“ What makes NOLS different from other outdoor organizations?”

“ I don’t have much experience. Will I be able to do a NOLS course?”

“What equipment will I need for my NOLS course?”

“ What will the first day of the course be like?”

“What’s the food like on a NOLS course?”

“ What does my tuition cover?”

“How do I prepare for my NOLS course?”

“ What makes NOLS different from other outdoor organizations?”

There are a number of very good outdoor programs available. A non-profit school, NOLS separates itself from the rest with its educational focus on skills and leadership. The goal of a NOLS course is to give you the skills and leadership to take others into the backcountry comfortably and responsibly.

Our one of a kind instructor course, the length of our field courses, our curriculum and college credit program, and the fact that we don’t sub-contract aspects of our program are just a few of the things that make NOLS different from most other outdoor organizations.
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“ I don’t have much experience. Will I be able to do a NOLS course?”

Yes. If you are in good health, physically and emotionally, as well as motivated, you can excel. NOLS students come to us from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some have quite a bit of outdoor experience, enough to want to learn more. Many others’ greatest outdoor accomplishment has been sleeping out in the backyard. The desire to learn and participate is the most important factor for success on a NOLS course.

“What equipment will I need for my NOLS course?”

Prior to the start of your course you’ll receive an equipment list telling you about the gear you’ll be using. Some items you’ll have to purchase prior to the course, some you can purchase from NOLS, and some you can rent from NOLS. At NOLS locations in the U.S., we can virtually outfit you from head to toe.

“ What will the first day of the course be like?”

Everyone is apprehensive on the first day of a NOLS course. There will be a lot to absorb: new people, new gear, new routines, new environments. Don’t worry, with 40 years of “first days,” NOLS has it down. Each course starts out with a meeting. You’ll get to know your coursemates and instructors and make plans. One of your instructors will go through your gear with you. Depending on the branch, you’ll then head to the issue room to pick up any extra gear you may need. From there you head to the rations room to pack your food for the course. That done, you’ll have a pack-packing class, load up the NOLS bus, and be off. Your course will progress slowly for the first few days, allowing everyone to adjust to the altitude and the new activities. Within a day or so, town will just be a memory as you learn and laugh with your new friends.

“What’s the food like on a NOLS course?”

After nearly four decades of experience and more than a million meals prepared in the wilderness, NOLS has mastered the art of backcountry cooking. The NOLS system of bulk rationing and planning ensures that you’ll pack light and still have enough fuel and nutrition for the physical demands of a NOLS course.

Each course divides into cook groups that prepare meals with the rations provided. There are no set meals, but your instructors will arm you with the tools to eat well in the wilderness. You’ll begin by learning the basics: how to work the stove, determine the difference between potato pearls and powdered milk, and maintain a clean cooking area. As the course progresses, you’ll advance your backcountry cooking skills to include meals like ’Gado Gado Spaghetti,’ calzones, and even fresh baked bread.

“ What does my tuition cover?”

Most NOLS courses cost about $100 per day. That includes quality instruction, good food, well-maintained group equipment and transportation during the course. Additional costs you’ll need to factor in are: transportation to and from the course location, personal equipment costs (at NOLS domestic locations you can rent most of the needed gear), trip insurance, if you wish this type of protection, and college credit fees if you desire credit offered by the University of Utah.

“How do I prepare for my NOLS course?”

The more pre-course preparation that you do the more you’ll learn and the more fun you’ll have on your course. While you don’t need to be a superstar athlete to excel on a NOLS course, you should be in good cardio-vascular condition. We recommend that as a minimum you participate in a cardio-vascular workout at least three times a week for one hour per session. This could be running, biking, cross-country skiing, basketball, etc.

In your NOLS enrollment packet, you’ll receive a reading list that will contain titles that you may wish to read before your course. Some recommendations will be about the various NOLS operating areas, some about specific skills and others will be about natural and human history in the area. This reading is not required but will enhance your experience.

A NOLS admission officer can give you further information about prepping for your course or put you in contact with a NOLS Alumni Representative. Give us a call at 800-710-NOLS.