NOLS gets Cowboy Tough

A lot of people at NOLS are planning for the first Cowboy Tough adventure race in Wyoming. NOLS is sponsoring and designing the ropes section and a trekking and orienteering section of the race. But there are two more people at NOLS gearing up for the race: Team Wyo competitors Katie Everson and Adam Swisher.

The two-person team brings the experience of many NOLS courses, some as students and some as an instructor, the in-town roles of an admissions officer and curriculum publications manager, and a variety of endurance racing.

Everson,a marathon and half marathon runner and NOLS Pacific Northwest Semester graduate jumped at the chance to compete in the first Cowboy Tough race shortly after moving to  Lander, Wyo. for a job at NOLS Headquarters. Her teammate, Adam, is an instructor with a few adventure races under his belt. Together, they’re training for a top finish, though they recognize just finishing will be a challenge.

This weekend, they will spend a day biking and hiking outside of Lander. They have a few days planned this summer for multi-day training, preparing themselves for pushing through the point of fatigue together.

After building their endurance through the spring, Swisher and Everson will turn their focus to the more technical aspects of the race like navigation and taking on the relatively new skills to both of them: whitewater kickboarding and canoeing.

We’ll keep you updated on their training and their goals as July 18 approaches. In the meantime, wish Team Wyo speed and perseverence as they prepare!

Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 15, 2013 in the following categories: Alumni, Instructor News, Pacific Northwest

The Wonder Wedge: Inventing for a Cause

Jim Opeka and his son, Daren, in Lander, Wyo.

By the end of his sophomore year in college, Jim and Sue Opeka’s son, Daren, was struggling with his geology major. Overwhelmed with too many extracurricular activities and responsibilities, Daren was confused and unhappy. But he felt unsure as to how to change the situation. Jim and Sue knew he needed something to clear his head, and since he’d always been an athletic, ‘outdoors kid’—playing sports, camping, whitewater rafting, hiking—his parents suggested NOLS.

After leaving a summer camp job due to poor work conditions, Daren still wanted an epiphany in the mountains. He knew what he needed to do. That fall he made his way to Lander, Wyo. for a Semester in the Rockies.

Daren found in his NOLS instructors the mentorship and motivation that was lacking at the camp. He relished refining his hiking and camping skills and became smitten with rock climbing, which remains his passion to this day. But it was on his canyoneering section in the Grand Canyon that Daren found the epiphany he sought.

“He called us and said, ‘I went into the canyon a geology major and came out an English major. I never looked at a rock and thought about what it was … but rather the story it told,’” Sue recalled.

Jim and Sue Opeka donated the proceeds from The Wonder Wedge to the NOLS Annual Fund.

NOLS was a life-changer for Daren and his parents. He left a confused young man pursuing the wrong major with no real idea as to who he was and what he really wanted to do with his life; he returned a man who was young. NOLS helped Daren discover himself. Back home, Jim and Sue noticed that he was more mature, focused, self-aware, and driven. Daren decided to return to NOLS someday as an instructor. He wanted to help other young people “find themselves,” a dream he lives today.

Jim and Sue believe that with all the distractions of today’s world—technology, social pressures, and job and marketplace insecurities—outdoor education is more important than ever. Out of this belief, the Opekas decided to donate the proceeds of The Wonder Wedge, a hardware product Jim invented that is designed to provide safety in ladder use, to the NOLS Annual Fund.

Beyond a ladder supper, The Wonder Wedge can be used in contruction or as a tire stopper, among other functions.

Last fall, the couple attended a local “huge, well-attended garage sale” in their town to sell the wedges.

“Because most people have no idea what NOLS is, we also had an opportunity to share our positive opinion of, and experiences with, NOLS. We used the term ‘life-changer’ a lot,” Sue said.

The Opekas chose to donate the proceeds from The Wonder Wedge sales to NOLS because of the difference it made in their son’s life.

“It is a wonderful organization with proven results. We are grateful for the positive impact NOLS had on our family,” Sue said, adding, “As Daren says, ‘Being in the wilderness provides clarity … a sense of what’s really important.’”

 

To learn more about philanthropy at NOLS or to make a gift, visit giving.nols.edu.

 

Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on May 1, 2013 in the following categories: Alumni, Campaign NOLS

Sally Jewell: the Right Choice for Outdoor Recreation in Wyoming

This opinion piece by NOLS Executive Director John Gans was first published in the Casper Star Tribune in Wyoming April 15.

One week ago, The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm Sally Jewell as the next secretary of interior. At the helm of the federal department that encompasses the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and other agencies responsible for stewardship of our public lands and waters, she will have a positive impact on Wyoming’s outdoor recreation economy, while being mindful of our energy portfolio.

Jewell’s resume demonstrates the balance sought when managing diverse interests on federal lands. She spent her early career as a petroleum engineer, and evolved to become the chief executive of outdoor retailer giant REI. Through her experience, Jewell understands that our nation’s public lands directly support the economy, both through responsible energy development and through access to recreational opportunities.

In Wyoming, we know that having a robust energy portfolio does not require sacrificing our inspiring landscapes. Careful planning and local input ensure that we can have both. The success of the Wyoming Range Legacy Act is an excellent example of our state’s ability to achieve that balance. With the focus on activities in the outdoors that Jewell would bring to the Department of Interior, Wyoming’s record of success can be a model for the nation.

Outdoor recreation is already a significant economic driver in our state. It generates $4.5 billion in consumer spending and $300 million in state and local tax revenue (based on a report by the Outdoor Industry Association based on surveys taken in 2011 and 2012). It directly sustains 50,000 jobs in the state, and supports $1.4 billion in wages and salaries. Towns like Cody, Lander, and Jackson are heavily dependent on the outdoor recreation economy.

Indeed, most of us live here for the outdoor opportunities available. Whether hiking, climbing, horsepacking, four-wheeling, biking, fishing, hunting, birding or myriad other activities, we hold dear our access to public lands and the opportunities they provide. Jewell, too, thrives outside, and is an avid skier, kayaker and mountaineer.

Jewell’s values are reflected in her advocacy. In her time at REI, she was closely involved in efforts to promote opportunities on public lands. She engaged in the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, which fostered a national conversation on connecting people with the outdoors, providing access opportunities, and seeking out partnerships. Through her close association with the initiative, she gained a solid understanding of the ongoing priorities for the Department of Interior.

At the National Outdoor Leadership School, we are keenly aware of the value gained from having someone with an understanding of the significance and the benefits of recreation on public lands as the secretary of interior. From national parks to the Bureau of Land Management, NOLS operates extensively on Department of Interior lands across Wyoming and the American West. Teaching in these unique landscapes provides immeasurable opportunities for our students to develop as skilled outdoors people and mature into positive ethical leaders who understand complex land use issues.

With this new face of leadership at the Department of Interior, we have high hopes that our priorities in this state will be reflected in the management of the BLM and the national parks. Getting young people into the outdoors, making public lands accessible to outdoor enthusiasts, and supporting the economy that continues to thrive on these values need to be priorities as we progress in the 21st century.

Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Apr 17, 2013 in the following categories: Alumni, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, In The News, Leadership, On The Net

Expedition Denali Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Feature Film

This June, nine mountaineers will attempt to become the first all-African-American expedition to climb Denali (a.k.a. Mount McKinley) in Alaska. This team’s goals go far beyond summiting North America’s highest peak and making history. Their ultimate objective is to inspire people of all colors, young and old, to get more engaged in the great outdoors.

Expedition Denali: Inspiring Diversity in the Outdoors will happen. How many people know about it—how far the team’s inspiration and awareness reaches—is another matter.

Through a Kickstarter campaign launched yesterday, Expedition Denali will raise funds to create a powerful, far-reaching documentary on the team’s journey to the top of North America’s loftiest, most iconic summit. From putting a camera team on the mountain with the expedition to producing, promoting, and distributing the resulting feature-length film, this project will increase awareness of the importance of exploring natural environments and make clear that it’s high time to invite all races, all ethnicities—all people—to inspirational outdoor playgrounds.

Given the powerful, reverberating echo of media—how it can trigger conversation and spark awareness to the furthest corners of our planet—this Kickstarter project and the resulting documentary is for anyone who has tapped into the inspirational, transformative, healing power of our natural environment. More specifically, it will create aspirational role models for African American youth and shine light on our great outdoors and the future they deserve.

Funding through the Kickstarter campaign will run for one month, ending May 10. People interested in making tax-deductible contributions to the production of the film can do so here.

Pledging to the Kickstarter campaign is incentivized by prizes that directly relate to the expedition and the film. Prizes include 30-day, fully transferable Wind River NOLS courses; downloads of the film; climbing equipment used by the athletes on the mountain; summit flags and Skype sessions with the team.

Brad Christensen photo

Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Apr 11, 2013 in the following categories: Alaska, Alumni, In The News, On The Net, Professional Training

Campaign NOLS: Explaining Our Core Values, Part 3

NOLS’ core values are at the heart of our institution. Leadership, community, safety, excellence, wilderness, and education inspire everything we do. We share a commitment to these values; they define and direct who we are, what we do, and how we do it.

We believe that education should be exciting, fun, and challenging. With this in mind, our courses are designed to help people develop and practice the skills they need to live, travel, and play safely in the outdoors. On our expeditions, people learn by accepting and meeting real challenges. Our instructors are educators, not guides. They are committed to inspiring students to explore and develop their understanding of wilderness ethics, leadership, teamwork, natural history, and technical skills.

Rachael Abler practices her self-arrest in the Twin Sisters region of the North Cascades.

Rachael Abler on Education 

In 2011, after pursuing a Master’s degree in recreation, I started making calls to numerous collegiate outdoor recreation programs. I found myself hearing one thing that would help me make it in the industry from each and every coordinator, director, graduate assistant, intern, etc.: NOLS. At that, my mind was made up. NOLS, here I come!

The Pacific Northwest Outdoor Educator Course allowed me to develop technical skills in mountaineering and rock climbing while growing as an outdoor educator. Like many people, I was at the point of my life where, after obtaining two college degrees, I did not have much disposable income. But, thanks to the NOLS scholarship program, I had the opportunity to spend 30 days in the backcountry learning who I was, what I was capable of, and transforming myself into a better person for the rest of my life.

Rachael on Mt. Baker, overlooking Mt. Shuksan.

The outdoor experiences throughout the course of my life have allowed me to become the person who I am today, and I hold the strongest regard for the 30 days spent on my NOLS course. It is easy in our technological age to go through life without placing ourselves in situations that allow us to see our true potential. I believe there is nothing more powerful than immersing oneself in outdoors and that there is nothing like making personal accomplishments in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Without such educational experiences, how can anyone possibly know what they are capable of?

NOLS is responsible for impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. Whether the impact is teaching leadership and teamwork qualities, exposing people to new worlds, or offering career advancement opportunities with wilderness medicine, outdoor educator, and instructor courses. No matter what the case, the result is always the same—NOLS changes lives. 

Rachael and her coursemates in the Twin Sisters Region of the North Cascades, with Mt. Baker in the backgorund.

My own ability to attend a NOLS course is attributed to the philanthropic efforts of those who came before me. As a donor, I am honored to join the fraternity of individuals who place value in continued education and outdoor leadership development for all who have the drive to pursue it. It is a privilege to give back to the organization that gave so much to me through support of Campaign NOLS. My hope is that many more future leaders and educators can reap similar benefits.

The view from Mt. Baker.

Rachael Abler is a 2012 Pacific Outdoor Educator graduate, scholarship recipient and a donor.

To learn more about Campaign NOLS: Endowing Our Core Values or to donate, visit giving.nols.edu.

Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Apr 2, 2013 in the following categories: Alumni, Campaign NOLS, Curriculum, Pacific Northwest

Expedition Denali stories inspire in Lander and beyond

Last week, the Expedition Denali team traveled to Lander, Wyo., where they spent a day at NOLS Headquarters for their final gathering before they attempt to summit Denali in June. As part of this visit, they held a forum for local NOLS staff in which they shared their motivations, fears, and expectations for joining Expedition Denali. Each brought his or her own story to the team, creating a strong, diverse group that will be able to impact the lives of a variety of children across the nation.

 

Tyrhee Moore, for example, hails from Washington, D.C. The youngest member of his team, he was fortunate enough to attend a summer camp in Wyoming in middle school. Had he not had that exposure to the backcountry, he might never have discovered all the wilderness has to offer. Now a NOLS student, a former NOLS fellow, and the NOLS catalog “cover boy,” he is in a unique position to expose his peers to the excitement, accessibility, and “coolness” of outdoor adventure.

Brad Christensen photo

Ryan Mitchell has long been a driving force in bringing underrepresented youth into new fields, ranging from math and science (which he teaches at DeVry) to cycling. Expedition Denali is another step in a lifetime of making a difference for future generations.

Brad Christensen photo

 

Adina Scott didn’t realize not all families treasure the outdoors like hers did until she was an adult. Casually and through outreach organizations, she has introduced friends of all ages to the wonder of the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. She believes in the power of adventuring in the wilderness and sees Expedition Denali as a means of bringing many new friends into her playground through Expedition Denali.

Brad Christensen photo 

This is just a taste of the rich insight and experiences the team members and instructors will bring to the climb and outreach efforts. The reliability of each and of the team as a whole will fuel the mission of Expedition Denali—to inspire diversity in the outdoors—as they and their cause climb to new heights.

Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Mar 4, 2013 in the following categories: Alumni, In The News, On The Net

Lizann Peyton: Donor Inspired by Her Daughters

If there is one thing that we love to hear from our graduates or their parents, it’s that they continue to be leaders and positive motivators in their communities after their NOLS education. NOLS parent and NOLS Annual Fund supporter Lizann Peyton, a non-profit consultant, remains inspired by the strength and outgoing nature of her daughters, Natalie and Emily Clark, both NOLS alumni.

She continues giving to NOLS because of the overall calm-confidence she has witnessed in her daughters.

The girls have grown even more confident in traveling abroad and their ability to navigate peers calmly through fatigue and conflict. Lizann has seen her daughters encourage others to get out and explore.

“I wanted to be able to provide this experience to someone that may not be able to afford it otherwise,” Lizann explained.

Lizann and her two daughters, Emily and Natalie, hiking in the White Mountains.

Emily and Natalie have used the desire for challenge and adventure gained at NOLS to pursue worldly educations, further leadership opportunities and the confidence to share the wilderness experience with others.

At the age of 16 after returning from her first NOLS course, Alaska Backpacking, Emily took it upon herself to encourage and teach her family to backpack the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She continues to pursue leadership positions, most recently forming an outdoors club in her International Relations graduate program in Bologna, Italy.

Natalie will soon be studying abroad in Copenhaagen, pursuing an education in sustainable architecture. While her daughters are out exploring the world, Lizann has begun to host through hikers attempting the Appalachian Trail. She enjoys listening to the inspirational stories of adventurers, and much like those that resonate from her daughters, these stories have transferred into her overall approach to life. Families like these—those that motivate each other to get out and test their strength and good will—are just what makes the NOLS community so uniquely inspiring. 

 

Campaign NOLS: Endowing Our Core Values challenges NOLS to raise $20 million by the end of 2013, ensuring long-term stability for the school so that we can continue to support scholarships and other essential programs. To learn more, visit our website or give us a call at 1-800-332-4280.

 

Written by Meredith Hardwick, NOLS Alumni Intern

Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Jan 10, 2013 in the following categories: Alumni, Campaign NOLS, Leadership

Small Gifts DO Make a Difference

Sure, you’re young, you’re fresh out of college, and you have a pile of student loan debt. I get it; I’ve been there, spending six months unemployed after graduation before I finally got hired.

You might not have the means to make a significant gift, and you probably think that your small gifts to NOLS won’t really make a difference in the big bucket.

Think again.

Do you drink gourmet coffee? Beer? Try donating a couple of those each month to NOLS. Drink two fewer pints with your friends, or two fewer lattes, save the $10 and, give it to NOLS. Doing that each month will add up to $120 a year!

It still may not sound like much, but if even a quarter of our more than 200,000 graduates did this, it’d be a whole lot. Over $6 million in fact. That’s enough to meet the scholarship needs of over 3,000 students.

It’s easy to give monthly; just sign up for the program with a few clicks on NOLS’secure online giving form. Your donation will be charged to your debit or credit card on the first of the month or the nearest business day.

Still don’t think your small gift will make a difference? Go on—just try it. See the impact you can make. Together we can ensure that all students have access to unparalleled wilderness education, regardless of their financial background.

Larkin Flora graduated from college in 2010 and was lucky enough to land an internship with NOLS Alumni the following year. She now works as the Development Communications Coordinator at NOLS Headquarters in Lander, Wyo.

Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Dec 18, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Campaign NOLS

Campaign NOLS: Explaining Our Core Values, Part 2

NOLS’ core values are at the heart of our institution. Leadership, community, safety, excellence, wilderness, and education inspire everything we do. We share a commitment to these values; they define and direct who we are, what we do, and how we do it.

NOLS is an international community composed of talented individuals who care deeply about what they do. We value diversity, integrity, and personal responsibility while recognizing that our strength lies in teamwork and commitment to our mission and each other. We appreciate creativity, individuality, and passion among our staff and as an institution. We take our jobs seriously and pursue our mission with enthusiasm, and we cherish our sense of humor and our ability to laugh at ourselves.

Sadie Sarvis (left) and coursemate enjoy the pictographs in Desolation Canyon during their river section.

Sadie Sarvis on Community

My NOLS experience was truly life changing. I learned how to make my voice heard, deliver constructive feedback, embrace hardship and the unknown, be intentional, and live minimally. I learned to appreciate each moment; that the past and future are only thieves of today. I hold all that I learned close to tackle the next adventure. 

I found NOLS through a guidance counselor at my high school in Portland, Maine and decided on a semester course because I wasn’t as engaged in my coursework at high school as I might’ve liked. Life is too short and wonderful to spend time doing something you’re not excited about; there are too many amazing things to experience! 

My course taught me the value and power of community. Everyone tried to be fair-minded, open, compassionate, respectful, and helpful. We worked hard at effective communication and conflict management, which paid off incredibly well. I will never forget the power of expressing even the smallest frustration to maintain a healthy relationship. By the end of our course, we completed tasks efficiently and relied on each other for support.

Sadie and coursmates pose in front of NOLS headquarters in Lander, WY after graduation.

In the backcountry you can’t let things “brew.” Although this is common in the frontcountry, it is not healthy or productive. Since my course, I am more aware of myself as a function of the whole community of my school, workplace, and teams. I understand that when everyone is decent and respectful, we can accomplish more.

I think everyone should experience outdoor education. One of the hardest parts of the course was raising enough money to be able to participate, and I could not have done my NOLS course without a scholarship. I have never seen myself, or anyone else, grow in leadership skills, competence, self-awareness, judgment and decision-making, risk management, and expedition behavior in such a short time. Everyone deserves to experience that.

 

Sadie Sarvis is a 2011 Semester in the Rockies graduate and scholarship recipient.

To donate or learn more about Campaign NOLS: Endowing Our Core Values visit giving.nols.edu.

Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Dec 3, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Campaign NOLS, Curriculum, Leadership, Rocky Mountain

An international menu in your pack

No matter where your hiking boots take you, you can enjoy the foods of the world over a Whisperlite Stove. This version of the Indian dish saag paneer replaces the paneer with tofu, but a white cheese instead of tofu would be a great option as well. The Mexican cheese, queso fresco, is a great replacement for paneer.

According to NOLS Rocky Mountain intern Geoffrey Journeay-Kaler, who provided NOLS with this recipe, the backpacking version of saag is surprisingly easy, far easier than making it indoors, actually.

Watch NOLS own Cooking Show talents as they prepare this recipe in the backcountry, then take your own international menu on your next adventure.

 

The recipe:

Tofu:

¼ cup water

¼ tsp curry powder

2 pinches salt

1 slice dried tofu

2 tsp oil

Saag:

1 ½ cups freeze-dried spinach

1/3 cup freeze-dried tomato chunks

¼ cup powdered whole milk

¼ tsp cumin

¼ tsp coriander

¼ tsp turmeric

¼ tsp ginger powder

1/8 tsp cayenne

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 ½ Tbs oil

Mix together the curry powder, salt, and water. Add in the tofu and let it soak up all of the liquid. While the tofu is rehydrating, put the spinach into a bowl. Add in the tomato chunks and whole milk power.

Back to the tofu: heat the 2 teaspoons of oil on medium heat. Add the tofu. Fry on all sides until it is browned and crispy. Chop the fried tofu up and set it aside for later.

Heat the 1 ½ tablespoons of oil, add all the spices at once, and fry them briefly on medium low heat. Don't let them burn!

Add in the rehydrated spinach, tomatoes, and milk. Stir the saag, breaking up any clumps of spinach that did not fully rehydrate with your spatula, and distribute the saag evenly across the pan.

Cover and cook on medium low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the tofu. Stir together. Cover and cook for 2-3 more minutes, allowing the tofu to soak up some of the liquid.

Serve over basmati rice, on bread, or solo.

Serves one to two with the rice.

This recipe was originally published in the fall 2012 issue of The Leader. If you have awesome backcountry cooking ideas, we'd love to share them in our next video! Email theleader@nols.edu with your suggestions.

Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Nov 29, 2012 in the following categories: Alumni, Rocky Mountain