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Advice, stories, and inspiration from the wilderness

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Case Study: Chest Injury with Fall

The Setting You are on a climbing trip in Red Rocks, Nevada. You’ve spent the last week dialing in your climbing, swapping beta with new friends at the crag and soaking up the desert sun. Today, you decide to take a break from long routes and focus on bouldering.  You’re chalking up, eyeing a new…

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All Alumni Expeditions Gap Year Gear Leadership Wilderness Medicine
Case Study: Bear Spray in the Face
Articles

Case Study: Bear Spray in the Face

The Setting You are almost done with a 3-day backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountain Range of Wyoming with…
Anne McGowan August 2026 1 min read
Case Study: Non-Freezing Cold Injury on a Canoe Trip
Articles

Case Study: Non-Freezing Cold Injury on a Canoe Trip

The Setting You are leading an early-season canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It’s mid-May, and while…
Anne McGowan April 2026 1 min read
Summer Travel Programs for Teens: Why Wilderness Expeditions Offer More Than a Passport Stamp
Expeditions

Summer Travel Programs for Teens: Why Wilderness Expeditions Offer More Than a Passport Stamp

Most summer travel programs for teens promise adventure. A select few actually deliver it. There is a difference between traveling…
NOLS April 2026 1 min read
Best Summer Programs for Teens: Outdoor Adventures That Build Leaders
Expeditions

Best Summer Programs for Teens: Outdoor Adventures That Build Leaders

Most teens will spend this summer doing something fun, but maybe not so meaningful. Not because they lack ambition, but…
NOLS March 2026 1 min read
Summer Programs for High Schoolers: Choosing an Adventure That Lasts
Expeditions

Summer Programs for High Schoolers: Choosing an Adventure That Lasts

Every parent of a high schooler feels it: these summers matter. The window is short, and how your teen spends…
NOLS March 2026 1 min read
The Complete Guide to Summer Programs for Teens
Expeditions

The Complete Guide to Summer Programs for Teens

Each summer between high school years is about 90 days. For most teens, the time passes quickly — and how…
NOLS March 2026 1 min read
Teen Wilderness Programs: What Parents Need to Know
Expeditions

Teen Wilderness Programs: What Parents Need to Know

If you’ve started searching for programs that will allow your teen to spend time outside learning leadership, adventure skills, and…
NOLS March 2026 1 min read
Outdoor Leadership Programs for High School Students: Why Wilderness Matters
Expeditions

Outdoor Leadership Programs for High School Students: Why Wilderness Matters

Parents searching for summer opportunities face an overwhelming marketplace of camps, programs, and experiences. Sports camps, academic enrichment, traditional summer…
NOLS February 2026 1 min read
Why Teens Need Leadership Skills: A Guide for Parents
Expeditions

Why Teens Need Leadership Skills: A Guide for Parents

Every parent wants their teenager to succeed—good grades, college acceptance, a fulfilling career. But there’s something that predicts success more…
NOLS January 2026 1 min read

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