Faculty Summit kicks off with clinics
The second annual NOLS Faculty Summit kicked off today, with clinics up and down Sinks Canyon outside Lander. Both the river crossing clinic and rock rescue clinic kicked off early in the morning, and the afternoon included a Tyrolean traverse clinic.
Our pants are flapping in the wind! The famous NOLS wind pants mark the location of the majority o the Summit events, Sinks Canyon Center. Kyle Duba photo
The river crossing clinic, led by NOLS Director of Risk Management Drew Leemon, provided instructors with an opportunity to discuss and practice NOLS accepted field practices across the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River.
Instructors make their way across the river as a team, including those standing downriver as a safeguard.Kyle Duba photo
Meanwhile, the daylong rock rescue clinic gave new and experienced instructors alike the chance to learn and conduct a variety of rescues on the rock walls of the canyon.
Jared Spaulding (right) looks on while two students work through a knot on the ground before putting themselves to the test on the wall.Kyle Duba photo
Students practice rescue techniques on some of the routes in Sinks Canyon. Kyle Duba photo
The afternoon was rounded out with a clinic on the Tyrolean traverse, a means of transporting equipment or people over an obstacle—in this case, a river. You can also find a video of this venture on County 10.
Cool water flows by as students make their way—dry—across. Kyle Duba photo
Each of these clinics was led by NOLS faculty and executed in a safe and fun environment. Over the next three days, the participants will delve into workshops and lectures by experts in the outdoor industry as part of the Summit. Keep an eye on NOLS.TV for videos of the week’s events if you weren’t able to attend in person.
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 15, 2012 in the following categories: In The News, Instructor News, On The Net
Students, Team share inspiration
As members of Expedition Denali return from their first weekend together, a group of New Jersey students stepped up, pushed up, and jumped up to inspire and show their support for the adventurers.
Led by team member Morgan Dixon, the class of eighth graders of Link Community School in Newark New Jersey completed the first five minutes of Team Denali’s daily workout.
With shouts of “You guys inspired us, so we’re going to inspire you,” “you can do it!” and “I hope you enjoy your trip,” the students giggled and sweated their way through a variety of challenging exercises.
NOLS is delighted to see these young athletes join the effort to inspire youth of color, particularly African American youth, to get outside, be active, and take action on behalf of our great wild places.
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 11, 2012 in the following categories: On The Net
NOLS Pro featured in Businessweek
“Outdoor education, once largely confined to orientation at business schools, is making inroads at a growing number of MBA programs as schools look for more effective ways to teach students the dynamics of leadership and team-building. Many of them are turning to the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS),” writes Alison Damast in a Bloomberg Businessweek article published today.
The article, with headline “MBAs Learning Leadership the Hard Way,” examines the trend of business schools across the nation incorporating outdoor education into programming, specifically with NOLS Professional Training.
A number of business schools and businesses have custom programs through NOLS Pro. David Anderson photo
NOLS has seen a three-fold increase in MBA programs since 2007, and the future looks bright, as conversations are ongoing with a number of renowned MBA programs. The school with the longest history with NOLS, Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, gives the experience and NOLS Pro rave reviews in the article:
“They’re in charge and they have all this responsibility in an environment in which they are not the experts,” Warton’s Director of Graduate Leadership Jeff Klein is quoted saying in the article. “Where we find NOLS to be incredibly skilled is the ability to allow students to lead and then to accept the consequences of success or failure.”
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on May 7, 2012 in the following categories: In The News, Leadership, On The Net, Professional Training
GiveBIG to NOLS this Wednesday
Last summer, 17-year-old Seattle resident Georgia Ray attended a NOLS Alaska sea kayaking course through the Student Conservation Association, a NOLS Gateway Partner. The lessons she learned at NOLS extend beyond technical and leadership skills in the wilderness setting, translating back to her life in the frontcountry.
“Interacting with my coursemates, in the very open environment provided by NOLS, let me know how my words are perceived and interpreted,” recalled Georgia, “Today I use this knowledge with my family and friends to be a clearer and better communicator. I use this to give instructions or suggestions, particularly feedback, in a friendly or sensitive way.”
Georgia enjoys an arch on her sea kayaking course.
On Wednesday, May 2, NOLS will participate in the Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG campaign. The one-day, online giving event aims to inspire Seattle area residents to donate to their favorite local non-profits to build a stronger community. The NOLS Pacific Northwest branch location allows us to partake in GiveBIG, and we do so with the goal of raising $5,000 for one full scholarship to send a Gateway Partner student from the Seattle area, like Georgia, on a NOLS course.
NOLS Gateway Partners are organizations and institutions that provide educational opportunities to populations underrepresented in the outdoors. By providing these students with full-tuition scholarships to attend NOLS courses, the school is able to narrow the gap between underserved communities and a life in tune with nature. Gateway Partners in the Seattle area are the Student Conservation Association, Seattle Summer Search, and Metrocenter YMCA Leadership Development Expeditions—BOLD and GOLD Mountain Schools.
Each donation made to NOLS through the Seattle Foundation between midnight and midnight (Pacific Time) on May 2, 2012, will receive a pro-rated portion of the matching funds (or "stretch") pool. What does that mean? If NOLS raises 3 percent of all the money raised through GiveBIG, then we will get 3 percent of the stretch pool. The more you give, the more of the stretch pool NOLS will get. Additionally, throughout the day “Golden Tickets” will be randomly drawn and a lucky donor will have their contribution matched with an additional $1,000.
Last year, every $100 in donations resulted in an additional $14 from the stretch pool, so every gift really does make a difference and results in more funding support for NOLS!
GiveBIG to NOLS on Wednesday and help us send a Seattle area student on a life-changing adventure.
Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Apr 30, 2012 in the following categories: Campaign NOLS, On The Net, Pacific Northwest
NOLS' Phil Henderson looks to make history on Everest
Since the first successful ascent in 1953, there have been many attempts by those looking to add their names to Everest’s history books. Over the last 59 years, there have been 5,104 successful ascents to the summit by 3,142 individuals. Out of those numbers there is still one thing missing: the first African American male to summit Mt. Everest. Phil Henderson is looking change that this spring.
Phil’s journey to the top of the world started long ago in a much lower place. The story of how Phil came to be where he is today is an incredible one. In 1986, while playing college football as a free safety, he sustained hairline fractures in his third and fourth cervical vertebrae. The injury ended his football career. It would be over a year before Phil would fully recover and return to a healthy and normal lifestyle. From that point on, he has lived a life that most people could only dream of.
He learned about the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in 1991 and the next year came to Lander, Wyo., for a Semester in the Rockies. In 1994 he returned to NOLS for his Mountaineering Instructor Course and has been working around the world sharing his knowledge and love for the outdoors with hundreds of students ever since.
Phil has shared his wealth of knowledge and passion outside of NOLS, as well. He has worked both in his local community and climbing schools throughout the globe, including several years as an instructor with the Khumbu Climbing School (KCS) in Nepal. The goal of KCS is to increase the safety of Nepali climbers and high-altitude workers by encouraging responsible climbing practices in a supportive and community-based program. It is there that Phil was afforded the opportunity to work alongside Sherpas of the area teaching leadership skills while learning from them at the same time.
A veteran mountaineer, Phil has led many expeditions on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, and Denali, but Everest is a completely different animal. Reaching the summit will require climbing 29,029 feet (about five miles above sea level), enduring harsh environmental conditions including temperatures ranging from –80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, winds gusting over 200 miles per hour, and an atmospheric pressure only four pounds greater than Mars at the summit.
During his diverse and global career as a wilderness leader, Phil has become an exemplarily role model to all who know him. In his current venture he will not only try to make history, but broaden the awareness of the benefits and accessibility of the outdoors to minorities, specifically African Americans.
You can follow Phil and the rest of the Expedition Team’s progress during their climb by visiting the National Geographic and The North Face website blogs.
Permalink | Posted by Mike Hepler on Mar 19, 2012 in the following categories: In The News, Instructor News, Leadership, On The Net
Be More Avy Savvy
Buy the Right Beacon for the Job, and Practice!
By Jaime Musnicki, NOLS Instructor
(Originally posted in The Leader, Fall 2010)
As we find ourselves sliding towards another winter in the northern hemisphere, avalanche safety is sure to be on the minds of backcountry skiers and riders. One of the numerous important pieces of avalanche safety gear is an avalanche transceiver, also known as a beacon. Whether you are a seasoned backcountry skier who is looking to replace an older model or a new devotee of the magical powder experience, read on to learn about some of the latest beacons on the market.
Tracker DTS by Backcountry Access
The beacon of choice for NOLS’ winter backcountry skiing and snowboarding programs for the past two decades, this two-antennae digital beacon is intuitive, easy to use for single-burial searches, and is great for novices (like NOLS students). Having also used this beacon to practice and teach multiple burial techniques, I can attest to it being a great tool in these scenarios as well. Priced at around $290, it is the most affodable beacon in this review.
Tracker 2 by Backcountry Access
Released in the U.S. last season, this much-anticipated three-antennae beacon is even more intuitive than the original Tracker and has one of the fastest microprocessors on the market today (important for processing the signals received by the three antennae and turning them into distance and direction readings). Improvements over the Tracker DTS include a more accurate distance reading that is closer to actual meters, a comfortable harness system, and the third antenna that helps cut out the “blanks” during the fine search, thereby increasing potential search efficiency. Priced at around $335, it is also one of the most affordable three-antennae beacons out there.
Barryvox Pulse by Mammut
The well-reputed Pulse differentiates itself from the Tracker 2 in the realm of multiple burials, as it has a special “marking” function that helps the searcher locate and differentiate between signals from multiple buried avalanche victims, and an arrow that points you in the correct direction when searching. On the down side, the Pulse has a slower processor than the Tracker 2, which can be frustrating and confusing if you want to move faster than the processing capabilities of the beacon. Additional “pros” for the Pulse include its ability to switch into analog mode for searchers who are practiced with analog transceivers and regular software updates from Mammut retailers. The Pulse retails for around $450, making it noticeably more expensive than its Tracker 2 peer.
DSP Smart Transmitter by Pieps
Like the Pulse, this three-antennae beacon also has a “marking” function that facilitates multiple burial searches. You may find the “bells and whistles”—a thermometer, compass and altimeter—either convenient or unnecessary and distracting. The buttons are also not very user-friendly for bulky-gloved fingers. On the plus side, the DSP has an impressive range while searching, noticeably better than either the Tracker or the Pulse. Retailing for $450, the DSP is also on the more expensive end.
--
As a long-time NOLS winter instructor, I would be remiss not to warn you that any beacon is only helpful if you’re also carrying a shovel and probe, have proper avalanche training, have diligently practiced searching, are traveling with competent partners, and have read and are following the manufacturer’s guidelines (especially the guidelines for maintaining battery power, which can make all the difference). A common misconception is that advanced beacon technology means less hands-on training. In reality, you should be practicing more with the newer technology in order to work out the quirks that inevitably come with the more complicated equipment. Now grab your transceiver and get practicing. Winter is upon us!
This review was completed with the assistance of former NOLS instructor Sarah Carpenter, co-owner of the American Avalanche Institute.
Permalink | Posted by NOLS on Dec 9, 2011 in the following categories: On The Net
New episode of The NOLS Cooking Show debuts
The trail is long, your pack heavy.
Unless, of course, you’re going lightweight. Then the trail appears shorter with your lightened pack. NOLS Word of Mouth Coordinator Casey Pikla offers one means of lightening your load in the form of down-home cooking. Casey’s original lightweight jalapeño grits recipe is meant to be prepared in a large batch at home. Portions (usually about four ounces per person per meal) can then be packed into the field. This recipe should create about four backcountry meals, depending on your appetite.
In the most recent episode of the NOLS Cooking Show, Casey and NOLS Environmental Stewardship Coordinator Amy Rathke join forces to walk you through each step of the recipe, then garner reviews so you can be sure it’s something you want to try living on.
And, so you can just sit back and enjoy the show without taking notes, the recipe is located below.
Ingredients:
1 cup instant grits
½ cup nut mix
½ cup crushed Fritos
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup dried jalapeños
¼ cup bacon bits or imitation bacon bits
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of salt
At home:
1) Prepare the nut mix by combining equal parts almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is granulated, but not powdered and set aside.
2) Prepare the crushed Fritos in the same fashion and set aside. Both the nut mix and Fritos are a great way to add calories without adding much weight.
3) Combine instant grits, nut mix, crushed Fritos, Parmesan cheese, dried jalapeños, bacon bits, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a large container.
4) Using a scale, measure the desired amount of grits mixture to take into the backcountry and place in a bag.
In the backcountry:
1) Boil ½ cup of water for each serving.
2) Remove the pot from the stove, and pour a serving of the grits mix into the water.
3) Place the pot in an insulating cozy for about five minutes.
4) Enjoy!
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Nov 21, 2011 in the following categories: On The Net
Two WMI instructors teach a different lesson
Last week, a YouTube video went up with an important message told in a heart-wrenching way. It was an example of the Every 15 Minutes program, which started in California a decade ago, and is based on the statistic that every 15 minutes someone is killed in an alcohol-related car accident.
That statistic has increased to 45 minutes, and the program has a strong national presence. WMI Instructor Roger Bailey has been involved with Every 15 Minutes events for about a year, bringing his moulage (applying mock injuries with the use of makeup and molds) skills to the undertaking.
“The local sheriff, who organizes the program, googled ‘moulage,’ and I popped up for doing moulage for a WMI class,” Bailey laughed. Upon invitation to help, he immediately jumped in and, more recently, “dragged” his WMI colleague Sahale McCabe into it.
The two collaborate with state and local police forces, local fire departments and emergency medical services, trauma nurses, chaplains, and Life Flight operators to create a two-day program in which the effects of drunk driving are acted out within the student body.
On the first day, select students are removed from class by the Grim Reaper, “gouled up,” as McCabe called it, and returned to class in silence before participating in a mock accident, spending the night away from home, and writing “last letters” home. The second day includes an assembly in which the video of the previous day (like this one) is shown, guest speakers relate their own experiences of losing loved ones, students and parents have the opportunity to speak, and the entire community is encouraged to attend. Everyone is then given the opportunity to o sign a board pledging they will not drive drunk or get in the car with an intoxicated driver.
McCabe and Bailey learned moulage in their WMI Instructor courses, and together they have helped bring four of these events to the rural high schools of Lane County, Ore. Bailey said the dramatic approach to the program has the same effect scenarios do in WMI courses; students take home lessons better and learn more effectively in realistic settings. Both also tend to hit home with participants.
“Occasionally, people need to take a break in a WMI class because the scenario was too real for them,” he said. Counselors are on hand for Every 15 Minutes students for the same reason.
On the other hand, “the kids really like getting made up, as do our students,” Bailey added.
The two WMI instructors feel strongly about the value of the program and are honored to be involved.
“It’s an exhausting and rewarding two days,” McCabe said. “It’s impossible to escape with dry eyes, and difficult to even talk about without emotion.”
Permalink | Posted by Casey Dean on Nov 7, 2011 in the following categories: Instructor News, On The Net, Wilderness Medicine Institute
Wilderness in a Cup
Sharing a passion for the outdoors, NOLS and two leaves and a bud tea company, nestled in the mountains of Colorado, are a match made in hot-drink heaven. Founded in 2005 by NOLS grad and former instructor Richard Rosenfeld, the company prides itself on providing the best cuppa’ around by going directly to the bud of the operation, selling full-leaf tea from organic tea gardens. Rosenfeld applies the principles he developed at NOLS in his daily life and business practices, forming close relationships with farmers around the world.
Having gained so much from his NOLS experience, Rosenfeld wants to give back to the school by donating 1% of each of their Alpine Berry herbal tea sales to a NOLS scholarship fund.
“It’s a very outdoorsy-feeling tea,” says two leaves and a bud spokeswoman Stephanie Keister, “Being able to support NOLS is an honor for us, as we understand the unique impact NOLS has on allowing people to appreciate the wilderness and thrive in that environment.”
Join Kate and Larkin: raise your mugs to NOLS’ new favorite hot-drink!
Permalink | Posted by Larkin Flora on Jul 20, 2011 in the following categories: Alumni, Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability, In The News, On The Net
The Faculty Summit Has Begun!
Over 150 instructors from around the world have gathered for a week of workshops, discussions, lectures, seminars, networking and fun. Topics range from river crossing techniques to the state of inclusion here at NOLS. Today we will hear from Tori Murden McClure, John Grunsfeld, Joe Thomas, and an expedition-full of veteran instructors. Follow along on Twitter at #NOLSsummit.
Fun Facts:
- 140 current instructors (have worked in the past 2 years)
- Combined 280 years of "in the backcountry" experience
- Most veteran instructor here started in 1971 (we also have grads from 2011 Instructor Courses)
- Hiking is the largest skill area represented here. (85%)
- 63 are climbing instructors, 43 are mountaineering instructors, 42 winter, 41 river, 40 sea kayaking, 16 sailing, 13 wilderness medicine, 7 horsepacking.
- Participants come from the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, New Zealand & Austrailia.
Permalink | Posted by NOLS on May 10, 2011 in the following categories: In The News, Instructor News, On The Net
