WRMC

It is Day 2 of the WRMC. 285 participants are soaking up all things risk management with sessions on techniques and protocols, insurance, decision-making, research and communications. It is an eclectic mix of attendees with outdoor educators and guides, insurance personnel, lawyers and college students in attendance.

As usual NOLS is shining at the conference with staff sharing our expertise on a wide variety of topics. Earlier today Kevin Hamilton of the Student Conservation Association and I presented a session on media communications. Other NOLS presenters include Shana Tarter, Molly Hampton, Tod Schimelpfenig, John Kanengieter, Ian McCammon and Drew Leemon. Additionally at least four presenters are NOLS grads who now work at places like Outward Bound, High Mountain Institute, Algonquin College and OpEPA.

This year’s conference is at Snowbird, where it has been lightly snowing for two days now. I'm glad I brought my bike!

Next years conference will be at Killington, Vermont. Plan to attend!

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |

What “The Apprentice” could learn from NOLS

Thursday night is rolling around again, and that means one thing in my household. We will huddle eagerly in front of the television for the much-anticipated weekly episode of Donald Trump’s smash hit “The Apprentice.” It’s always chock full of classic reality TV moments: boardroom drama, bickering females, corporate-sponsored projects, and always my favorite—the most-annoying-apprentice, the one who makes us cringe and yell at our television sets.

But there’s something else we can count on in each weekly Trump drama: absolutely abysmal communication skills all around. Admittedly, the disastrous way people work together on the show is part of why we watch it. But I can’t help but wonder: Is this really how the movers and shakers in corporate America work? I also can’t help but think that they all could benefit from some NOLS leadership training.

Here’s an example. For many of the show’s project managers, effective leadership means ordering your teammates with military-style authority. While this may be the way to lead a team of infantrymen headed into battle, it doesn’t work in the boardroom. And it doesn’t work on a NOLS course. At NOLS, leadership is all about teamwork. But the whole notion of working together to achieve a common goal is lost on most project managers, who seem to be more concerned with playing the bully than using the kind of communication tools that motivate NOLS teams to the summit of Denali.

And then there’s the other end of the spectrum—project managers who can’t seem to communicate at all and instead “delegate,” which usually consists of assigning duties and then running for the hills. Here they stay until the project’s over, hoping the team figures it out without them. Good grief.

And then there’s judgment and decision making—perhaps one of the most critical NOLS leadership skills. Throw that out the window on Donald’s show. Does leaving the logo off a company’s marketing materials seem like a good idea? Or trying to sell salad dressing on the street by yelling out that the product doubles as foot lotion? No, and no!

Finally, it must be stated that the only “Apprentice” cast member who displays some modest communication skills is Donald’s blue-eyed side-kick, Caroline, who best excels at the NOLS leadership skill of timely feedback. If she has a problem with you, the stoic Carloine can be counted on to speak up. But does she always do so in the most positive way? No. Most candidates react to her feedback with tears.

So just imagine if they all took a page right out of the NOLS Leadership toolbox. There’d be teamwork, communication, tolerance for adversity, and sound expedition behavior, or what NOLS calls “E.B.” If we could only get a NOLS grad on the show, Caroline would get a run for her money. But all that effective leadership and communication would be boring, what with everyone working together. No, I think I’ll stick with my weekly dose of project fiascos, inept leadership, and behind-the-camera back-stabbing. It’s more fun that way.

-Kerry Brophy, NOLS Publications Manager

Share |

Yeeow! NOLScake

Cosmo. Bachelor blowout. Full page spread. There in all his reclining glory is NOLS North Cascades Mountaineering grad Thomas Hand. The outdoorsy Thomas Hand was the "wrench" who converted the NOLS Bus to run on recycled vegetable oil last summer.

We love ya, Thomas. Now slip out of that cable-knit sweater and into something a bit more, well, ya know, hunky.

The Gang in NOLS Admission and Marketing

Share |

Bringing NOLS to You - Grads Join Reunions in NYC and DC

Over the October 20 - 22nd window, NOLS grads had rip-roarin' reunions at Patagonia stores in New York City and Washington, DC. Each reunion featured presentations by NOLS grads— Britton Keeshan talked in DC about his experiences on the Seven Summits and Liz McGregor showed her short film, Concrete Jungle, on urban, NYC adventurers.

Thanks to the NYC and DC NOLS alumni volunteers and the Patagonia stores' staff for pulling off these food, fun and raffle-filled events.

Click here for information on NOLS reunions near you...

Rich Brame
NOLS Alumni Relations

Share |

Adventure Travel World Summit Wrap-up: Beyond Sustainability?

On Tuesday the World Summit drew to a close with a keynote address from futurist, Thornton May. It was a barn-burner of a presentation with comedy, story telling, small group breakouts, and audience participation. The up-shot of Thornton’s message was that we need to “choose” our future. We need to develop a vision of what a future would look like and that will be what we get.

When I look at Thornton’s message in the context of what seemed to be the “hot” topic at the Summit I see a dichotomy. The sessions that seemed to attract the most people and had people talking were those focusing on the issue of sustainability. I’m not opposed to sustainability, but “choosing our future” is aspirational. Sustainability leaves me flat.

I looked up the word sustainable just to be sure that I understood the word. The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides the following definition:

sustainable: 1 : capable of being sustained 2 a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods

Sustainability seems like it is what the adventure travel industry must do to exist as an industry, but it is a pretty low bar if we want to move toward a vision of the future. I believe that the industry very quickly needs to move to a bigger vision. Why is adventure important? Why travel? What is the greater good to be realized? If adventure travel just exists to make money and “do no harm” then there is no future.

To me a better future is one that revolves around aspiration and accessibility. A great future for the adventure travel industry would be one that is inclusive. There would be huge market growth because we’d be relevant. It would be a future where the place visited is better for our having been there. It would be a future that isn’t just about a place, but it’s about people.

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |

Happy Endings

On Friday I finished doing some clean up from summer. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome in both cases.

Matt’s Story
In July I was surprised to pick-up the phone and find a parent who was concerned because he had gotten a letter from his son, Matt, who was on the 10th day of his NOLS Wind River Wilderness course. The letter was sent out from the field at the re-ration. Matt was unhappy. Early in the course he and three other students along with their instructor had gotten disoriented and could not find the rest of the course for a few days. Eventually the groups all got back together again (with a little help from in-town staff). Matt indicated that he was concerned about being lost and he didn’t feel like he was going to learn anything. That of course had his dad concerned because his son’s safety was in our hands and he had a lot invested in the NOLS course. I spent some time reassuring Peter (the dad) and then handed the call off to Chris Brauneis, a NOLS Rocky Mountain program supervisor. Chris had more specific information at hand and called Peter back. Chris was able to fill in some of the details and Matt continued along with his course.

In looking in the database recently I was pleased to see that Chris tried to follow up with Peter a few days after Matt arrived home after his course leaving a message inviting Peter to call back. I was psyched to see the great follow through.

On Friday I also tried to follow-up with Peter. Matt actually picked up the phone. His dad wasn’t home. Matt and I had great conversation about his course. He was very psyched, felt like he had learned a lot and indicated that it was a very valuable experience for him. After a rocky start the group jelled and an excellent NOLS course was the outcome.

Ramsey’s Story
Also in July I became aware of a pretty major customer service snafu by our department.

Strike 1
Ramsey arrived in Lander for his course to find that he was in an all-male group. He had not been notified of this in advance and expected a co-ed group like we advertised. His dad, Martin, was very upset. Martin is an executive with Starbucks, the quintessential customer service organization. I was embarrassed for NOLS.

Betsy Treadway, a NOLS Rocky Mountain program supervisor, went to work. She found a way to get Ramsey switched to a co-ed group. Of course by then Ramsey had gotten to know the folks in his group and so he decided to stick with the all male course. All’s well, right?

Strike 2
About ten days later Jennifer, Ramsey’s mom called to say that she had gotten a letter from her son from the field and that he was very unhappy. The basic message was, “Get me outta here!” Betsy spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Jennifer. Betsy reassured Jennifer and let her know that we send a note in at the next re-ration to see how Ramset was doing.

Home Run
On Friday I spoke with Jennifer on the phone. I apologized again for the foul-up concerning the all-male course. I then asked her how it had all turned out. She indicated that Ramsey had a wonderful time. He had been very homesick, but as the course progressed he got over it. He learned a lot and had a very strong sense of accomplishment because even though it was hard he had persevered. I was surprised to hear that Ramsey is looking through his NOLS catalog trying to decide which course he wants to take next summer. Jennifer is very supportive of that.

Both of these conversations made me feel good. In both cases NOLS got off to a rocky start. In both instances people stepped in with empathy and understanding. In both cases a student had a life-changing experience. It was a great way to start the weekend.

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |

Adventure Travel World Summit

Just got done doing a presentation on marketing adventure to young people. I thought the presentation itself was pretty good, unfortunately I was scheduled up against a very popular speaker who was talking about what seems to be the topic of the summit-- sustainable travel. As a result pretty small turnout. But it was a very active group with lots of questions and comments. Also quite a few NOLS grads. It is always fun to hear them rave about the school.

Sustainability, responsible travel, eco-tourism. This seems to be the hot topic here. How do organizations travel in a way that has as little impact as possible on the environment and the people? It does seem the industry needs to come to a common language surrounding this. It is currently pretty confusing.

Yesterday I presented at a communications session with John Poimoroo. We had good attendence and good questions. John had been the tourism director for the state of California and now runs a marketing and pr firm.

A number of compatriots from the Adventure Collection are here: Larry Mogolonsky the director of the AC, Bill Bryan from Off the Beaten Path, Ben Bressler from Natural Habitat, Steve Markel and George Wendt from OARS and Jim Sano from Geographic Expeditions.

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |

Laramie Loves the NOLS Bus

Yesterday the NOLS Bus pulled onto the University of Wyoming campus. Sounds like it was a super busy day. The Laramie Boomerang wrote a real nice story on the NOLS Bus featuring the imminently quotable Alex Schirer and Teal did an interview with Wyoming Public Radio.

On to Fort Collins!

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |

NOLS Operations Team Meets

NOLS directors from around the globe met this week in Lander. A wide variety of topics were discussed including: curriculum, field communications, public policy, compensation, grant writing, even how to create photo galleries on the NOLS website. Tomorrow folks start dispersing heading to places like Broome, Australia; Coyhaique, Chile; Palmer, Alaska, even 502 Lincoln Street, Lander, Wyoming.

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |

NOLS Bus "On the Road Again"

Yesterday the NOLS Bus pulled out of Lander after a week in town celebrating NOLS' 40th Anniversary. After a stop at NOLS partner, Central Wyoming College, the Bus has continued on its way to Laramie and the University of Wyoming. Word is they have been swamped all day and should be featured on Wyoming Public Radio tonight as well.

Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director

Share |