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NOLS Receives Historic $3.1 Million Gift to Expand Access to Wilderness Education

NOLS is thrilled to announce a transformational $3.1 million gift from longtime supporter and friend, JK Nicholas. This extraordinary act of philanthropy marks the largest single gift in the school’s 60-year history and will have a lasting impact on NOLS’ ability to serve students from all backgrounds.

The heart of this investment—an endowed scholarship of $2.5 million, with $600,000 allocated to the NOLS Fund over the next five years—will significantly expand financial aid for students enrolling in semester wilderness expeditions. This gift helps restore NOLS’ capacity to pre-pandemic levels, ensuring that more young people can experience leadership development in wild, remote places, regardless of their financial means.

JK Nicholas has long championed bold ideas in conservation, leadership, and social entrepreneurship. A NOLS alumnus, trustee, and seasoned explorer, JK brings a deep reverence for wild places and a steady commitment to service. He believes that the wilderness can uniquely forge character, awaken curiosity, and train leaders equipped for complexity and change.

"To me, wild places matter because they teach us who we are—and who we can become,” stated Nicholas. “The more people we can get out there, the better chance we have at building a more resilient, compassionate world.”

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