NOLS

What NOLS does

NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1965 by Paul Petzoldt in Lander, Wyoming, operating as a global wilderness education organization offering immersive outdoor courses that combine technical backcountry skills (backpacking, mountaineering, sea kayaking, sailing, rafting, rock climbing, canyoneering) with a structured leadership curriculum. The product portfolio spans 312+ expedition courses (1-24 weeks, $5,350-$20,090), 418+ wilderness medicine certification courses (WFA, WFR, WEMT at $310-$4,988), teen summer programs, semester and gap-year courses, executive leadership expeditions (~$5,400), alumni trips, custom education for organizations, and risk-management consulting and conferences. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via nols.edu and phone sales, augmented by a sponsorship network (REI, Landmark Learning, Mountain Rescue Institute, Colorado School of Mines) and university credit partnerships (University of Utah since 1980, Central Wyoming College from 2026) across 13 campuses on six continents.

NOLS derives revenue from course tuition, executive/custom program fees, alumni trip fees, and philanthropic support through the NOLS Fund and endowment (Federal Tax ID 83-0204184), awarding nearly $2M in scholarships to 900+ students annually. Core technology is a 60-year proprietary leadership curriculum and risk-management framework rather than software; there is no public API or partner integrations. Go-to-market blends digital content (NOLS Blog, email, social, webinars), catalogs, PR (including NASA Artemis II coverage), and community-led referrals from a hundreds-of-thousands-strong alumni base. Leadership is a board-trustee-governed executive team led by President Sandy Colhoun, with Bryan Wall as CFO and Francis Van De Beuken as VP of Marketing and Communications; the organization operates under a Second Summit Strategic Plan and has no parent company, private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

NOLS

Legal name

National Outdoor Leadership School

Website

https://nols.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

NOLS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wilderness education organization founded in 1965 that delivers leadership and outdoor skills courses to teens, adults, executives and government clients across 13 global campuses, supported by philanthropic giving and university credit partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Wilderness Leadership Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Wilderness education
• Outdoor leadership training
• Wilderness medicine certification
• Experiential education programs
• Wilderness expedition courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Lander

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Expedition Course Tuition: NOLS generates revenue primarily through course tuition fees for wilderness expeditions ranging from 1-24 weeks. Tuition varies by course type, duration, and location, with prices ranging from approximately $5,350 to $20,090.
2. Wilderness Medicine Certification Courses: Revenue from wilderness medicine certification courses including Wilderness First Aid ($310-$340), Wilderness First Responder ($875-$1,150), Wilderness EMT ($4,988), and hybrid/blended versions. Sponsorship partnerships with universities and training organizations distribute these courses.
3. Executive Leadership Programs: Specialized executive leadership expeditions for corporate teams and professionals, with tuition around $5,400 for 7-8 day programs.
4. Alumni and Custom Trips: Revenue from alumni trips and custom expeditions for organizations, ranging from $1,655 to $6,995 depending on duration and destination.
5. Philanthropic Support: NOLS receives charitable donations through the NOLS Fund (annual giving) and Endowment (perpetual funds). The Federal Tax ID is 83-0204184. They award nearly $2 million in scholarships annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NOLS is a nonprofit wilderness school that sells tuition-based experiential education programs, including immersive backpacking, mountaineering, sea kayaking, and cultural expeditions lasting one week to a full academic year, alongside accredited wilderness medicine certification courses (WFA, WFR, WEMT). It also delivers customized executive leadership expeditions and risk-management consulting to organizations, with course delivery happening in-person at 13 global wilderness campuses.

Product overview

NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) is a nonprofit wilderness education organization offering a diversified portfolio of experiential education programs. The core offerings center on NOLS Expeditions - immersive wilderness experiences spanning one week to an academic year - complemented by NOLS Teen Courses (summer programs for ages 14-17), and Semester & Year Courses for gap year, study abroad, and sabbatical participants. NOLS Wilderness Medicine provides 400+ courses for wilderness medicine certifications (WFA, WFR, WEMT). NOLS Custom Education delivers tailored training for organizations, while NOLS Executive Leadership offers professional development expeditions. NOLS Risk Services provides risk management consulting and the annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference. NOLS Alumni maintains a lifelong community with trips, benefits, and continuing education. Additional offerings include Leave No Trace instructor courses, academic credit partnerships with University of Utah and Albuquerque Academy, and publications including NOLS Wilderness Medicine textbooks and The Leader magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NOLS Expeditions Immersive wilderness expeditions (1 week to full academic year) covering backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, sea kayaking, sailing, rafting, horsepacking, packrafting, skiing, snowboarding, canyoneering, cultural immersion, and service projects across 13 global campuses; for teens, gap-year students, adults, and outdoor educators.
• NOLS Teen Courses Summer wilderness courses for teens aged 14-17 including backpacking, rock climbing, water sports, and winter activities for peer learning environments.
• NOLS Semester & Year Courses Long-format courses ideal for gap year programs, study abroad semesters, sabbaticals, and college programs for students aged 17+; immersive expeditions lasting one semester to a full academic year.
• NOLS Wilderness Medicine Wilderness medicine certification courses including Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness EMT (WEMT), and Emergency Medical Responder; available as initial certifications, recertifications, and specialized training for medical professionals across 400+ courses globally; delivered through in-house locations and a sponsorship network.
• Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester A 75-day immersive semester combining wilderness medicine certification with rescue skills training, allowing students to earn Wilderness EMT and other certifications while gaining expedition experience.
• NOLS Custom Education Customized wilderness education experiences for organizations, schools, and teams, including bespoke expeditions, leadership training, and risk management programs tailored to client needs.
• NOLS Risk Services Risk management consulting, training for trip leaders and program administrators, organizational consulting, and the annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference; informed by decades of managing risk for NOLS global programs.
• NOLS Wilderness Risk Management Conference Annual conference promoting dialogue about risk management in the outdoor industry, serving as a platform for professionals to share best practices and learn from industry experts.
• NOLS Alumni Trips Reunion and adventure trips for NOLS graduates and their friends/families, typically one week in length, offered globally including Alaska, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Norway, Patagonia, and beyond.
• NOLS Executive Leadership Leadership development expeditions for professionals and executives, including wilderness-based courses in Alaska, Rocky Mountains, and Baja designed to build leadership skills through experiential learning.
• Leave No Trace Courses Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor (Master Educator) courses that teach minimum-impact outdoor practices and environmental ethics, offered through backpacking and other activity formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 students receive nearly $2 million in scholarships annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central Wyoming CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026New partnership to expand course credit options for NOLS students, allowing them to earn college credits toward degrees.
• MSR (Mountain Safety Research)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024MSR and NOLS partnership titled 'Get A Lot, Give A Lot' - MSR donates outdoor equipment to NOLS while NOLS promotes MSR products, creating mutual benefit for both organizations in the outdoor education ecosystem.
• Gateway PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Initiatives providing education and pathways of access to underserved populations through fellowships and scholarship programs.
• REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Partnership to deliver wilderness medicine courses through REI Outdoor Schools and markets throughout the United States.
• Government Services AdministrationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 201020-year agreement to facilitate course delivery to federal agencies, making NOLS training available to government employees.
• Landmark LearningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007Partnership expanding NOLS wilderness medicine course offerings in the southeastern United States.
• University of UtahcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Partnership to offer academic college credit to NOLS students. Students can request official transcripts through the University of Utah registrar's office.
• C5 Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with C5 LA Leaders providing expedition experiences for youth leaders from underserved communities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Crest Outward Bound School: Pacific Crest is one of the regional Outward Bound schools and a direct NOLS competitor in the Pacific Northwest/West Coast wilderness expedition market, offering multi-week backpacking, mountaineering, and rafting courses.
• The Mountaineers: The Mountaineers offers wilderness skills courses (climbing, scrambling, backcountry travel) and leadership training in the Pacific Northwest. It is comparable to NOLS as a nonprofit outdoor education school with structured instructor-led courses and a member-driven community.
• Student Conservation Association: SCA provides conservation-focused outdoor service and leadership programs for youth and young adults, including wilderness-based crews and conservation expeditions. It is directly comparable to NOLS' service and cultural expedition offerings and shares the nonprofit experiential education model.
• Outward Bound USA: Outward Bound USA is the most direct competitor to NOLS, offering wilderness expedition-based leadership and character development courses for teens, adults, and organizations. Both organizations operate as outdoor experiential schools with multi-week expeditions, leadership curricula, and national footprints.
• Landmark Learning: Landmark Learning is a wilderness medicine and outdoor education provider in the Southeast that runs NOLS-sponsored wilderness medicine courses. It directly competes with NOLS Wilderness Medicine in regional certification markets.

Others

• Leave No Trace (Center for Outdoor Ethics): Leave No Trace is the environmental ethics nonprofit whose curriculum NOLS helped develop and now teaches. It is thematically related as a co-developer and standards body in outdoor education rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• The National Outdoor Leadership School of New Zealand (Outdoor Training New Zealand / Skills Active): Outdoor Training New Zealand delivers outdoor leadership and wilderness instructor training in New Zealand, partially overlapping with NOLS New Zealand operations. Comparable as a regional outdoor leadership education provider serving a similar curriculum niche.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Mountain Club: AMC is a large, established outdoor education and recreation organization offering hiking, climbing, and skills instruction across the Northeast. While broader in scope (lodging, trails, advocacy), its outdoor skills schools overlap with NOLS' expedition curriculum.
• REI Co-op (Outdoor Schools): REI delivers wilderness medicine and outdoor skills courses through its Outdoor Schools, partially in partnership with NOLS. While primarily a retailer, REI's instructional programs overlap with NOLS' entry-level wilderness medicine and skills offerings at scale.

Emerging players

• Avid4 Adventure: Avid4 Adventure runs multi-activity outdoor adventure camps for youth (ages 6–17), competing with NOLS' teen programs in summer wilderness and skills instruction. It is a for-profit operator scaling experiential outdoor education for younger demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NOLSedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/NOLS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/25127
• Instagraminstagram.com/nolsedu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NOLS