Overview
NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help people to step forward boldly as leaders.
They believe that anyone can be a leader; it’s their role to provide the environment and training to help you discover your full potential. This is done in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world.
They are an organisation with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help them to support powerful, authentic experiences.
Their mission is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Their community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence.
Mission and approach
Their core mission is to elevate the leader in everyone, and to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment.
Their six core values:
- Wilderness – Wilderness is at the heart of what they do. They seek out the natural, remote, and uncertain for the kind of accountability, inspiration, and meaningful challenge that only wilderness can provide
- Education – They believe that education can empower people to act. In their classrooms, people learn by accepting and meeting real challenges. Their instructors and staff are educators, not guides
- Leadership – Leadership is their middle name. It is a set of skills that can be learned and practiced. They value integrity, humility, and accountability in their leaders
- Risk Management – Risk management is in their DNA. They accept risk as an integral part of the learning process and the environments they navigate, recognising that effective risk management is critical to the leadership and well-being of their community
- Community – They are a community of learners and leaders and are stronger because of their differences. They believe that the ability to work well with people of different backgrounds, experiences, and identities is a part of Expedition Behaviour and is a critical leadership skill
- Expertise – They commit themselves to the lifelong pursuit of skill mastery. They hold true competence in high regard, viewing it as essential to their mission and a reflection of their character. Through expertise, they advance their dedication to integrity, resilience, and excellence.
What they do
NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that believes in the transformative power of leadership through wilderness education.
They are dedicated to developing leaders by providing immersive experiences that challenge you to step beyond your comfort zone and unlock your full potential. Whether in remote backcountry settings or through courses near home, they equip people with the skills, resilience, and confidence to lead in all walks of life.
NOLS is driven by a commitment to education, adventure, and a deep respect for the wilderness. These values are at the heart of every experience they offer, empowering students to make meaningful connections with themselves, others, and the world around them.
NOLS is an organisation with heart. It’s filled with people committed to preparing others for leadership. They have the expertise across wilderness medicine, risk management, and expeditions to support powerful, authentic experiences. And they have wildness in our bones.
Their wildness comes from exploring wilderness, learning how to manage challenging medical emergencies, and figuring out ways to help groups and organisations achieve their goals.
Expedition and participation opportunities
All NOLS courses, from immersive wilderness expeditions to classroom-based wilderness medicine courses, are designed around learning by experience, mentorship from expert educators, and wilderness.
Students finish their outdoor education courses inspired and empowered to act as leaders in their community.
Last updated: January 2026.