The NOLS mission is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. We believe that anyone can be a leader; it’s our role to provide the environment and training to help you discover your full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world.

Our programs are recognized for teaching technical outdoor skills, leadership development, wilderness medicine, environmental studies and awareness, and risk management. At NOLS, you have the option to receive academic credit, and scholarships are also available.

NOLS is the only organization that combines decades of wilderness experience with innovative leadership curriculum, top-tier instructors, and unparalleled risk management.
Develop leadership and outdoor skills that you can apply to all facets of your life. Explore wild places in the U.S. and around the world while experiencing cultural immersion and practicing Leave No Trace principles.

NOLS Wilderness Medicine draws from NOLS' incident database - the largest of its kind in the world. Our wilderness medicine curriculum is influenced our by and then influences our field practices. No other program can offer an internal learning and implementation cycle like ours!

Wilderness medicine training can prepare for a career in the outdoors, or continue your education as a practicing medical professional. These are courses for earning a wilderness medicine certification, such as Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, and Wilderness EMT.