About
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Cass Colman
About
NOLS is committed to creating and fostering environments that are welcoming, equitable, and inclusive for all of our past, present, and future students, instructors and staff. We seek to celebrate the breadth of diversity represented within our community, while keeping our eyes on the continued journey that we must walk, run, or stroll to create spaces made with everyone in mind.
NOLS is committed to building a diverse community that is inclusive of people from all backgrounds. NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or veteran status.
Since 2007 we have partnered with organizations across the country to award full-tuition scholarships to exceptional youth who would otherwise not have access to NOLS Expeditions. Each summer up to 150 youth from up to 50 official Partner Organizations expand their leadership and wilderness skills at one of our seven domestic operating locations. Thousands of Peak Scholars Program graduates are now leading others in industries from conservation to software development. How can you get involved?
We recognize that students and staff in the outdoor education community need the perspectives, leadership, and voices that represent the diversity of our larger society. The NOLS US Instructor-in-Training (IIT) Program is currently focused on providing a structured pathway for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to develop skills to work in outdoor education.
We acknowledge that the outdoor education field has been a historically homogenous group, and still struggles to attract and support representation that mirrors the demographics of the world we live in.. NOLS strives to be at the forefront of initiatives designed to ensure that the faces you see and voices you hear in the backcountry better reflect our society as a whole. In the future, NOLS is committed to expanding the IIT Program to be more inclusive to other identities underrepresented in the outdoors.
Since 2011, the Fellowship and Instructor-in-Training Program has provided a structured pathway for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to build wilderness, leadership and teaching skills necessary to work in the outdoor education field. Through a combination of one-on-one mentorship, operations training, and field experience, IITs develop the necessary skills to begin a career in outdoor education and open doors for fresh perspectives on our engagement with natural spaces.
Apply NowCultural Competency Seminar
NOLS is committed to ensuring that our faculty and staff have consistent access to training and resources that will help ensure that our community is inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. Our internal Cultural Competency Seminar helps participants understand how larger societal systems and values impact our classrooms, as well as practical tools that we can employ to mitigate unconscious bias.
Contact us to learn more about upcoming seminar offerings or inquire about our current curriculum.
NOLS research exists to develop and share knowledge that contributes to wilderness education.
See a complete list of publications here. For copies of publications, please email research@nols.edu.
Explore NOLS ResearchJoin us as we step forward and encourage diversity, collaboration across differences, and inclusivity in the NOLS community.
We want to hear from you! Learn more about partnering with NOLS in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
