NOLS President John Gans announced on November 28 his plans to retire at the end of 2019. He is the fifth president in the school’s 53-year history and longest-serving leader. Gans has been a part of the school for 38 years and at the conclusion of 2019, he will have served as the school's executive director and president for 24 years. He started his NOLS journey as a scholarship student in 1979 on a Semester in Kenya, later serving as director of NOLS Alaska, admissions and marketing director, and operations director before assuming the role of president in October 1995.

Topics: Behind the Scenes, John Gans

Photo by Nikole Wohlmacher.

For winter and spring 2019, we’re excited to offer two new women-only courses, backpacking in the Southwest and backcountry skiing and snowboard touring in the Tetons, and a new service expedition.

Topics: expedition, leadership, all-women, new courses, Behind the Scenes

Topics: Wilderness First Aid, winter, wilderness medicine, quiz

Fill up for breakfast or dinner with this delicious camping recipe for potato pancakes. (Don't forget to top with your favorite hot sauce!)

Topics: Expedition Prep, recipe

“We want [our students] to use the education to be leaders in their community with an understanding of ecology and conservation for the wild outdoors far beyond their legislators back home. We expect these people to be a grain of sand on the beach of future leadership.” —Paul Petzoldt

Topics: Behind the Scenes, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability

You’re ready to spend some time exploring before heading to college—but where should you go?

Take the quiz and find out!

Topics: adventure, Behind the Scenes, education, Gap Year, quiz

By Rachael Bates, NOLS Instructor

Topics: Sea Kayaking, Educators Notebook

Visit the NOLS booth at the Travel and Adventure show in San Diego, February 14–15, and enter for a chance to win a free NOLS course.

Topics: Behind the Scenes

By Steve Robitshek, NOLS Instructor

Topics: Sea Kayaking, Educators Notebook, instructors, expedition

Visit the NOLS booth at the Travel and Adventure show in San Francisco, February 7–8, and enter for a chance to win a free NOLS course.

Topics: Behind the Scenes

Topics: wilderness medicine

On November 8-9, NOLS and REI collaborated to offer a two-day Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course to the leaders of Latino Outdoors.

Topics: wilderness medicine

By Andrew Megas-Russell, NOLS Instructor

Topics: Educators Notebook, instructors, rock climbing

By Bradley Martin, NOLS Instructor

Topics: sailing, Educators Notebook, instructor, education

What better way to celebrate the Wilderness Act than to get out and enjoy a piece of public lands?

Topics: Behind the Scenes, NOLS Southwest