Organization · Stewardship & Education
NOLS
NOLS has been teaching wilderness skills and leadership in the backcountry since 1965, training everyone from teenagers on extended expeditions to adults earning wilderness medicine certifications. Families connect through youth courses, Wilderness First Aid training, and a deep catalog of expedition programs that build real competence in real terrain.
This page from Outside, the family adventure app, profiles the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), a nonprofit wilderness education organization founded in 1965 and headquartered in Lander, Wyoming. It covers what NOLS does, the range of programs available to families and young people, how to get involved through courses and wilderness medicine training, and which families are likely to find the best fit. Key facts include NOLS's focus on backcountry leadership, Leave No Trace stewardship, and wilderness medicine certification courses available to teens and adults.
| Founded | 1965, Lander, Wyoming |
|---|---|
| Cost range | Varies widely; financial aid and scholarships available |
| Minimum age | 14 for most expedition courses; family programs for younger children |
| Program length | 2 days to full semester |
| Organization type | Nonprofit wilderness education school |
What NOLS is and where it comes from
The National Outdoor Leadership School was founded in 1965 by mountaineer Paul Petzoldt in Lander, Wyoming, with a straightforward conviction: people learn leadership by going into the wilderness and taking real responsibility there. More than half a century later, NOLS operates programs on every continent except Antarctica, sending students into mountain ranges, river canyons, open ocean, and polar terrain. The organization is a nonprofit, and its mission sits at the intersection of outdoor skills, environmental stewardship, and leadership development. NOLS also administers the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, which sets the standard for how millions of Americans treat the backcountry.
The expedition programs
NOLS runs extended backcountry courses that put students on trail, on water, or on snow for anywhere from one week to a full semester. Courses for students as young as 14 cover backpacking, sea kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, mountaineering, and canyon travel. Students carry their own gear, make real decisions about campsites and weather, and share responsibility for the group. There are no base camps with a staff cook waiting. That is the point. Shorter courses of one to two weeks are available for families who cannot commit to a full semester, and NOLS runs dedicated family programs that put parents and kids on trail together under instructor guidance.
Wilderness medicine: the most practical entry point for families
NOLS Wilderness Medicine is one of the most respected wilderness medicine training programs in the country. Courses range from a two-day Wilderness First Aid certification up to the 70-plus-hour Wilderness First Responder, which is the standard credential for professional guides and trip leaders. Wilderness First Aid is genuinely accessible to motivated teenagers and to parents who spend regular time outdoors. The curriculum covers patient assessment, wound care, bone and joint injuries, environmental emergencies like hypothermia and heat illness, and how to make evacuation decisions when you are hours from a road. Courses run year-round at locations across the country and at many colleges and universities.
Who fits best
NOLS expedition courses suit families with teenagers who are ready for a genuine challenge and some time away from home. The minimum age for most wilderness courses is 14, though a handful of programs accept students as young as 13. Kids who have done some camping or hiking are not required to have prior experience for entry-level courses, but comfort with physical discomfort and time outdoors helps. For younger children, the family courses are the best on-ramp. Parents looking for their own skill development will find the wilderness medicine catalog especially useful. NOLS is not a summer camp with structured activities; it asks students to lead, problem-solve, and sit with uncertainty.
Getting involved and financial aid
Families enroll directly through the NOLS website, where the full course catalog is searchable by age, activity, location, and duration. NOLS offers need-based financial aid for students who qualify, and the organization is transparent about the application process. Scholarships are available specifically for young people from underrepresented backgrounds through several named funds. NOLS does not have a traditional chapter or volunteer structure the way some outdoor nonprofits do, but alumni form a substantial community, and the NOLS Alumni Association hosts gatherings and continuing education events. Donors can also support the scholarship fund directly, which is one of the most concrete ways families can contribute to the organization beyond enrollment.
Think about a time when you had to figure something out on your own, without anyone telling you the answer. What did it feel like when you worked it out? What would you want to learn how to do if you spent two weeks in the mountains with no phone signal?
Frequently asked questions
What age does my kid need to be to attend a NOLS course?
Most NOLS wilderness expedition courses accept students starting at age 14. A smaller number of programs open to students at 13. NOLS also offers family courses designed for parents and younger children to participate together, which can be a good introduction to the NOLS approach before a teen enrolls in an independent expedition.
Does my child need outdoor experience before applying to NOLS?
NOLS entry-level courses do not require prior backcountry experience. The curriculum is built to teach skills from the ground up. That said, students who are comfortable being physically active outdoors and spending time away from familiar comforts tend to transition into the program more smoothly. NOLS is clear that the courses are demanding and that challenge is built into the design.
What is a Wilderness First Aid course and is it worth taking?
Wilderness First Aid is a two-day certification that teaches you to assess and manage injuries and medical emergencies when professional help is not immediately available. It is genuinely useful for any family that hikes, paddles, or camps in remote areas. NOLS Wilderness Medicine is one of the most widely recognized providers of this training in the country, and the courses run at locations across the United States throughout the year.
Does NOLS offer financial aid?
Yes. NOLS offers need-based financial aid and maintains several scholarship funds, including scholarships aimed at young people from underrepresented communities. Families apply for aid through the NOLS website as part of the enrollment process. The organization encourages families to apply and reviews applications on a rolling basis.