National Outdoor Leadership School

National Outdoor Leadership School
AbbreviationNOLS
FormationJune 8, 1965 (1965-06-08)
FounderPaul Petzoldt
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersLander, Wyoming
Region served
Worldwide
ServicesWilderness expeditions Wilderness Medicine
FieldsOutdoor education
President
Sandy Colhoun
Websitewww.nols.edu

NOLS is a non-profit outdoor education school based in the United States dedicated to teaching environmental ethics, technical outdoor skills, wilderness medicine, risk management and judgment, and leadership on extended wilderness expeditions and in traditional classrooms. It was previously known as the National Outdoor Leadership School, but in 2015, this label was retired in favor of the independent "NOLS". The NOLS mission is to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. NOLS runs courses on six continents, with courses in a variety of wilderness environments and for almost any age group. The NOLS vision is to, "elevate the leader in everyone".

Courses feature both leadership and technical outdoor skills, which include backpacking, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, packrafting, caving, rock climbing, fly fishing, horse-packing, sea kayaking, mountaineering, rafting, sailing, skiing, snowboarding, and wilderness medicine. NOLS has trained more than 280,000 students. Academic credit is available for all courses, through either the University of Utah, Western State Colorado University, or Central Wyoming College. NOLS also has direct credit agreements with many colleges and universities. NOLS is headquartered in Lander, Wyoming.