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October 16, 2008

48 states, 151,601 miles, 1,503 days on the road, and countless gallons of recycled vegetable oil later, the NOLS Bus is parked for good. Four years ago, when the bus project began, there were a lot of unanswered questions. "Where are we going to get all the grease to run the thing? How will NOLS grads respond to the bus? Will this be a good way to tell folks who've never heard of us what we do?"

While finding grease and bus maintenance were daily tasks for the crew, the responses of both alumni and folks who didn't know NOLS were consistent throughout the journey. They loved it! Town after town, we had news crews and reporters coming out to learn about alternative energies and our wilderness school.

Former NOLS Bus staffers Andy Bassett and Riley Hopeman put together this dance in tribute to the bus.

The NOLS Bus Dance Tribute from NOLS on Vimeo.

Check out this video for a more in-depth look at the bus through the years.

October 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 15, 2008

So Long and So Forth

How do you describe something so large that has changed one's life forever? Something so much larger than oneself and so full of memories. I’m talking about the bus, of course. For the past 5 months the bus has not only been my work place but also my home, and the road was my best friend. I have met some of the most awe-inspiring people in my life, some cooky ones too, and others that had never heard of NOLS, but upon leaving the table cannot wait to apply. On a daily basis I am reminded how special it is to work for NOLS and what an amazing opportunity it has been to work on the bus, better known as the "front line." 

Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible and for a great support team in the Marketing Department. Thanks to all the event coordinators who were so gracious working with us, sometimes the bus is larger than one may think. Lastly, for all those who drove the miles to see the bus at events, it is you that make our days rewarding!!

It is time for me to hang up my grease suit, tuck away those paper filters, and lock the bus up for one last time. Always bow never stern!

Same ol' river, same ol' moon,

Jared Pangretic

October 15, 2008 in Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (0)