A NOLS experience can truly be a transformative experience for a young person’s life, and that was certainly the case for field instructor Caeden Greene. In high school, Caeden embarked on a 30-day Waddington Range Mountaineering Expedition (WAD), long known as one of NOLS’ most rigorous courses. The WAD expedition had such a profound effect on Caeden that he wrote about the experience in his college admissions essays, which eventually landed him at Stanford University. There, he is currently finishing up dual undergraduate and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. While at Stanford, Caeden did not lose his itch for adventure, which brought him back to instruct for NOLS after taking the Alaska Instructor Course in 2024.
We caught up with Caeden and heard a bit more about his leadership journey and the impact of a NOLS education.
Caeden Greene
How did you first come to NOLS?
Growing up, I always spent a lot of time running around in the woods, playing in the creeks, and building all sorts of things. At some point around middle school, I went backpacking with my Mom and Dad in western North Carolina (there were lots of tears but also lots of smiles), and absolutely loved it.
I then took an Outward Bound rock climbing/backpacking course and left feeling like I wanted something more technically focused and difficult. We have really close family friends who were NOLS instructors. In talking to them, I got really interested in taking a NOLS course, specifically a mountaineering course. I ended up taking the Waddington Range Mountaineering course out of the Pacific Northwest branch and had one of the best months of my life.
I could, and often do, speak to that experience extensively. It really pushed me physically and mentally, building up my tolerance for adversity and uncertainty as well as furthering my love for being in wild, remote places that really test my abilities. I think it was also such a grand place that continues to live in my mind as a challenge to be tested against.
Taking the WAD also cemented my desire to become a NOLS instructor. My instructors were people I really looked up to and wanted to learn more from, and I was inspired to try and follow in their footsteps, both literally on a rope team but also figuratively in terms of life direction.
What did you write about in your college admissions essay?
When I applied to Stanford, there were five 50-word essays in addition to a main personal statement. One question simply asked: “How did you spend your last two summers?” and I wrote about my experience at NOLS, highlighting the incredible natural environment that we were moving around in. I also wrote about how, despite all the challenges we faced on our expedition, I still had the biggest grin on my face as each new 14,000-foot glaciated peak appeared.
What are you studying at Stanford? What leadership roles do you hold at Stanford?
I am studying Mechanical Engineering for both my undergraduate (B.S.) and graduate (M.S.) degrees. I also have a minor in International Relations.
I served as captain of the Lacrosse team for two years and was awarded the Team Leadership Award both years. Additionally, I co-own and started a student-run catering company. The Stanford Magazine wrote a cool article mainly about this (https://stanfordmag.org/contents/meet-caeden-greene). I also started a student racing team where we built and raced a real race car for a 25-hour straight endurance race. I am also a Student Body Representative on the Committee for Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, which means that I get to advocate for student needs to administrators and help decide how to get students out and about and recreate, as well as deal with the plethora of issues surrounding NCAA athletics. Through that role, I also served as an Honor Board Panelist.
How did your NOLS experience set you up for success in college?
NOLS might have initially captivated me through the stunning landscapes of the Waddington Range and amazing technical education, but the true learnings have been in leadership, tenacity, learning how to communicate, and giving/receiving feedback. It has encouraged me to become more vulnerable and seek friendships that are based on candid, honest, growth-oriented feedback.
It has also taught me the ever-important lesson of patience and grace, which has made me successful in my group projects, friendships, and just about every social interaction.
My experience with NOLS, both as a student and instructor, has given me a level of maturity and confidence that has made a lot of college easier, from living in dorms to handling conflict with friends/roommates/peers/group members. If you can do it on a NOLS course, you can definitely do it on a college campus!
Also, I think that NOLS really helped me focus on being more present, off my phone, and excited to engage with people in person.
What made you want to come back to NOLS as an instructor?
After my student NOLS course, I ended up taking a gap year where I worked in Chilean Patagonia at the edge of the Northern Icefield on a ranch that is run by former NOLS Patagonia Director John Hauf. This experience developed/refined a lot of my wilderness living, leadership, and mountaineering skills. This helped me build out my “resume” to apply for a NOLS Instructor Course (IC), which I applied for between my junior and senior years of college.
A big reason I applied for the NOLS IC was simply wanting to experience a NOLS course again, get back into the backcountry for 30 days, and continue to work on my own growth in that setting. I also think I really have looked up to all the people in my life who have been/are NOLS instructors.
What I didn’t really understand fully when I applied to NOLS for an IC was that I was going to be an instructor. It sounds a little funny, but I hadn’t internalized that I was going to learn how to be an instructor, educator, not just a guide/proficient mountaineer. What has kept me coming back after the IC and teaching for NOLS is the focus on self-growth and improvement (which stems from feedback!). NOLS, especially as an instructor, has really helped me grow towards the person I want to be. After I get my masters from Stanford, I want to commission in the Navy and become a pilot, which in my mind has parallels with NOLS: it is a career that has adventure, leadership, passion, and is deeply rooted in service to others. I see these skills as very transferable between NOLS and the naval service.
What message do you have for young people interested in a NOLS course?
Firstly, my advice would be to take a course! They’re amazing. Expect to be challenged and pushed beyond your comfort zone, but in a way that you will be extremely proud of. Come into a course with an open mind and make sure you train/get in shape before you start, as it will allow you to focus on the more fun parts of a course. It is the best way to escape all of the noise and distractions of the “real world.” It is really amazing how much better life is without the phones and distractions, when everything in your world is within eyesight and all around a set of stoves cooking pizza in the mountains.
