–5pm, Friday, MST<br />
Extended hours January 5- July 15:<br />
7am–7pm, Monday-Thursday, MST<br />
7am–5pm, Friday, MST<br />
Julie Brown<br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 109
COURSE DATES AND TUITIONS<br />
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong><br />
W<strong>IN</strong>D RIVER <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> PAGE 22<br />
16 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,650 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
May 27-June 25, <strong>2008</strong> June 16-July 15, <strong>2008</strong> June 30-July 29, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 2-July 1, <strong>2008</strong> June 19-July 18, <strong>2008</strong> July 3-Aug. 1, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 9-July 8, <strong>2008</strong> June 23-July 22, <strong>2008</strong> July 14-Aug. 12, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 12-July 11, <strong>2008</strong> June 26-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 17-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
July 21 - Aug. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
16 & 17 ONLY<br />
Tuition: $3,920 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 9-July 8, <strong>2008</strong> June 23-July 22, <strong>2008</strong> July 3-Aug. 1, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 12-July 11, <strong>2008</strong> June 26-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 10-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 16-July 15, <strong>2008</strong> June 30-July 29, <strong>2008</strong> July 17-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 19-July 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
July 13-July 26, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 3-Aug. 16, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 7-Sept. 20, <strong>2008</strong><br />
40 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
July 13-July 26, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 3-Aug. 16, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ABSAROKA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 22<br />
Tuition: $3575 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
May 29-June 27, <strong>2008</strong> July 10-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 12-July 11, <strong>2008</strong> July 17-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ROCKY MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong> LIGHT AND FAST BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 23<br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $150 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
July 20-Aug. 2, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 3-Aug. 16, <strong>2008</strong><br />
40 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $150 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
July 20-Aug. 2, <strong>2008</strong><br />
<strong>NOLS</strong>/ORVIS TM <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> FLY FISH<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 23<br />
Tuition: $6,510 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 19-July18, <strong>2008</strong> July 21-Aug. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
WYOM<strong>IN</strong>G BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G ADVENTURE PAGE 24<br />
FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS<br />
Tuition: $4,435 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: NA<br />
June 9-July 8, <strong>2008</strong> June 23-July 22, <strong>2008</strong> July 3-Aug. 1, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 12-July 11, <strong>2008</strong> June 26-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 10-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 19-July 18, <strong>2008</strong> June 30-July 29, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ROCKY MTN. OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 24<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G WI<strong>TH</strong> ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G OR WFR<br />
Tuition: $3,050 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
June 2-June 24, <strong>2008</strong> July 14-Aug. 5, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 1-Sept. 23, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Tuition: $4,420 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 7 hours<br />
June 16-July 15, <strong>2008</strong> (w/ WFR) July 14-Aug. 12, <strong>2008</strong> (w/WFR)<br />
W<strong>IN</strong>D RIVER MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 25<br />
Tuition: $3,800 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 9-July 8, <strong>2008</strong> June 23-July 22, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 16-July 15, <strong>2008</strong> July 3-Aug. 1, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ROCK CLIMB<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 25<br />
16 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,765 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
July 10-July 30, <strong>2008</strong> July 17-Aug. 6, <strong>2008</strong> July 24-Aug. 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
30-DAY<br />
Tuition: $4,475 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
July 7-Aug. 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
16 & 17 ONLY<br />
Tuition: $3,765 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
July 10-July 30, <strong>2008</strong> July 24-Aug. 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ROCK AND RIVER PAGE 26<br />
Tuition: $5,005 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
May 15-June 13, <strong>2008</strong> June 8-July 7, <strong>2008</strong> June 19-July 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
July 10-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> HORSEPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 27<br />
16 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $4,410 • Equipment Deposit: $300 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
June 4-June 24, <strong>2008</strong> July 7-July 27, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 4-Aug. 24, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 28-July 18, <strong>2008</strong> July 21-Aug. 10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $300 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
June 14-June 27, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 31-Sept. 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
WHITEWATER RIVER EXPEDITION PAGE 27<br />
Tuition: $3,360 • Equipment Deposit: $225 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
June 4-June 19, <strong>2008</strong> July 3-July 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
July 16-July 31, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 4-Aug. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
RIVER GUIDES PAGE 26<br />
Tuition: $4,220 • Equipment Deposit: $300 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
May 10-May 30, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E ROCKIES PAGE 75<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $10,375; $10,790 w/WFR • Equipment Deposit: $700 •<br />
College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Section 1&2: Winter (Ski), WFR, Canyon, Climbing, Canoe Expedition<br />
Feb. 6-May 2, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 3&4: Winter (Ski), WFA, Canyon, Climbing, River Travel<br />
(Kayak/Raft/Canoe)<br />
Feb. 13-May 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 5: Canyon, WFA, Climbing, River Travel (Canoe/Kayak/Raft), Horsepacking<br />
March 5-May 30, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SUMMER<br />
Tuition: $9,565 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, Climbing, River Travel (Kayak/Raft)<br />
June 9-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $10,600; $11,250 w/WFR • Equipment Deposit: $700 •<br />
College Credit: 16 hours; 19 hours w/ WFR<br />
Section 1&2: Backpacking, WFR, Canoe Expedition, Climbing, Canyon<br />
Aug. 18-Nov. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 3&4: Mountaineering, WFA, River (Kayak/Raft/Canoe), Climbing, Canyon<br />
Aug. 25-Nov. 26, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 5: Backpacking, WFR, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski)<br />
Sept. 1-Dec. 3, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 6: River Travel, WFR, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski)<br />
Sept. 1-Dec. 3, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 7: Mountaineering, WFA, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski)<br />
Sept. 3-Dec. 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 8: Mountaineering, WFA, River Travel, Canyon, Winter (Ski)<br />
Sept. 3-Dec. 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Section 9 (Gap Year Section for 17 to 19 year olds): Backpacking, WFA,<br />
Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Snowboard)<br />
Sept. 8-Dec. 10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATORS PAGE 79<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $11,260 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 19 hours<br />
Winter (Ski), WFR, Canyon, Climbing, Leave No Trace Master’s<br />
Feb. 4-May 7, <strong>2008</strong><br />
110
FALL<br />
Tuition: $11,600 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 19 hours<br />
Backpacking, WFR, Climbing, Canyon, Winter (Ski), Leave No Trace Master’s<br />
Sept. 10-Dec. 12, <strong>2008</strong><br />
TETON VALLEY<br />
SALMON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND RAFT<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 30<br />
Tuition: $4,885 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 22-July 19, <strong>2008</strong> July 16-Aug. 12, <strong>2008</strong> July 24-Aug. 20, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SALMON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND RAFT<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 30<br />
ADVENTURE FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS<br />
Tuition: $5,000 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: NA<br />
June 14-July 11, <strong>2008</strong> June 30-July 27, <strong>2008</strong><br />
IDAHO BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G ADVENTURE PAGE 31<br />
FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS<br />
Tuition: $2,605 • Equipment Deposit: $200 • College Credit: NA<br />
June 18-July 1, <strong>2008</strong> July 18-July 31, <strong>2008</strong><br />
July 7-July 20, <strong>2008</strong> July 25-Aug. 7, <strong>2008</strong><br />
50 DAY ADVENTURE EXPEDITION PAGE 31<br />
FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS<br />
Tuition: $7,600 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: NA<br />
June 22-Aug. 10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
W<strong>IN</strong>TER OUTDOOR EDUCATOR PAGE 32<br />
Tuition: $2,415 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
Jan. 8-Jan. 28, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SNOWBOARD<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 32<br />
Tuition: $2,010 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Jan. 4-Jan. 17, <strong>2008</strong> Feb. 17-March 1, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SKI<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 33<br />
17 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $1,680 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Jan. 4-Jan. 17, <strong>2008</strong> Feb. 10-Feb. 23, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $1,915 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Dec. 29, 2007-Jan. 9, <strong>2008</strong> Feb. 24-March 6, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
WADD<strong>IN</strong>GTON RANGE MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 36<br />
Tuition: $4,630 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 18-July 18, <strong>2008</strong> July 2-Aug. 1, <strong>2008</strong> July 16-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
NOR<strong>TH</strong> CASCADES MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 36<br />
17 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,800 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 4-July 4, <strong>2008</strong> July 2-Aug. 1, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 11-July 11, <strong>2008</strong> July 9-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,125 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Aug. 13-Aug. 29, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 25-Sept.10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 37<br />
Tuition: $3,475 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
May 21-June 20, <strong>2008</strong> June 25-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 23-Aug. 22, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 18-July 18, <strong>2008</strong> July 9-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 38<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
24-DAY<br />
Tuition: $3,050 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
June 4-June 27, <strong>2008</strong> July 16-Aug. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
31-DAY<br />
Tuition: $3,795 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
May 21-June 20, <strong>2008</strong> June 25-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 23-Aug. 22, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST TRIP <strong>LEADER</strong> PAGE 39<br />
Tuition: $1,010 • Equipment Deposit: $100 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
June 7-June 15, <strong>2008</strong> Aug. 16-Aug. 24, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 39<br />
Tuition: $4,100 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 2<br />
June 7-July 7, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E PACIFIC NOR<strong>TH</strong>WEST PAGE 81<br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $10,150 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Mountain Travel, Canoeing, Climbing, Sailing, Student Expedition<br />
Aug. 27-Nov. 14, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 3-Nov. 21, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 10-Nov. 28, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER ON <strong>TH</strong>E BORDERS PAGE 105<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $11,980 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFA, Backpacking, Climbing, Coastal Sailing, Sea Kayaking<br />
Feb. 14-May 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST<br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 42<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $3,825 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
Jan. 10-Feb. 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
GILA RANGE BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 42<br />
Tuition: $3,650 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
April 10-May 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 43<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $150 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Jan. 12-Jan. 26, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E SOU<strong>TH</strong>WEST PAGE 83<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $10,625 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFA, Galiuros Backpacking, Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Gila Backpacking<br />
Jan. 11-April 7, <strong>2008</strong> Feb. 3-April 30, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $10,750 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFA, Gila Backpacking, Climbing, Canoeing, Caving, Backpacking<br />
Sept. 1-Nov. 27, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 8-Dec. 4, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER ON <strong>TH</strong>E BORDERS PAGE 103<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $11,980 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFA, Backpacking, Climbing, Coastal Sailing, Sea Kayaking<br />
Feb. 14-May 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
YEAR <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E SONORAN PAGE 105<br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $19,500 • Equipment Deposit: $750 • College Credit: 27 hours<br />
September 29, <strong>2008</strong>-March 18, 2009 (Holiday Break: Dec. 3, <strong>2008</strong>-Jan. 7, 2009)<br />
ALASKA<br />
ALASKA SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 46<br />
16 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,715 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 11-July 10, <strong>2008</strong> June 14-July 13, <strong>2008</strong> July 17-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 111
16 & 17 ONLY<br />
Tuition: $3,715 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
July 20-Aug. 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $200 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
May 25-June 7, <strong>2008</strong> June 29-July 12, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ALASKA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 46<br />
Tuition: $4,300 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
May 23-June 21, <strong>2008</strong> June 19-July 18, <strong>2008</strong> July 17-Aug. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 14-July 13, <strong>2008</strong> June 27-July 26, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ALASKA MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 47<br />
17 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $4,820 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
May 20-June 18, <strong>2008</strong> June 19-July 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 6-July 5, <strong>2008</strong> July 14-Aug. 12, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,335 • Equipment Deposit: $200 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
June 22-July 5, <strong>2008</strong> July 27-Aug. 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
DENALI MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G (ALUMNI ONLY) PAGE 47<br />
Tuition: $7,150 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 2-July 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
BROOKS RANGE COURSES PAGE 48<br />
BROOKS RANGE BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND RIVER<br />
Tuition: $6,775 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 8 hours<br />
July 8-Aug. 16, <strong>2008</strong><br />
BROOKS RANGE BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G (23 & OVER)<br />
Tuition: $3,960 • Equipment Deposit: $200 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Aug. 10-Aug. 23, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ALASKA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 49<br />
Tuition: $3,725 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
16 & OVER<br />
June 7-July 6, <strong>2008</strong> June 21-July 20, <strong>2008</strong> July 15-Aug. 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
June 14-July 13, <strong>2008</strong> June 26-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 19-Aug. 17, <strong>2008</strong><br />
16 & 17 ONLY<br />
June 17-July 16, <strong>2008</strong> July 7-Aug. 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: PAGE 49<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $3,795 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
July 21-Aug. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
ALASKA OUTDOOR EDUCATOR: BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 49<br />
Tuition: $3,015 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
June 9-July 2, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> ALASKA PAGE 85<br />
SUMMER<br />
Tuition: $9,975 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Sea Kayaking, Backpacking, Glacier Mountaineering<br />
May 25-Aug. 7, <strong>2008</strong> June 4-Aug. 17, <strong>2008</strong> June 10-Aug. 23, <strong>2008</strong><br />
YUKON<br />
YUKON OUTDOOR EDUCATOR:<br />
BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND WHITEWATER CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 52<br />
Tuition: $3,465 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 8-July 7, <strong>2008</strong> July 24-Aug. 22, <strong>2008</strong><br />
YUKON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 52<br />
Tuition: $3,250 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
June 29-July 25, <strong>2008</strong> July 10-Aug. 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
30-DAY YUKON BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND PAGE 53<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $3,750 • Equipment Deposit: • $350 College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 23-July 22, <strong>2008</strong> July 12-Aug. 10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E YUKON PAGE 87<br />
SUMMER<br />
Tuition: $9,450 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, Mountaineering, Canoeing<br />
June 12-Aug. 26, <strong>2008</strong><br />
MEXICO<br />
BAJA COASTAL SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 56<br />
Tuition: $3,625 • Equipment Deposit: $225 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
Jan. 3-Jan. 24, <strong>2008</strong> Oct. 15-Nov. 5, <strong>2008</strong><br />
BAJA SEA K AYAK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 56<br />
16 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,105 • Equipment Deposit: $225 • College Credit: 4 hours<br />
Jan. 4-Jan. 25, <strong>2008</strong> March 5-March 26, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Oct. 20-Nov. 10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $2,990 • Equipment Deposit: $225 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Feb. 3-Feb. 16, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> BAJA PAGE 89<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $10,675 • Equipment Deposit: $500 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, Sailing, Sea Kayaking<br />
Jan. 17-April 3, <strong>2008</strong> Jan. 31-April 17, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $10,925 • Equipment Deposit: $500 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, Sailing, Sea Kayaking<br />
Sept. 10-Nov. 26, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 24-Dec. 10, <strong>2008</strong><br />
BAJA OCEAN SEMESTER PAGE 91<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $13,000 • Equipment Deposit: $500 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFA, Sea Kayaking, Sailing, Keelboat Sailing<br />
Feb. 5-April 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $13,250 • Equipment Deposit: $500 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFA, Sea Kayaking, Sailing, Keelboat Sailing<br />
Oct. 4-Dec. 17, <strong>2008</strong><br />
YEAR <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E SONORAN PAGE 105<br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $19,500 • Equipment Deposit: $750 • College Credit: 27 hours<br />
September 29, <strong>2008</strong>-March 18, 2009 (Holiday Break: Dec. 3, <strong>2008</strong>-Jan. 7, 2009)<br />
PATAGONIA<br />
PATAGONIA MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 60<br />
Tuition: $5470 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
Jan. 10-Feb. 12, <strong>2008</strong><br />
PATAGONIA SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 60<br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Jan. 18-Jan. 31, <strong>2008</strong><br />
112
PATAGONIA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND FLY FISH<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 61<br />
23 & OVER<br />
Tuition: $3,005 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 2 hours<br />
Feb. 23-March 7, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> PATAGONIA PAGE 93<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $13,200 • Equipment Deposit: $500 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFR, Mountain Travel, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking<br />
Jan. 19-April 7, <strong>2008</strong> Feb. 6-April 25, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $13,500 • Equipment Deposit: $500 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
WFR, Mountain Travel, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking<br />
Sept. 15-Dec. 3, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 29-Dec. 17, <strong>2008</strong><br />
YEAR <strong>IN</strong> PATAGONIA PAGE 95<br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $23,000 • Equipment Deposit: $750 • College Credit: 27 hours<br />
WFR, Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Cultural, Climbing, Mountain Travel, Backpacking<br />
Oct. 14, <strong>2008</strong>-March 19, 2009 (Holiday Break: Dec. 20, <strong>2008</strong>-Jan. 10, 2009)<br />
<strong>IN</strong>DIA<br />
HIMALAYA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 64<br />
Tuition: $5,860 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
April 30-June 3, <strong>2008</strong> May 14-June 17, <strong>2008</strong> Oct. 1-Nov. 4, <strong>2008</strong><br />
HIMALAYA MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong>EER<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 64<br />
Tuition: $6,380 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 8 hours<br />
April 2-May 11, <strong>2008</strong> Sept. 5-Oct. 14, <strong>2008</strong><br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> NEW ZEALAND PAGE 101<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $14,100 (includes 12.5% NZ Goods and Services Tax) •<br />
Equipment Deposit: $600 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, Cultural, Canoeing, Sea Kayaking<br />
Jan. 21- April 4, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Canoeing, Cultural, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking<br />
Jan. 31-April 14, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Backpacking, Mountain Skills, Cultural, Sea Kayaking<br />
Feb. 4-April 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Backpacking, Cultural, Sea Kayaking/Coastal Cruising<br />
March 2-May 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $14,350 (includes 12.5% NZ Goods and Services Tax) •<br />
Equipment Deposit: $600 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Canoeing, Sea Kayaking, Cultural, Backpacking<br />
Sept. 25-Dec. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Backpacking, Mountain Skills, Cultural, Canoeing<br />
Sept. 25-Dec. 8, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Backpacking, Canoeing, Cultural, Sea Kayaking<br />
Oct. 2-Dec. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Backpacking, Cultural, Sea Kayaking, Mountain Skills<br />
Oct. 2-Dec. 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SCAND<strong>IN</strong>AVIA<br />
SCAND<strong>IN</strong>AVIAN SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G AND BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 70<br />
Tuition: $4,400 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 16-July 15, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>IN</strong>DIA PAGE 97<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $12,700 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, WAFA, River Rafting, Yoga-Hindi<br />
March 26-June 13, <strong>2008</strong><br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $12,900 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, WAFA, Backpacking, Yoga-Hindi, River Rafting<br />
Aug. 27-Nov. 14, <strong>2008</strong><br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
AUSTRALIA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 68<br />
Tuition: $5,325 • Equipment Deposit: $300 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
June 12-July 16, <strong>2008</strong> July 1-Aug. 4, <strong>2008</strong> July 19-Aug. 22, <strong>2008</strong><br />
AUSTRALIA BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G PAGE 68<br />
Tuition: $6,575 • Equipment Deposit: $300 • College Credit: 8 hours<br />
June 24-Aug. 7, <strong>2008</strong> July 6-Aug. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> AUSTRALIA PAGE 99<br />
SPR<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $12,600 • Equipment Deposit: $600 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Canoeing, Backpacking, Cultural<br />
March 14-May 27, <strong>2008</strong> March 21-June 3, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SUMMER<br />
Tuition: $10,250 • Equipment Deposit: $600 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Backpacking, Sea Kayaking, Coastal Cruising, Cultural<br />
June 16-Aug. 24, <strong>2008</strong><br />
BAFF<strong>IN</strong> ISLAND<br />
BAFF<strong>IN</strong> ISLAND BACKPACK<strong>IN</strong>G AND PAGE 71<br />
WHITEWATER CANOE<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Tuition: $5,075 • Equipment Deposit: $350 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
July 6-Aug. 4, <strong>2008</strong> July 11-Aug. 9, <strong>2008</strong><br />
AMAZON<br />
SEMESTER <strong>IN</strong> <strong>TH</strong>E AMAZON PAGE 107<br />
FALL<br />
Tuition: $13,250 • Equipment Deposit: $700 • College Credit: 16 hours<br />
Amazon River Travel (canoe), Backpacking, Cultural Section<br />
Sept. 1-Nov. 19, <strong>2008</strong><br />
<strong>IN</strong>STRUCTOR COURSES<br />
See the ad on page 114 for more information!<br />
Tuition: $4,285 • Equipment Deposit: $250 • College Credit: 6 hours<br />
MOUNTA<strong>IN</strong> RIVER SAIL<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain-Utah Baja<br />
May 1-June 4, <strong>2008</strong> April 20-May 23, <strong>2008</strong> Nov. 14-Dec. 18, <strong>2008</strong><br />
May 15 -June 18, <strong>2008</strong> Yukon<br />
July 7-Aug. 10, <strong>2008</strong> June 2-July 3, <strong>2008</strong><br />
Alaska<br />
May 9-June 12, <strong>2008</strong> SEA KAYAK<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
Southwest<br />
Pacific Northwest<br />
April 9-May 12, <strong>2008</strong> April 23-May 27, <strong>2008</strong><br />
www.nols.edu • (800) 710 - <strong>NOLS</strong> • admissions@nols.edu 113
This could be your job.<br />
If you love the outdoors and have great communication skills, instructing<br />
for <strong>NOLS</strong> may be your opportunity of a lifetime.<br />
Launch your <strong>NOLS</strong> instructor career with:<br />
• The <strong>NOLS</strong> Instructor Course, a month long course for aspiring<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> instructors. You’ll get the tools to teach the next generation of<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> students—in-depth instruction on teaching the <strong>NOLS</strong> curriculum<br />
and training about <strong>NOLS</strong> protocols.<br />
• The Professional Instructor Course, an 18-day course for very<br />
experienced practicing outdoor educators. We’ll recognize your<br />
accomplishments and put you on the fast-track to working for <strong>NOLS</strong>.<br />
Year-round work, instructor seminars to continue your growth and <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
support for personal expeditions are all part of the package. Work and<br />
travel the world with <strong>NOLS</strong>!<br />
For more information, check out www.nols.edu/alumni/employment. For<br />
dates and tuitions, see page 113.<br />
Photo: Fredrik Norrsell
WE WROTE <strong>TH</strong>E BOOKS<br />
ON <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> <strong>EDUCATION</strong><br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> students benefit from more than 40 years of curriculum innovation, but you don’t<br />
have to spend 30 days in the backcountry to get a taste of <strong>NOLS</strong> expertise. Our library<br />
of wilderness books contains titles ranging from wildland ethics to wilderness medicine.<br />
Used in university classrooms and an essential part of any outdoor book collection, <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
titles represent the cutting edge in outdoor literature.<br />
The textbooks of wilderness skills from the leader in wilderness education. Available at<br />
www.nols.edu/store or your local bookseller.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> LIBRARY OF <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> SKILLS:<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Wilderness Guide<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Wilderness Medicine<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Wilderness Mountaineering<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Soft Paths: How to Enjoy the<br />
Wilderness Without Harming It<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Cookery<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Wilderness Ethics: Valuing and<br />
Managing Wild Places<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Wilderness Navigation<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Winter Camping<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Wilderness Wisdom<br />
WMI TITLES:<br />
• Backcountry First Aid and Extended Care<br />
• Wilderness First Responder Textbook<br />
NEW <strong>NOLS</strong> TITLES COM<strong>IN</strong>G SOON:<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Backcountry Cooking: Creative<br />
Menu Planning for Short Trips<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Backcountry Nutrition<br />
Field Guide<br />
• <strong>NOLS</strong> Expedition Planning<br />
Photo: Brad Christensen
WMI<br />
<strong>WILDERNESS</strong> MEDIC<strong>IN</strong>E <strong>IN</strong>STITUTE<br />
Founded in 1990, the Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
(WMI) provides the highest quality education and information for<br />
the recognition, treatment, and prevention of wilderness emergencies.<br />
EXPERIENCE, DECISION-MAK<strong>IN</strong>G AND <strong>LEADER</strong>SHIP<br />
WMI courses use dynamic scenarios to make you feel like<br />
it’s happening for real and give you the confidence and<br />
decision-making abilities to handle medical emergencies<br />
in remote settings.<br />
TIME-TESTED, PHYSICIAN-APPROVED<br />
WMI classroom time is filled with a practical curriculum<br />
that is evidence-based, not just copied out of a textbook.<br />
We teach wilderness medicine practices and protocols that<br />
are supported by our physician-based medical advisory panel<br />
and constantly updated by our curriculum director. Our students<br />
get the latest findings and protocols in the industry.<br />
<strong>TH</strong>E <strong>LEADER</strong> <strong>IN</strong> <strong>WILDERNESS</strong> MEDIC<strong>IN</strong>E<br />
For 17 years, WMI has been the most recognized and respected<br />
teacher of wilderness medicine, training more<br />
than 50,000 students around the world. Our graduates<br />
head into the backcountry prepared to make complex<br />
decisions, act with confidence and save lives.<br />
Photos: WMI archives<br />
If you spend any time in the backcountry, you need<br />
wilderness medicine training, and WMI is the best<br />
place to get that training.<br />
OUR COURSES<br />
• Wilderness EMT<br />
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR)—80 hours—required for<br />
field work at <strong>NOLS</strong> and most other outdoor programs<br />
• Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)<br />
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA)—16-24 hours—pre-approved by the<br />
American Camping Association and the USDA Forest Service<br />
• Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals<br />
• Wilderness Medicine: Practices and Protocols<br />
• Wilderness First Responder Recertification<br />
TO REGISTER<br />
The Wilderness Medicine Institute of <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
www.nols.edu/wmi<br />
(866) 831-9001<br />
wmi@nols.edu<br />
T HE L EADER I N W ILDERNESS M EDIC<strong>IN</strong>E E DUCATION<br />
116
<strong>NOLS</strong> Professional Training takes the teaching and leadership<br />
curriculum that has made <strong>NOLS</strong> the best in the industry and<br />
creates a custom course to fit your unique needs.<br />
Photos left to right: Matt Deines, Brad Christensen, David Anderson, Brad Christensen<br />
Some who have chosen <strong>NOLS</strong>:<br />
• Duke University<br />
• Four Seasons Hotels<br />
• Gates Capital Management<br />
• Interagency Wildland Firefighters<br />
• International Sustainable Development Institute<br />
• NASA<br />
• National Park Service<br />
• The Latin School of Chicago<br />
• The Wharton School of Business<br />
• Timbuk2<br />
• United States Naval Academy<br />
• Morehead Cain Scholars<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Professional Training<br />
www.nols.edu/nolspro<br />
(800) 710-<strong>NOLS</strong> ext.3<br />
nolspro@nols.edu<br />
Custom Courses<br />
You decide how much time you have and where in the world you want your course<br />
to take place. Together, we will build a unique <strong>NOLS</strong> program based on leadership and<br />
teamwork, technical skills, environmental studies or risk management to meet your<br />
group’s needs.<br />
Schools, college outdoor programs, businesses, and government and military agencies<br />
have chosen <strong>NOLS</strong> for their customized outdoor experiences.<br />
Risk Management Consulting & Training<br />
If you run an outdoor program you need <strong>NOLS</strong>’ risk management consulting. For 40<br />
years we have set the industry standards in wilderness risk management, wilderness<br />
medicine and field practices. Attend a two-day risk management training for an institutional<br />
perspective. We’ll audit, advise and improve your risk management program.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is also the founder of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and the<br />
convener of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. Visit www.nols.edu/wrmc<br />
for more information and to register.<br />
Leadership Training<br />
Explore four leadership roles. Learn seven specific leadership skills. Recognize your<br />
personal leadership style. <strong>NOLS</strong> Professional Training offers customized leadership<br />
programs that range from 2 to 14 days in length. At your place or ours, <strong>NOLS</strong> instructors<br />
will deliver the <strong>NOLS</strong> expeditionary leadership model and give your team<br />
the tools to excel.<br />
Expeditionary leadership—setting goals, effectively using resources, achieving.<br />
That’s leadership <strong>NOLS</strong>-style.
<strong>NOLS</strong> APPLICATION<br />
The easiest way to apply for a <strong>NOLS</strong> course is online at www.nols.edu.<br />
Or, fill out this application and fax or mail it along with the $ 65 non-refundable application fee.<br />
NAME<br />
First Last Middle Preferred<br />
Please check only one box indicating where you want your information sent:<br />
PERMANENT ADDRESS ❏ Send information to this address TEMPORARY ADDRESS ❏ Send information to this address<br />
Address good from: / / to: / /<br />
Street (include apt., box, etc.)<br />
City State Zip Street (include apt., box, etc.)<br />
Permanent Phone Number City State Zip<br />
Cell Phone Number<br />
Temporary Phone Number<br />
E-mail address<br />
Birthdate / / Age Sex ❏F ❏M Height Weight<br />
Citizen of<br />
Names and ages of siblings<br />
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT <strong>NOLS</strong>?<br />
❏<strong>NOLS</strong> Graduate (who?)<br />
❏<strong>NOLS</strong> Instructor (who?)<br />
❏<strong>NOLS</strong> Parent (who?)<br />
❏<strong>NOLS</strong> Staff (who?)<br />
❏ Magazine/newspaper article ❏ Television program ❏ Educational consultant ❏ Outdoor retail store<br />
❏ Conference/trade show ❏ School counselor or teacher ❏ Web search ❏ <strong>NOLS</strong> catalog ❏ Parent/friend<br />
Have you seen the <strong>NOLS</strong> Bus? ❏Yes ❏No<br />
<strong>EDUCATION</strong> AND WORK HISTORY<br />
Current or last school attended<br />
Are you currently enrolled ❏Yes ❏No If yes, estimated year of completion:<br />
Highest level completed (check one): ❏H.S. Diploma ❏B.A./B.S. ❏M.A./M.S. ❏Ph.D. Other<br />
Occupation Title Employer<br />
E<strong>TH</strong>NIC ORIG<strong>IN</strong> (responding is optional)<br />
❏ American Indian or Alaskan Native ❏ Asian or Pacific Islander ❏ Black, not of hispanic origin ❏ Hispanic or Latino<br />
❏ White, not of hispanic origin ❏ Multiracial ❏ Other<br />
PARENT OR GUARDIAN <strong>IN</strong>FORMATION (required for students age 25 or younger)<br />
Mother (Mrs., Ms., Dr.)<br />
Father (Mr., Dr.)<br />
❏ Address is the same as the student’s permanent address. ❏ Address is the same as the student’s permanent address.<br />
Street (include apt., box, etc.)<br />
Street (include apt., box, etc.)<br />
City State Zip City State Zip<br />
Daytime Phone Number Evening Phone Number Daytime Phone Number Evening Phone Number<br />
Cell Phone Number<br />
E-mail<br />
Employer<br />
Title<br />
Cell Phone Number<br />
E-mail<br />
Employer<br />
Title<br />
COURSE REGISTRATION<br />
Have you applied for a <strong>NOLS</strong> course before? ❏ Yes ❏ No Course Course Date / /<br />
Indicate your course selections in order of preference. If available, we will enroll you in one of these.<br />
1 st Choice Course Title Start date<br />
2 nd Choice Course Title Start date<br />
3 rd Choice Course Title Start date<br />
Outdoor Educator Applicants: Are you currently employed, or are you seeking employment, in outdoor education? ❏ Yes ❏ No<br />
(continued on the other side)
STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE<br />
This questionnaire is designed to help you identify your reasons for electing to pursue a <strong>NOLS</strong> course, while providing us with an<br />
opportunity to get to know you better.<br />
What has been your greatest success in the last six months?<br />
A <strong>NOLS</strong> course is very physically demanding. Describe your regular physical activities or sports, including what types of exercise<br />
you do, how often and for how long. If you do not exercise regularly, tell us how you plan to prepare for your course.<br />
A <strong>NOLS</strong> course requires that all participants commit physically, mentally and emotionally to the success of the expedition. Identify<br />
an activity to which you have made a major commitment. Describe how you demonstrated that commitment.<br />
PERSON TO NOTIFY <strong>IN</strong> CASE OF AN EMERGENCY (required for all applicants)<br />
Name Phone: Day ( ) Eve. ( )<br />
Address<br />
Street City State Zip<br />
Relationship to applicant (check one): ❏ parent ❏ spouse ❏ other relative ❏ friend ❏ guardian ❏ employer ❏ partner<br />
I have read, understand, accept and agree to abide by the rules, policies and guidelines set forth in this catalog. I understand that the<br />
relationship between me and <strong>NOLS</strong> will be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Wyoming and any suit, mediation or<br />
arbitration of any dispute with <strong>NOLS</strong> must be filed exclusively in the State of Wyoming. I understand that I am not accepted on<br />
my course until all enrollment forms have been received and approved by the <strong>NOLS</strong> Admission Office. I give <strong>NOLS</strong> permission to<br />
share my contact information with other <strong>NOLS</strong> students or graduates and/or with environmental organizations or strategic partners<br />
in which <strong>NOLS</strong> graduates may be interested. I also give <strong>NOLS</strong> permission to use my name, contact information and picture<br />
in promotional materials and press releases.<br />
Signature of Applicant Date / /<br />
Signature of Parent or Guardian is also required, to reflect agreement, if applicant is under 18 years of age:<br />
Date / /<br />
Applications without the application fee will not be processed. Complete the credit card information below or attach the $ 65<br />
application fee, payable to <strong>NOLS</strong>, to the front of application and forward to:<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Admission Office<br />
284 Lincoln Street<br />
Lander, WY 82520-2848<br />
(800) 710-<strong>NOLS</strong> (6657)<br />
admissions@nols.edu<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> also accepts applications by fax: (307) 332-1220<br />
If faxing, the application fee must be paid by credit card.<br />
❏ Check here if paying application fee by credit card: ❏ VISA ❏ MasterCard<br />
Name on card:<br />
Signature:<br />
Account number:<br />
Expiration Date:<br />
Catalog <strong>2008</strong>
SHAP<strong>IN</strong>G <strong>TH</strong>E<br />
Future of Travel<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> is the proud nonprofit, educational partner of the Adventure Collection,<br />
a collaboration of ten leading independent outdoor travel organizations.<br />
For more than six years the Adventure Collection has been shaping the future<br />
of adventurous exploration with a laser focus on responsible travel and a<br />
dedication to innovation. To learn more, visit www.adventurecollection.com.<br />
CREAT<strong>IN</strong>G<br />
SM<br />
Since the fall of 2004, the <strong>NOLS</strong> Bus has traveled the country running on used<br />
vegetable oil collected at restaurants along their routes. The <strong>NOLS</strong> Bus and its staff<br />
of recent <strong>NOLS</strong> graduates are taking our message of outdoor skills, leadership and<br />
environment to schools and colleges nationwide while offering climbing clinics, leadership<br />
workshops and expedition slideshows in the bus’s solar-powered theater.<br />
While veggie oil makes our engine run, Stonyfield Farm keeps the Creating a Climate for<br />
Change tour on the road. Stonyfield Farm, the world’s leading organic yogurt manufacturer,<br />
generously sponsors our travels and provides its incredibly delicious products for<br />
sampling at every stop.<br />
More than a yogurt maker, Stonyfield Farm is an educator advocating that healthy food<br />
can only come from a healthy planet and demonstrating that socially responsible<br />
businesses can also be profitable. Stonyfield donates 10 percent of its profits<br />
to environmental causes, was America’s first manufacturer to offset<br />
100 percent of its CO 2 emissions from its facility energy use, and recently<br />
installed the fifth largest solar array in New England to help<br />
power its production plant—all efforts to reduce global warming. <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
is proud to be partnered with this like-minded organization.<br />
Through education and action, <strong>NOLS</strong> and Stonyfield Farm<br />
are Creating A Climate for Change SM .
Our Environmental Commitment<br />
L<br />
et’s face it. <strong>NOLS</strong> students travel the globe to far-flung locations. We use outdoor gear and<br />
clothing made from synthetics derived from petroleum. We hike and paddle in pristine wilderness.<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> makes a mark, and not just with the incredible education our students receive.<br />
Since 1965 <strong>NOLS</strong> has been constantly refining its environmental practices to minimize the footprint<br />
we leave, whether we are educating students in the backcountry or conducting business around the world.<br />
We research, reduce, reuse, recycle and repent.<br />
Minimum Impact Practices<br />
Environmental Sustainability Initiative<br />
In 2007 we launched an initiative to take a closer look at how green we<br />
really are. Even with efforts like the solar-powered shower house at <strong>NOLS</strong><br />
Southwest, the organic vegetable garden at <strong>NOLS</strong> Alaska, and the vegetable-oil-powered<br />
<strong>NOLS</strong> Bus touring the country to create awareness of<br />
today’s environmental issues, we felt it was high time we made a more<br />
concerted school-wide push for environmental sustainability and minimizing<br />
the school’s carbon footprint.<br />
Pure Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in sustainability audits,<br />
evaluated our facilities and systems at all our locations to collect data<br />
that gives us a snapshot of our current environmental footprint. The assessment<br />
evaluated our energy use and emissions, water consumption,<br />
food and rations systems, solid waste and recycling, building design, toxic<br />
materials management, equipment purchasing, travel policies, and mission<br />
and values. Pure Strategies will provide school-wide recommendations<br />
on how we can most effectively and efficiently reduce our footprint.<br />
See www.nols.edu for updates on our progress throughout <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
Carbon Offsetting<br />
In addition to our Environmental Sustainability Initiative, <strong>NOLS</strong> also invests<br />
in greenhouse gas offset projects that help neutralize the negative impacts of<br />
our electric consumption, air and ground travel. Since 2006, <strong>NOLS</strong> has purchased<br />
offsets from NativeEnergy, a majority Native American-owned offset<br />
company that focuses on projects on tribal lands and small family farms.<br />
Join us by using our Travel Calculator to figure out your carbon footprint<br />
before setting out for your <strong>NOLS</strong> course or next big adventure. It’s<br />
educational, easy and you’ll be making a difference. See www.nols.edu for<br />
more details.<br />
Sustainable Printing Processes<br />
This beautiful <strong>NOLS</strong> catalog is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chainof-custody<br />
certified. That means it was made with post-consumer waste<br />
(PCW) recycled pulp and pulp acquired from forests that are managed in<br />
accordance with the FSC’s strict criteria and tracked through their chainof-custody<br />
process. It was then printed at an FSC-certified facility using<br />
soy inks. The result is not only a great final product, but one that contributes<br />
to conservation, responsible management, and community-level<br />
benefits for people near the forests that provide our paper. Check out the<br />
environmental audit at right for more detailed information.<br />
Visit www.fscus.org to learn more about the Forest Stewardship<br />
Council and www.wlinpco.com for information about West Linn Paper<br />
Company, their environmental practices, and the Nature brand paper<br />
used in this cataog.<br />
Maximum Impact Education<br />
At the end of the day, our students and graduates are <strong>NOLS</strong>’ greatest contribution<br />
to the environment. They experience our planet’s power and<br />
beauty, and they understand its fragility. <strong>NOLS</strong> grads are skilled positive<br />
leaders with an environmental awareness and a strong ethical foundation.<br />
Through our students, <strong>NOLS</strong> is creating a climate for change.<br />
Savings achieved by using 10% post-consumer<br />
waste recycled FSC-certified Nature paper<br />
94.92 trees preserved for the future<br />
274.09 lbs waterborne waste not created;<br />
40,320 gallons wastewater flow saved<br />
4,461 lbs solid waste not generated<br />
8,784 lbs net greenhouse gases prevented<br />
67,235,000 BTUs energy not consumed