Location: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
What it is: NOLS (the National Outdoor Leadership School) is a wilderness-based education program. During the course of a program (which range from 7 days to a full-semester), students learn leadership skills, learning styles, personal assessment techniques, and outdoor skills, of course. Not everyone’s journey is as extreme as this video (from a different NOLS region), but you do get tested and lots of support in overcoming each obstacle.
Growth Potential: I did this course right after I graduated from college. Different people on the program were there for different reasons: some just wanted to learn outdoor skills; others were interested in being better leaders or teachers; some wanted a chance to learn about themselves outside the usual grind of school or jobs. I was looking for a chance to have an adventure before getting a job.
Pop Potential: NOLS isn’t all that mainstream. While anyone can enroll, it’s not free, usually about $100 a day. It also requires spending some time in the wilderness, which doesn’t appeal to everyone, especially your average city dweller. That said, NOLS is largely what you make it, which makes it more accessible than other programs with a narrowly defined objective for students.
“Get Real” Potential: I feel like NOLS is pretty down to earth already, so it’s not just for “crunchy” types or vegans. The self-examination stuff is very pragmatic and accessible for anyone.
What I Got out of it: Mostly, I had a cool adventure and learned some great skills. But I did learn about my own priorities and my needs, and it gave me a very interesting perspective on post-college, professional life.

Learn more about National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Southwest