About NOLS
Oscar Manguy
NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that believes in the transformative power of leadership through wilderness education.
We 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, we equip people with the skills, resilience, and confidence to lead in all walks of life.
At NOLS, we’re driven by a commitment to education, adventure, and a deep respect for the wilderness. These values are at the heart of every experience we offer, empowering students to make meaningful connections with themselves, others, and the world around them.
At NOLS, our vision is to elevate the leader in everyone. Wilderness is at our heart, and as one of the foremost outdoor leadership schools in the world, we take seriously our responsibility to make these inspiring classrooms inclusive and welcoming. We believe that the ability to work well with people of different backgrounds, experiences, and identities is a critical 21st-century leadership skill. This ability is nurtured through Expedition Behavior.
Learn moreAs a mission-driven institution, NOLS strives to ensure that the wilderness values and environmental ethics taught on your course are reflected in our work. When you travel through a remote desert landscape, ascend an alpine peak, or float a wild river through a timeless canyon, you are reveling in an experience that has likely been preserved through previous efforts of conservation advocacy. NOLS follows in the footsteps of those great figures who fought for the protection of wild landscapes. We boldly advocate for the vast wildernesses of the world that are nature’s best classrooms. More broadly, the ecological balance held in place by a stable climate also deserves our focus. NOLS travels lightly on the earth, practicing Leave No Trace in the backcountry and pursuing an ambitious sustainability program in the front country by reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing our waste, and prioritizing eco-friendly supply streams.
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