Habitat for Humanity joins with NOLS...

On September 25th, as part of NOLS' commitment to service to our local communities, seven NOLS employees volunteered their day to help Habitat for Humanity complete their latest Fremont County project in Shoshoni. It was a motley crew ranging from directors to interns, but everyone possessed unique skills that helped make this house a home. We spent the day installing fiber-cement siding to the house, a mixture of sand, cement, and celluose (which is added to prevent cracking). It is durable enough to withstand the elements, unless you are Bam-Bam Bannon, who has the strength to break a piece in half.

Everyone should be very excited to hear that Habitat for Humanity is coming to Lander next spring for a project. This not only means providing a house for a family in need, but it's also another opportunity to use power tools. 

Photos courtesy of Kelly Sherwin.

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A NOLS family dinner

As part of the ninth annual national Family Day on September 28, 2009, - A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children, families gathered at the Museum of the American West to play games, eat delicious food, chat, and enjoy each others company. Lander families were brought together for what Wyoming's First Lady Nancy Freudenthal called "the most successful Family Night she has ever seen."  Speakers included the First Lady and our very own Karly Copeland. Karly, NOLS Sustainability Coordinator, spoke about easy ways for families to go green, including biking when possible and growing your own garden. Thanks to everyone who supported the event!

photos courtesy Aaron Bannon

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NOLS + City of Lander = Families Night!

NOLS and the City of Lander are teaming up in the spirit of First Lady of Wyoming, Nancy Freudenthal's, Family NIght! The idea is part of the Wyoming Healthy Marriage Initiative (WHMI) which "believes that strong and healthy families are the state's most important assets." Family Night is Monday, September 28th; it is a statewide event promoting the value of children enjoying a regular meal with their parents.

Families Night is more than Family Night with a plural twist. Yes it's also on the 28th. Yes it's in Wyoming. And yes Nancy supports Families Night too. But is she going to be speaking to every family that sits down to dinner on Family Night? I think not. Perhaps in spirit, but Wyoming's First Lady will physically be in Lander, Wyoming speaking at Families Night.

The differences don't end there. Families Night, again not to be confused with Family Night, is going to be a gathering of a bunch of local families to eat, drink, and celebrate their special bonds together. And NOLS is putting it on, which almost guarantees success.

But the point is this: the NOLS interns have been working very hard to promote this event, so even if you're reading this in New Zealand I expect to see YOU at The Museam of the American West (1443 Main St.) at 5:30 on the 28th. No excuses. Book your tickets now. 

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Twas' the night before NOLS

This morning, twenty-nine NOLS students successfully left NOLS Rocky Mountain and headed towards the Winds as part of the Outdoor Educator Semester (OES1 and OES2). This 94-day semester is filled with a backpacking, winter, canyon, rock climbing, and WFR certification.  One OES student was so excited for his adventure that he proclaimed, "It's like waking up on Christmas morning!!" So in the true spirit, we wrote a poem about our time with the OES crew of Fall 2009:

Twas the morning of OES, when all through the hall,
Not a student was sleeping, not even at all.
The backpacks were piled by the staircase with care,
In hopes that the I-Team soon would be there.

The visions were primed all snug in their heads,
Hopes of backpacking, WFR, and canyon ahead.
And mamma in her ‘gaiters, and I in my down,
Had just settled in after the hitting the town.

When down in the kitchen there arose such a smell,
Students sprang from the couch to make the breakfast bell.
Away to the food  they flew like a flash,
Eager to relish their final non-Whisperlite bash.

The sheen of the nylon on the new-boughten gear,
Gave conf’dence should wet days often appear.
When, what to their wondering eyes should arrive,
But a jumbo NOLS bus, ready to drive.

With a little old driver, so able to park,
They knew in a moment it must be Sir Mark.
Like kids before Christmas, they boarded the bus,
They whistled, and shouted, and cried out to us!

 “No cellphones! No texting! No Facebook or mail!
On summits! On saddles! On rockface and trail!
To the top of the ridge! To the top of the wall!
Now hike away! Hike away! Hike away all!”

To be continued...

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Operation Purple Recognizes Kids Serve Too!

When you hear "Operation Purple camp" you should think: Kids Serve Too! The National Military Family Association's Operation Purple camp is a time for having fun, making friends, and reminding military kids that they are the Nation's youngest heroes. Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation.

This summer, NOLS Professional Training was proud to host two 10-day Teen Leadership Expeditions (Camps) for 24 excited teenagers of military families. Backpacking through the Rocky Mountains (NOLS Teton Valley), these Operation Purple participants learned how to camp, hike, navigate, and lead their expedition-mates. 

For more information, watch this Sierra Club documentary about the National Military Family Association's Operation Purple program:

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A rare sighting of the oft-reclusive "intern"

Sure, internships are supposed to be tough, but the rabid drill instructors who run NOLS Rocky Mountain seem to be going out of their way to be severe to us unfortunate young souls, who somehow find ourselves paying out dues in Lander, Wyoming. The dress code, for example, stipulates not only abundant NOLS merchandise, but a specific lacing to the Chaco. The rigorous commute from the Noble Hotel is physically taxing and often dangerous as we brave the infamous two blocks of Lincoln Street. 

So who has to be put through this wretched experience over the next ten weeks? We would like to introduce ourselves, Jake and Rachel, as the new NOLS Rocky Mountain interns for the Fall 2009. After a rigorous application process involving The President's Challenge (a physical fitness test) and trivia concerning the life cycle of tree frogs, we have finally made it to Lander, Wyoming. So who are we?

•  Name? Jake 
• Childhood Dream? Ninja turtle
• Weirdest thing about you? Broke my foot on a pogo stick
• Evil Villain name? Sur Dread-Fire
• What would you climb to the top of Mt. Everest for? Happiness OR the perfect burrito
• Why NOLS? I choose to be at NOLS to contribute to creating an academic culture of mastery among motivated students.

• 

• Name? Rachel
• Childhood Dream? Astronaut
• Weirdest thing about you? I still have 4 baby teeth
• Presidential Secret Service Name? Mongoose
  
• What would you climb to the top of Mt. Everest for? My family OR a delicious root-beer float
  
• Why NOLS? I took a Semester in the Southwest in 2005, and it was a life-changing experience. I came back to NOLS in order to help other students have that same experience.
  

We are both excited for what lies ahead in the next ten weeks - new experiences, awesome conversations, and an abundance of high fives. 

Cheers.

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NOLS On Weather Channel for Survival Week

NOLS is part of The Weather Channel's Survival Week, filming small segments with Jim Cantore up at the Wild Iris climbing area outside of Lander, Wyoming. NOLS research program manager, Jamie O'Donnell was up early this morning explaining hypothermia and "what to pack in your day pack" to Weather Channel viewers nationwide. Click here for a clip from today.

To see NOLS on TV, tune in to the Weather Channel:
9/8/09 Tuesday 5-8pm (mountain time)
9/9/09 Wednesday 6-10am and 5-8pm (mountain time)

Below are some pics from today's shoot. More to come tomorrow!

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Facebook Page Hits 7000 Fans!

It was great to sign on to my computer today and see that our facebook page has reached 7000 fans. For over a year we have been posting stories, recipes, pictures, and videos, interacting with the NOLS community, and answering questions from prospective students.

A few recent highlights from the facebook page:

• Post about Annual Fund reminds people to donate resulting in making our $1,234,000 goal
• Alumni posting content including an inspirational cheer and an original song "Trowlin' in the rain"
• Parents of current students sign up to stay in the loop
• "You might be a NOLS alum if..." post gets 42 comments adding to the collection

If you aren't a member of our page yet, you are missing out!

Become a fan today! http://www.facebook.com/nolspage

 

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Busy Fall Event Schedule

We are gearing up for a seriously busy schedule of events. Whether it's a college fair, information table, or grad-organized alumni event, chances are there is something coming up in your area. Check out our google map of events and mark your calendar.

A few events worth noting:
Full-screen

September 16, 2009 - Seattle, Washington

Meet NOLS Representative Sarah Lancaster
REI - Seattle
7:00 p.m. Feature Presentation

September 18-20, 2009 - Fort Collins, Colorado

Meet NOLS representatives at the Sustainable Living Fair
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday
http://www.sustainablelivingassociation.org/thefair/

October 15, 2009 - New York, New York
See images from NOLS instructor Rob Walker’s six-month, 1,850-mile kayak traverse of Chilean Patagonia- the first of this spectacular coastal wilderness.
Location: Patagonia Store in SoHo, NYC

 

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Everyone Contributes to Make 2010 Catalog a Success

The 2010 NOLS catalog has arrived! Allison and Bruce talk about the process of creating it and the teamwork it takes to unload 50,000 copies at the NOLS headquarters in Lander, Wyoming.

NOLS Catalog Arrives! from NOLS on Vimeo.

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