Check your map for Earth Day events
The mission of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has always been to be the source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. On Earth Day, NOLS locations will bring these backcountry practices to the frontcountry by taking part in events in their respective communities.
The staff of NOLS Alaska will be hitting the road this Earth Day, literally. The crew is planning to tackle their annual cleanup of Farm Loop road—a three-mile stretch of road that leads up to the Palmer headquarters.
The cleanup, which is a part of the annual staff orientation day, happens each spring once the snowmelt has progressed enough to allow for it. This year, the orientation day has been scheduled to coordinate with Earth Day.
“After our long winters, the receding snows offer any number of roadside ‘treasures,’” said Don Ford, NOLS Alaska director. “It is a great time to show our new staff what is able to be recycled at the Valley Recycling Center, to show our neighbors that we care, and to have a good time. The most unusual find of the day always gets a laugh!”
The NOLS Southwest staff will also be supporting Earth Day by getting involved in Let’s G.O! (Get Outside) on Saturday, April 21. Supported by other organizations such as 4-H, Sierra Club, and Parks in Focus, the event will have different outdoor activity stations (play-stations), for children and adults that focus on getting active in the outdoors and creating healthy communities.
The entire NOLS Southwest staff will participate in the event and will host several play-stations, including include learning to make bracelets and key chains using old webbing and cordelette and an orienteering/treasure hunt station, as well as assisting with set-up and breakdown of the event and serving lunch.
“NOLS Southwest is excited to be working with the other sponsors of this event to provide an opportunity for kids and families to get outside and celebrate Earth Day,” wrote Nick Cross, assistant director at NOLS Southwest. “We as a branch have been making an effort to get more involved in the Tucson community, finding ways to volunteer and make positive contributions to events/organizations that we identify with.”
NOLS Headquarters and NOLS Rocky Mountain, both located in Lander, Wyo., are teaming up and joining a number of invaluable community partners to make two projects happen over the weekend. NOLS is co-sponsoring a riverbank stabilization project in Red Canyon on April 20 and a community garden build at two locations on the Wind River Reservation on April 27. At both events, volunteers will be working with students from local schools in an effort to educate attendees about the environment while building stronger community ties.
On April 20 in Red Canyon, students and organizers will plant willow cuttings along the banks of the little Popo Agie with a group of students from Lander Middle School. Working with the Popo Agie Anglers, Trout Unlimited, Wyoming Game and Fish and the Popo Agie Conservation District the group not only be preventing erosion but also teaching a Red Canyon place-based curriculum. For more on this event, check out our recent blog post about the first step.
After students harvested willows early this month and soaked them for a few weeks, they are now ready to be planted along Wyoming river banks. Lindsay D'Addato photo.
On April 27, Lander NOLS folks and partners are fully psyched to get their hands dirty alongside students from the Fort Washakie Charter School to build raised beds and fencing for two new community gardens in Ft. Washakie. The project is the brainchild of Fred Groenke, an avid farmer, teacher, and director of the Wind River Native Science Field Center. The project was designed to create public awareness of the importance of preserving our natural environment and developing and maintaining sustainable growing practices that promote healthy lifestyles and connect us with the natural world. We at NOLS are providing volunteer support and organizing a nutritious lunch for volunteers. And on that note, we should give thanks where they are due to BOCES Green Construction, and the Wind River Diabetes Program for their support as well as Apple Valley Market and Mr. D’s Grocery for answering the food donation call.
So come on out to one of these amazing events in celebration and support of your local NOLS community and the larger, global community that you are a part of!
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Apr 17, 2012 in the following categories: Alaska, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus
Notes from the Field: Phil Henderson’s first weeks at Everest Base Camp
NOLS senior field instructor and Rocky Mountain River Base Manager Phil Henderson has reached Everest Base Camp and continues to report back from his expedition on Mount Everest. The following are his first notes from Everest Base Camp:
Phil Henderson
March 30: We are now in the high alpine environment. Hiking over the shoulder of the terminal moraine on the Khumbu Glacier, we passed an area where Chortens have been built to honor some of those who have lost their lives in the Himalayas—a reminder of the dangers we face, and the risks we take to travel and climb here.
As I passed a series of Chortens, I recognized a name forever etched in the big granite stone: Scott Fischer, 1996. The stone is painted white, and the letters are painted black. The stone is covered with fresh prayer flags, a sign that he is remembered each year. As I walk past this spot I am reminded of the people who have been, or could be, in my shoes.
The fact that I am here is a result of time spent working, skiing, climbing, watching, or just listening to people with much more experience than me, people who took the time to help me gain the skills and experience to make this journey.
Everest Base Camp
April 3: Third day in Everest Base Camp (EBC): Spent yesterday getting installed (our base camp crew is amazing). We are actually camping on the glacier, so the rocks and ice need to be moved to make flat spots. Our Nepali crew makes everything possible. The Khumbu Icefall is fixed, so we will be ready to climb after the Puja [prayer ceremony] in a few days. Lots of serac falls again last night, I think this will be a nightly occurrence.
Clockwise: Panuru Sherpa (our Sidar) from Phortse, AnKaji Sherpa from Makalu, Tendi Sherpa from Solukhumbu, Phil Henderson and Mingma Sherpa from Taksindu.
April 7: Last night was a rough night. It snowed a few inches and I had a headache, but was better in the morning. Another acclimation day spent hiking around EBC. Met with Luanne at the medical clinic, and chatted with David Brashears for a brief moment.
We made more adjustments to our establishment, and enjoyed the warm morning weather. Since we are camped on an active glacier things move. Slowly, but they do move. I hear rocks moving on the glacier at night, as well as big seracs falling and avalanches that wake me from sleeping.
We often have discussions about why we climb mountains, or go on expeditions. Camaraderie is built within the group—in our case this also means our Nepali staff. But the sharing of stories, emotions, in sickness and in health is truly the bigger reason. Standing on the summit will be but a few glorious minutes within months of time spent with the group, eating laughing, and being cold. Yeah, sound like a NOLS course? Similar, but we get to drink scotch and watch movies in base camp at night.
April 10: The average daytime temp is around 47 degrees; however, with the solar gain it can get up to 80 degrees in my tent during the day, and the nighttime temps are dropping to about 21 degrees and below. Base camp life consists of getting up around 6:30 (cold!), breakfast around 8, and then group discussion for the day. Sometimes we need to scrape rock from the south-facing slope of ice that feeds our water pool to keep it full. Daily maintenance of personal tents—they melt out as well, lunch around noon, and maybe go bouldering on the ice-fall or hike around Manhattan (base camp central).
Permalink | Posted by Mike Hepler on Apr 16, 2012 in the following categories: In The News, Instructor News, Leadership, Southwest
NOLS Southwest Makes a Splash for Campaign NOLS
NOLS Southwest participated in an unusual fundraiser for the NOLS Annual Fund two weeks ago
Every year at Summit Hut’s outdoor “Sidewalk Sale,” Southwest branch staff hosts a booth and mingle with customers and other local non-profits. This year the Tucson, Ariz. gear shop rented a dunk tank. Representatives from the non-profits sat above the tank and raised funds for their organization at $1 per chance to drop them into the pool.
Decked out in a woman’s bathing suite, bathing cap and wig, NOLS Southwest’s Special Project Manager Andrew Megas-Russell took to the tank for the benefit of NOLS. Andrew heckled the crowd, took several dunks, and managed to raise $88 for the NOLS Annual Fund during his hour in the tank.
NOLS SW Special Project Manager Andrew Megas-Russell prepares for his next dunk.
Last week, while the branch directors were in town for their bi-annual meeting, NOLS Southwest Director Lindsay Nohl hand delivered the money to the development office in Lander, Wyo.
Thanks Andrew, Lindsay, and everyone down at NOLS Southwest for their support of the NOLS Annual Fund and Campaign NOLS!
Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Apr 12, 2012 in the following categories: Campaign NOLS, Southwest
Spring has arrived in the Desert!
We’ve had a lot of excitement down here at NOLS SW!
Our one and only Semester in the Southwest course had a great climbing section at Cochise Stronghold and has already transitioned to their Independent Student Expedition. The ISE is always a highlight of the course because they put the student’s leadership and technical skills to the test. Way to go SSW!
Princeton University’s outdoor program visited the branch for a few days for a Leave No Trace Masters course. It was awesome to get to know these folks and we enjoyed seeing so much enthusiasm for LNT!
We have 2 Semester on the Borders sections currently on their backpacking sections; one in the Gila wilderness and one in the Santa Teresa mountains. Both groups dealt with severe winter weather early on but are now enjoying the warmth of the desert southwest. They will be transitioning to their climbing sections in a few days with one group traveling to Joshua Tree National Park and the other to Cochise Stronghold.
We are certainly staying busy and having a great time with so many great NOLS instructors and student groups .
Permalink | Posted by NOLS Southwest staff on Apr 3, 2012 in the following categories: Southwest
Leaving No Trace in the Southwest...
The first LNT course of the season ended their 3 days of backpacking last weekend. Despite having an epic day of bushwhacking the day before, they all arrived back at the branch in good spirits!
Congrats to these 8 students on their LNT mastery, and to Phil and Matt for a hugely successful course!
We met up with our semester students last weekend as well. The students are all doing great, and are excited to base camp for a few weeks during their climbing section.
While the students transitioned to climbing camp, their much loved Proctor, Andy Basset, headed back to the branch for a few days. During his time at the branch Andy showed his dedication to these students by continuing the “Proctor Pool Challenge” even though the NOLS SW pool was temporarily out of commission. Especially noteworthy is the amount of ice in the bucket with Andy!
Permalink | Posted by NOLS Southwest staff on Mar 12, 2012 in the following categories: Southwest
WaterSmart in the Southwest
Adding to a growing list of sustainability accolades, NOLS Southwest was recently recognized for its “wise water management” by Tucson Water’s WaterSmart Business Program. The program helps business owners and managers set goals to conserve water, save money and contribute to a sustainable community. In Tucson’s desert climate, water scarcity is a serious concern, so improving water efficiency is a logical and significant action for NOLS SW.
A passive solar water tank on the NOLS SW campus./Photo credit: Ashley Wise
The WaterSmart Business Program provided a list of suggestions for improved efficiency based on an evaluation of the NOLS SW water bill and an on-site evaluation. To build on the SW’s previous efforts, including low-flow showerheads and rainwater catchments, the audit suggested additional rainwater catchments, drip irrigation, and expanded capture and use of gray water. Considering the NOLS SW track record, you can expect to see many of these efficiencies in place before too long.
Permalink | Posted by Dave Clark-Barol on Mar 7, 2012 in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, Southwest
The SW has gone to the dogs!
The Sterling Rope Company recycling initiative recently connected NOLS Southwest with Mountain Dog Products, a local Arizona company that up-cycles retired climbing ropes or new rope scraps from rope manufacturers into high-quality dog leashes!
NOLS Southwest greatly appreciated Charles from Mountain Dog Products going out of his way to stop by the branch and pick up our old ropes. Recycling our retired climbing ropes is just another way we are trying to stay green here in the desert southwest!
Permalink | Posted by NOLS Southwest staff on Feb 28, 2012 in the following categories: Southwest
Making Compost Happen!
NOLS Southwest is now the proud proprietor of a state of the art compost bin designed and built by our very own Andrew Megas-Russell! The three-compartment system will now accommodate all of the food waste produced by the branch and provide us with nutrient rich compost for our vegetable and flower gardens. Way to go Andrew!
River instructors headed out this week to rendezvous with our Spring Semester in the Southwest students. After the two day drive to Big Bend National Park, they will begin their journey down the Rio Grande River. We have a great instructor team led by southwest program supervisor Duck Murphy, who is excited to spend some time back in the field. It’s always great to have paddlers at the branch and it's a refreshing change of pace here in the desert!
Drew Leemon, Director of Risk Management at NOLS visited the branch this week and as a former southwest branch director, he shared some awesome stories and some very interesting branch history. We certainly enjoyed having Drew coming through for a visit.
Permalink | Posted by NOLS Southwest staff on Feb 21, 2012 in the following categories: Southwest
Burgers, climbing and wifi!
Over the weekend we hosted a great graduation cookout with the return of our two Outdoor Educator courses. Both students and instructors were excited to be out of the field and proud of what they had accomplished.
This week we are hosting some professional development here at the branch with a Rock Climbing Seminar for instructors. NOLS instructors have been arriving over the weekend and will depart for the Coronado National Forest and the infamous Cochise Stronghold climbing area for 10 days with some of the most experienced climbing instructors NOLS has to offer. It has been great to have so many awesome NOLS instructors around the branch!
On the technical side of things, Justin has been down from the NOLS Headquarters IS department and we’re now proud to say we have a fully wireless campus! Huge shout out to Justin, you rock!
Permalink | Posted by NOLS Southwest staff on Feb 8, 2012 in the following categories: Southwest
Solar in the Southwest
NOLS Southwest has just completed the installation of a 64-panel solar array. The 19.7-kW system, which was installed by local Tucson company, Technicians For Sustainability, sits atop the ranch house and in-town offices. While the project does not dethrone the Noble for the title of largest solar array at NOLS, it will supply between 70 and 80 percent of the branch’s energy demands annually, approximately 37,000 kWh.
Photo credit: Lindsay Nohl
NOLS Southwest received $29,568 for the project through Tucson Electric Power’s (TEP) Up-Front Incentive Program for commercial PV installations. Additionally, the Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Foundation, which suports sustainable projects in communities in which they operate, awarded NOLS Southwest an additional $20,000 as part of its Social Investment Program. We are very thankful for the support from both programs.
The solar array is NOLS Southwest’s latest sustainability initiative, keeping in line with their strawbale staff housing and high efficiency solar-powered hot water shower house. NOLS Southwest joins NOLS Rocky Mountain, Mexico, Teton Valley and Australia in reducing their dependence of fossil fuels through the installation of solar arrays. Check out the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s latest solar PV potential map, and you’ll see that NOLS Southwest in Tucson has some of the best average kWh/m2/day in the U.S.
The completion of this project takes NOLS a step closer towards our goal of reducing carbon emissions to 30 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. Read more about the Environmental Sustainability Initiatives at NOLS in our report, “Creating a Climate for Change.”
Photo credit: Lindsay Nohl
Permalink | Posted by Dave Clark-Barol on Feb 3, 2012 in the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, Southwest
