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Heart, Expertise, and Wildness
Our team works behind the scenes and all over the world to give you the best experience possible. Click below to read their stories.
Sam Endres
(NOLS Wilderness Medicine Instructor)
Like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Sam grew up canoeing in the lake country of Minnesota and Canada. After a hiatus as a sea kayaki…
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Sam Langer
(Advisory Council Member)
I am a storyteller, investor, coach, advisor, and chef with a mission to foster cultural evolution. I work with heart-centered leaders, supporting…
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Sam Talucci
(Expedition and Alumni Trip Instructor)
American by birth but with deep Italian roots and heritage Sam is the primary organizer for all of our Alumni Trips in Italy and Ireland.
Sam…
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Sandy Colhoun
(President)
Sandy Colhoun was named the seventh president of the National Outdoor Leadership School on October 6, 2023. Sandy had served as interim President of …
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Sarah B. Hiza
(Board Vice Chair)
Dr. Sarah B. Hiza is the Vice President of Engineering and Technology for Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS). As the principal technica…
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Sarah Cuddy
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Hailing from Central Oregon, Sarah can often be found enjoying the recreational opportunities around her home of Bend, Oregon. Sarah studied Environm…
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Sarah Kleinschmidt
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Sarah's interest in wilderness medicine began in second grade, when she was kicked out of class for bringing a dead bird to show-and-tell. Since then…
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Sara Hoy (she/her)
(DONOR RELATIONS & STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR)
Sara Hoy comes to NOLS from a background of working in community engagement for housing affordability—and community development-focused nonprofits. H…
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Sara Lauridsen
(Philanthropy Coordinator)
Sara’s NOLS Absaroka backpacking trip was her gateway into outdoor adventures and her foundation for a lifetime of leave-no-trace backcountry travel.…
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Sascha Paris
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Sascha is the Sierra Club's Outdoor Activities Training Manager, designing and facilitating leadership and program manager trainings for the Club's v…
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Scott Briscoe
(Board Member)
Scott is the founder and executive director of WeGotNext, an organization that amplifies stories from underrepresented communities in outdoor spaces.…
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Scott (Griz) Kelley
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Born in Geneva, raised in Rome, and educated in Troy—all in New York State. Scott K Kelley (a.k.a. Griz) grew up in upstate New York and earned a Bac…
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Scott Hipwell
(Instructor)
A Colorado native, Scott has ties to almost every corner of the state. He grew up in the Denver metro area and spent his youthful summers backpacking…
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Sean Barnacastle Williams
(Instructor)
Sean came to NOLS as a student in 1999 and as an instructor in 2003. After earning a doctorate in philosophy, he chose NOLS over academia, and curren…
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Shana Lee Tarter
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, FAWM)
Shana was a student in the first NOLS Wilderness Medicine course in July 1990. She joined the NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructional team in 1995 and…
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Shannon Rochelle
(Expedition Curriculum Manager)
Shannon is an ecologist and a wanderer through landscapes. Always fascinated by the natural world, her early memories include catching fireflies with…
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Shari Leach
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Shari Leach has worked in outdoor and adventure education since the early 90s, starting as an assistant counselor in the Panda Bear Cabin. She has si…
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SJ (Sarah Johnson)
(Field Instructor)
SJ came to NOLS through the River Program in 2017—it continues to guide her path at the school. She is a warrior of the heart, a lover of the world's…
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Stasi York
(Wilderness First Responder)
Stasi grew up exploring Southern woods, rivers, and coastlines. She began guiding canoe trips as a Girl Scout, and spent several years leading whitew…
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Stefan J. Jackson
(Former Board Member)
Stefan is the founder of NATURAL DIFFERENCE, LLC, a consultancy specializing in diversity and inclusion for natural resource conservation organiza…
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Stephan Grabner
(Wilderness Medicine Instructor)
Stephan grew up in Austria, where he currently works as an instructor and guide for a few different organizations. When he is not teaching for NOLS W…
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Stephanie Bonucci
(Instructor)
Steph is a pun-loving outdoor enthusiast . She first came to NOLS in 2012 as a student on an Alaska Mountaineering course. After that, she was hooke…
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Steve Harrington
(Field and Wilderness Medicine Instructor)
Steve has been leading wilderness trips for over 35 years, working for a number of programs including Outward Bound, Higher Rock Wilderness Adventure…
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Steve Lanwermeyer
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Steve began working for NOLS Wilderness Medicine in 2003 after earning a BA in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound. S…
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Steven Koster
(Instructor)
Originally from the rolling mountains outside Pittsburgh, PA Steven now considers himself a Floridian, and calls Tampa Bay home. Growing up paddling …
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Steve Rasmussen
(Wilderness First Responder)
Steve has worked in outdoor education since the mid 90’s. He worked as a river guide and managed a rafting operation on the Kern River in California …
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Susan Powell
(Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
Growing up camping and spending time outdoors in Kentucky, Susan Powell realized she wanted to have a career working with people outdoors. She earned…
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Susan Young
(Wilderness Medicine Instructor)
Susan was born and raised in Idaho to a family that values the beauty of and exploring the great outdoors. In 2008, she took her first NOLS WFR cour…
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