Well-prepared for Bears in the Northwest
In the wake of last summer’s incident with an Alaskan Grizzly, NOLS has put some extra thought into its school-wide bear practices. We’ve drawn on input from experienced NOLS faculty and outside experts to update NOLS’ bear field practices. Individual branches have also taken new steps to promote bear awareness.
At the Pacific Northwest branch, courses travel to bear habitat in the Northern Cascades, the Olympics, and the Waddington Range. The Waddington is the only “prime” Grizzly habitat, but Black Bears roam much of the northwest wilderness. That’s why the PNW is taking proactive measures for educating students and managing bear interactions in the wilderness.
For one, students are getting the chance to practice using bear spray canisters before going into the field—don’t worry, the canisters aren’t live! Students use test canisters that mimic how a real canister feels when it’s un-holstered, unlocked, and discharged.
Instructor Mike Riley, demonstrating correct activation and use of a bear spray canister.
Another way the PNW is tackling bear safety is through the use of bear fences for food protection. The branch is piloting use of these fences for courses going into the Northern Cascades’ Pasayten Wilderness. The fences are particularly handy in places with few trees for setting up traditional bear hangs. They’re made of a charged wire, and designed to give a quick but powerful shock to bears and other animals that get too close to a course’s food. The shock is strong enough to startle our furry friends and simply scare them away.
Left: Program Supervisor Nick Storm, demonstrating correct set-up of a bear fence. Right: Nick testing the shocking power of the fence—he’s wearing shoes, so it’s all good. But don’t expect to be smiling if you’re barefoot like a Grizzly!
Here’s to a fun and safe season in the Northwest!
Permalink | Posted by Marie Siwicki on Jun 1, 2012 in the following categories: Pacific Northwest
Congratulations AAU 3/17/12 - Australia Semester Graduates!
Just this afternoon, 12 new NOLS grads joined the ranks.
AAU students returned from One Arm point, & the Cultural section yesterday afternoon.
After a furious cleaning session, they headed for the Broome Caravan Park for their final night under the stars with their course mates.
75 days in, & today they finish their NOLS expedition, & head forward into their next...the expedition of LIFE!
We here, at NOLS Australia, offer our congratulations to the following NOLS Alumni students -
Mimi Dunn, Adam Gold, Will Loftus, Mac McElroy, PJ Reinemann, Brandt Schottland, Jack Wanamaker, Graham Ward, Adele Watel, Alec Weiss, Darrick Whitmore & Morgan Whitridge.
A special thanks also for the course instructor/proctor (he's the one in every group photo with them), Jon Kempsey.
We wish you all the best in your future adventures...
Permalink | Posted by Cassandra Colman on May 30, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Australia
AAU 3/17/12 heads for the coast!
Tuesday this week saw the in town NOLS Australia staff loading up the Land Cruiser & trailer, & heading 3 hours north to catch up with our AAU Semester students at the campground, in the small town of Derby.
Although it was an early morning for us, that was nothing compared to the 3.30am wake-up they had! Camped 3 kms from the pick-up location, they hefted on packs & by 4.30am were underway, under the stars, for a reflective, silent, solo hike to the waiting NOLS truck.
Tuesday morning signified the final day of their backpacking section. For the past 60 something days, they have explored the Drysdale area, first by Canoe & for the last 25 days, by foot.
I had the pleasure of debriefing the experience with them...tales of long hiking days, increasing navigation skills, group cohesiveness & ultimately, independence. They were on somewhat of a high, having just arrived in from student only group expeditions...5 nights out in 2 small groups, testing their skills as an ultimate recognition of their learning in the 66 days since they met here at the NOLS base in Broome. Darrick & Will were chosen by the students as their designated leaders for the expedition, with every other participant rotating into the main leaders role for their daily hiking travel.
The group spent the evening in Derby preparing for the next, & final section of the semester: Cultural.
This will be quite an environment change for the group, with the next 5 days spent on the coast & exploring the Dampier peninsula; seeing first hand traditional coastal aboriginal ways; and, a change of instructor team. They fare-welled Sheldon Lee & Rob Hughes-Games & welcomed Stef van den Hoek in as a seasoned Cultural section Aussie local.
Thursday morning after breakfast, they were back in the truck & headed for One Arm Point on the Dampier peninsula. The road ahead included 200km of one way dirt corrugated track.
We wait with anticipation for their return to the NOLS base late on the 29th of this month. This will signal the end of their NOLS Australia semester adventure.
Permalink | Posted by Cassandra Colman on May 24, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Australia
Geothermal wells and Classroom Walls
May has looked and felt more like June this year- not a bad thing for moving work along. Structural panels continue to be assembled on our 11,000 square foot main facility while in areas already completed, other work is already progressing. Graywater drainlines, storm drains, venting and water supply lines are coming together in the basement while the radiant tubing for in-floor heat is being placed and cast in concrete on the main level. The radiant tubes will exchange heat by indirect contact with an antifreeze loop that is pumped into a series of wells, each of which is around 250' deep.
A geothermal well take about a day to drill and our system requires eight of them. We place long loops of polyethelyne pipe in the holes, then pack a special grout into the well to seal the pipe in place. Those loops come above ground now but they will eventually be attached to a header below ground that brings the antifreeze from the wells to the mechanical spaces in the basement. Befor the header gets placed, the area needs to dry out. Drilling requires water, as does the activation of the grout, and in our location, we also hit some minor aquifers that added to the imrpovised mud season.
The water well is slated to get started before the end of this month with a derrick twice the size of the geothermal rig. We'll also be trenching for water and electrical supply, bolting the student housing girders together, and sheetrocking the caretaker home.
Permalink | Posted by jstoddard on May 23, 2012 in the following categories: Wilderness Medicine Institute, Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus
Veterans return from wilderness with NOLS and the Sierra Club
In early May, seven veterans and one Army wife embarked on a six-day leadership expedition in the Gila Wilderness. Organized by the Sierra Club's Mission Outdoors and run by NOLS Professional Training, the course was open to—and free for—veterans. The goal of the course was to give veterans an opportunity to become outdoor leaders.
Although it is easy to assume that the culture of NOLS and that of the military are incongruent, the very core of what NOLS offers—wilderness expeditions—is exactly why the two are a perfect match. As one participant noted, returning to the unregimented world of civilian life can be an incredible challenge for veterans.
“I think all veterans suffer to some extent as they leave military service in finding their way in the next chapter of life. I felt a bit like Morgan Freeman’s character Red in the movie Shawshank Redeption. ‘I’m an institutional man, and not sure I can make it on the outside,’” explained USNR Trevor Ivory in a recent post on the Sierra Club blog. “Even though I was outside my comfort zone from day [one], the interactions with staff and other veterans built a confidence and sense of self and team accomplishment that I hadn’t experienced since my time on active duty.”
This kind of reaction echoes the experience Stacy Bare, the Sierra Club’s national military families and veterans representative, has had with outdoor recreation and summarizes why he helped create the program.
“[On the course], I reminded myself that veterans and service members love to serve, love to challenge themselves, love to push themselves farther, and to be part of a team,” commented Bare. “I reminded myself that wilderness—the outdoors—[is] a necessary part of the human experience and that cutting ourselves off from that inhibits are ability to thrive in modern times.”
Photo Credit: Acacia Elkins
Perhaps nothing could better synthesize the purpose of the course than the slogan for the National Park Service: “Experience your America.” Through its partnership with the Sierra Club, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Operation Free, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, NOLS now enables those who fought for America to enjoy America and to develop skills for leading others in the wilderness.
Read more reflections from the course on the Sierra Club Military Families and Veterans Initiative blog.
Permalink | Posted by Alison Hudson on May 23, 2012 in the following categories: Leadership, Professional Training
Faculty Summit workshop examines technology in the backcountry
As the final day of the second annual NOLS Faculty Summit began to wind down, the final workshops of the week imparted final insights and discussions.
Brad Christensen photo
One of these was on the topic of communication and technologies in the wilderness classroom, an ever-evolving subject. Facilitated by NOLS Professional Training Program Coordinator Marcio Paes Barreto, the forum explored questions along continuums such as “Is a GPS enabling or distracting? How about a Kindle, with or without search capabilities?” and “Where do you stand on managing technology like iPhones on a continuum from physical removal to a verbal contract?”
These questions were posed not with the goal of setting or revising NOLS policy, but of discussing shifting technological advances and reliance, as well as the value of removing (or relying on) such tools while on a NOLS course. The forum examined faculty members’ perspectives and experiences with radios, phones, personal locator beacons, cameras, and new navigation apps on iPads.
NOLS has always believed that living in nature—free of society’s distractions—teaches responsibility, that wilderness is the best place to develop leadership skills. Nonetheless, devices like GPS and satellite phones can serve as both educational and risk management tools. As the wave of technology rolls forward, NOLS must remain on that wave, not behind it, as it seeks the best ways to educate students.
Ultimately, the group agreed that when communication and information technology overlap, disruption can be avoided when educational goals are incorporated. This, of course, will be an intriguing wave to watch as NOLS leads the outdoor education industry into the future.
For a video from this event and more, keep an eye on NOLS.TV starting next week.
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 18, 2012 in the following categories: Instructor News, Professional Training
Summit Addresses Environmental Issues
After spending much of the first day of the Faculty Summit discussing leadership skills, teaching techniques, and ways to foster inclusion, the second day began with a reminder to faculty: you have an incredible opportunity to inspire a new generation to care about the environment.
Dan Garvey delivered the morning’s first presentation. Garvey’s humorous approach softened the otherwise sobering discourse about ethical failures and their catastrophic impact on the environment.
Dan Garvey addresses NOLS faculty. Photo Credit: Brad Christensen
Next, George Luber delved further into the theme of environmental consciousness with a thorough presentation of the changes occurring in the environment and, consequently, in the health of Americans.
George Luber explains the numerous changes occuring in the environment. Photo credit: Brad Christensen
Although Luber’s statistics were staggering, he, like Garvey, urged NOLS faculty to take the information and act, rather than allow it to be paralytic in its seriousness. For example, he suggested appealing to the self interest of students, whose appreciation for wild places grows during a NOLS course.
“Instead of pointing out all of the weeds, get in the garden,” deplored Garvey.
For videos of talks, forums, and workshops at the NOLS Faculty Summit, please visit NOLS.tv
Permalink | Posted by Alison Hudson on May 17, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Curriculum, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, Instructor News, Leadership
Inspiring Alumna: Morgan Dixon opens Faculty Summit
Yesterday morning was the start of the 2012 NOLS Faculty Summit. Scott Robertson and Executive Director John Gans kicked off the event with a brief welcome to the nearly 160 faculty members assembled at the Sinks Canyon Center. Over the three days of the Summit, faculty will participate in a variety of forums and workshops focused on professional development, community building, and inclusion. The highlight of the first day was Morgan Dixon’s opening address, which set the tone for the summit by inspiring attendees to spread lessons from NOLS to a greater audience.
Dixon, an alumna of the Pacific Northwest Trip Leader, began with a line by poet Linda Hogan.
“The body’s purpose is to use life up,” quoted Dixon.
Photo credit: Brad Christensen
Although this line aptly synthesizes the philosophy of many NOLS faculty members, it is far from a reality for the majority of Americans.
“How many people in out country use the body in that way? This is a crisis for all Americans. This is why the lessons NOLS espouses are just so important in these times,” explained Dixon.
Fostering healthy lifestyles in less privileged communities is so important to Dixon that she created the GirlTrek movement. GirlTrek uses walking, the most basic component of any NOLS course, to foster healthy lifestyles amongst African American women and girls. As Dixon emphasized, role models play a critical role in the success of this program
“When I got back my NOLS course, I sent pictures to my friends. The response was far greater than I expected. That one photo of [an African American woman] in the wilderness was more important than years of work,” said Dixon. “People could suddenly imagine being in a freer place.”
Photo credit: Brad Christensen
Dixon ended by reminding attendees that many people will never have access to the NOLS experience, but that the lessons from the field can be brought into the frontcountry, into cities, to inspire healthier lifestyles and more role models. This is how the group under the tent will become more diverse.
Permalink | Posted by Alison Hudson on May 16, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Curriculum, Instructor News
Notes from the Field: Phil is on the mend
After descending to base camp on Everest, NOLS senior faculty member and Rocky Mountain River Base Manager Phil Henderson writes from base camp about his condition.
I am now back at base camp and have been for several days. The khumbu cough got the best of me during my last rotation. A combination of being sick, coughing, elevation gain of 5,200 meters to 6,400 meters, and high temps in the Western Cwm took its toll and left me very weak. When I arrived at camp II, my O2 saturation levels were at a mere 55 percent without oxygen. I rested over the next several hours without the oxygen, but my O2 sats never got above 65 percent. We decided it would be a good idea for me to sleep with O's. I slept with a oxygen at 0.5 liters/minute and checked my sats throughout the night; they never went under 90 percent.
The next morning I was up, packed and read to hike back to base camp at 6 a.m. On the trail with the mask still on and the oxygen now at two liters/minute, I was quickly past camp I and back into the infamous Khumbu ice fall. I was back in base camp within three and a half to four hours. My cough continues to produce and keep me awake part of the night. My O2 sats here in base camp have improved to around 80 percent. I received some medication from the Everest Base Camp doctor, which has improved my condition over the past two days as I continue to rest and recover.
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 15, 2012 in the following categories: Instructor News, Rocky Mountain
Faculty Summit kicks off with clinics
The second annual NOLS Faculty Summit kicked off today, with clinics up and down Sinks Canyon outside Lander. Both the river crossing clinic and rock rescue clinic kicked off early in the morning, and the afternoon included a Tyrolean traverse clinic.
Our pants are flapping in the wind! The famous NOLS wind pants mark the location of the majority o the Summit events, Sinks Canyon Center. Kyle Duba photo
The river crossing clinic, led by NOLS Director of Risk Management Drew Leemon, provided instructors with an opportunity to discuss and practice NOLS accepted field practices across the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River.
Instructors make their way across the river as a team, including those standing downriver as a safeguard.Kyle Duba photo
Meanwhile, the daylong rock rescue clinic gave new and experienced instructors alike the chance to learn and conduct a variety of rescues on the rock walls of the canyon.
Jared Spaulding (right) looks on while two students work through a knot on the ground before putting themselves to the test on the wall.Kyle Duba photo
Students practice rescue techniques on some of the routes in Sinks Canyon. Kyle Duba photo
The afternoon was rounded out with a clinic on the Tyrolean traverse, a means of transporting equipment or people over an obstacle—in this case, a river. You can also find a video of this venture on County 10.
Cool water flows by as students make their way—dry—across. Kyle Duba photo
Each of these clinics was led by NOLS faculty and executed in a safe and fun environment. Over the next three days, the participants will delve into workshops and lectures by experts in the outdoor industry as part of the Summit. Keep an eye on NOLS.TV for videos of the week’s events if you weren’t able to attend in person.
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 15, 2012 in the following categories: In The News, Instructor News, On The Net
