NOLS Alum featured in LNT publication

This summer's issue of The Tracker, the quarterly newsletter of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, contained an article entitled "On the Cusp," featuring interviews with five visionaries who helped Leave No Trace become what it is today. NOLS' Alumni Relations Manager Rich Brame, former director of Leave No Trace, played a prominent role in early development of LNT curriculum. He discussed his thoughts on the most relevant components of the program:

"I've always felt Leave No Trace connects action to effect. I think it's the greatest good Leave No Trace can bring to the outdoor public--that what you do as an individual makes a difference to the specific place, to the land, to others, and to the overall outdoor ethos. That's the empowering 'aha' I've seen many, many people from around the world make when exposed to Leave No Trace concepts."

Read another article on the inception of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in this summer's issue of The Leader.

Amy Rathke
NOLS Publications Intern

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Grads give NOLS a nod in Jambo blog

Grads Jim Young and Charles Ribaudo (Semester in Kenya 1993) were featured in the most recent issue of The Leader for their company, Jambo, which markets a form of electronic personal networking based on the premise of face-to-face meetings. Check out their blog to read posts about how their NOLS experience has helped shape their business ethic and the motivation behind the company.

Stay tuned for updates on NOLS' collaboration with Jambo, making it easier for you to connect with other alumni!

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NOLS Expedition Warms to Senators McCain and Clinton - students' link to the land gives unique perspective

NOLS Yukon Outdoor Educator students and staff recently visited with Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain in Whitehorse. The Senators, on a fact finding mission to rural northern communities in Canada's Yukon Territory and Alaska, spent a few minutes talking with the NOLS group about the importance of spending time in the outdoors and seeing global warming's threats first hand.

"I know NOLS. If you can survive NOLS, you can survive anything," quipped Senator Hillary Clinton.

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Big, Bright World

We just received word the other day that NOLS partner,Big, Bright World has its website up and running. Big, Bright World focuses on healthy, active lifestyles for children.

NOLS teamed up with the folks at B,BW to produce outdoor adventure videos for children 4 to 8 years of age. NOLS provided logistical support for these videos that feature NOLS instructors and elements of the NOLS curriculum. This has been a great project and one that we hope will get kids thinking about the outdoors as a fun place to explore.

Check out some of the video clips!

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

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The Day the Music Died - NOLS Alumni Find Solace Where They Can

It's true. Elvis Presley left the building and passed on to the great Heartbreak Hotel in the sky during this week in 1977. As tragic as the rotund rocker's passing was (and is), there's a way to help you NOLS grads dry the tears on your Blue Suede Shoes.

You can demonstrate your Burning Love for NOLS by completing the web-based NOLS Alumni Services Survey. Don't Be Cruel, go ahead and take the eight-minute survey. The results will help us create alumni services that grads value.

The survey is anonymous—no spam will come your way from us and we don't capture identity information. However, with your thoughtful responses, NOLS can offer more effective alumni programs.

Go ahead. Dust off your white jumpsuit, wake up your inner Houndog, shout "Viva Las Vegas" and click here to take the 18-question survey.

Thanks.

/s/Rich Brame, NOLS Alumni Relations Manager

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Deadline Approaching for NOLS Marketing Openings

This Friday, August 19 is the deadline for applications to be received for the jobs available in the NOLS marketing department. This is an opportunity to join a great organization that is making a difference in the world. NOLS marketing is all about fun people, cool projects and kicking butt. Join us!

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

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More from the Outdoor Retailer Show

I'm back in the office after spending a few days at the Outdoor Retailer Show. This was a fantastic event for NOLS. More and more people are recognizing NOLS and our unique role in the outdoor industry.

I continued to run across NOLS grads throughout the show—NOLS grads and former board members Ben Toland, Kate Williams and Jed Williamson were there. Ben does marketing consulting for a number of outdoor organizations. Kate is the executive director of The Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Jed is the president of Sterling College, which has a strong outdoor focus. A few other grads I met include: Matt Colon, a Fall Semester in the Rockies grad is now writing for Backpackinglight Magazine; Ariel Rotem runs several outdoor shops in Israel; two-time NOLS grad, Todd Walton does marketing for Outdoor Research (OR’s CEO is NOLS grad Dan Nordstrom); and Bobby Jackson is involved with sales for Keen Footwear.

Saturday brought a fun meeting with Ryan Cruithirds of Spenco Medical Products. Spenco supported 15 scholarships at NOLS this summer. It was great being able to say thank you in person on behalf of 15 grateful NOLS students.

I had a very productive meeting with Chris Doyle of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. He updated me on the upcoming Adventure Travel World Summit. I will be doing two presentations at the Summit. The line-up of sessions and presenters is very impressive (not sure how I made it onto the agenda!). This should be a very educational and important conference for everyone who is involved in taking people outdoors.

While I was off talking with Chris, ESPN’s “Cold Pizza” was interviewing NOLS Bus stalwart, Matthew Copeland at the Bus. Hopefully we’ll be seeing the NOLS Bus on ESPN soon!

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

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Alex and Teal take a siesta

90+ degrees and thousands of visitors to the SLC Outdoor Retailer Show were enough to warrant a brief siesta for Alex and Teal.

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NOLS at the Outdoor Retailer Show

The NOLS Bus and NOLS marketing staff are at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah. The show is the outdoor industry''s meeting place and NOLS has a large presence at the show with NOLS grads everywhere.

A few grads I've run into--Jimmy Chin was signing autographs at the Outside magazine booth. Jimmy will be featured in their upcoming issue on top 20 people in the outdoors. I ran into Andrew Davison, who runs a multi-media marketing firm called texturemedia. Eric and Laura Poole are here working for Backpacker Magazine. Kate Williams is here as the executive director of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail Initiative. Phil Powers, the executive director of the American Alpine Club is also here at the show.

Yesterday, NOLS had a great day at the show. At the Outdoor Industry Association breakfast NOLS was featured as a case study for the work we do introducing young people to the outdoors. At noon NOLS instructors took on NOLS grads in a cook-off sponsored by Jetboil stoves. The instructors won, but it was close (I was on the NOLS grad team!). At the same time Anthony Schweizer of BzzAgent, was doing a presentation on word of mouth marketing and he talked a bit about NOLS success relying almost entirely on our graduates recruiting for us. NOLS new book, Wilderness Navigation also made its debut yesterday.

NOLS marketing staff have also spent time meeting with current partners, Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Backpacker magazine and Stackpole Publishing, while taking time to investigate other relationships with some of the top brands in the outdoor industry. Tomorrow will be filled with more of the same.

All the while, Big Blue, the NOLS Bus is parked at the south entrance to the Salt Palace convention center greeting the show attendees on their way in.

More tomorrow!

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

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NOLS Grads Paddle Lake Michigan - Sea Kayaks and Sunscreen in the Windy City

Twenty-two Chicago-area NOLS Alumni recently spent the weekend sea kayaking on Lake Michigan. The day-long alumni seminars gave people the chance to polish or learn paddling skills, explore some hot and sunny lakeshore and meet other NOLS graduates.

If you're a NOLS grad or family member, check out the alumni web site for more day-long events around the country. — Rich Brame, NOLS Alumni Relations Manager

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