NOLS Outdoor Gap Year

Overview
GAIN CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS
ON A NOLS EXPEDITION
Take time for your future on a NOLS gap year. NOLS created the original wilderness semester and we continue to lead the way - just like our graduates. On any semester or year course, learn multiple outdoor skills and gain in-depth leadership skills through an extensive hands-on progression guided by your instructors.
We prepare students for school, teamwork and life through a proven curriculum. Using an extensive hands-on approach, NOLS instructors teach expedition skills such as rock climbing, backpacking, sea kayaking, mountaineering, and wilderness medicine, paired with experiential learning in leadership and decision-making. Choose from a classic 30-day wilderness expedition or an immersive semester.
Whereever in the world you travel with NOLS, you will emerge with confidence, competence, direction, courage and perspective.
Related Listings
NOLS Wilderness Emergency Medicine Technician (WEMT)
NOLS Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
NOLS Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
NOLS Fall Semester in East Africa
NOLS Fall Semester in Baja
NOLS Fall Semester in India
NOLS Fall Semester in New Zealand
NOLS Fall Gap Semester in Patagonia
NOLS Fall Semester in the Pacific Northwest
NOLS Fall Semester in the Rockies
NOLS Fall Semester in the Southwest
NOLS Study Abroad Outdoors
NOLS Adirondack Service Expedition 18 to 22 Only
NOLS Baja Coastal Sailing
NOLS Baja Sea Kayaking
NOLS Fall Semester in the Rockies with WFR
NOLS Himalaya Backpacking
NOLS Himalaya Cultural Expedition
NOLS Himalaya Mountaineering
NOLS India Trip Leader
NOLS Pacific Northwest Spring Quarter
NOLS Pacific Northwest Trip Leader
NOLS Patagonia Coastal Expedition
NOLS Patagonia Cultural Expedition
NOLS Patagonia Mountaineering
NOLS Scandinavian Backpacking
NOLS Scandinavian Sea Kayaking and Backpacking
NOLS Southwest Leaders of Color Expedition
NOLS Southwest Rock Climbing
NOLS Spring Semester in Baja
NOLS Spring Semester in India
NOLS Spring Semester in New Zealand
NOLS Spring Semester in Patagonia
NOLS Spring Semester in the Rockies
NOLS Spring Semester in the Rockies with WFR
NOLS Spring Semester in the Southwest
NOLS Wilderness Medicine and Rescue Semester
NOLS Wind River Wilderness 18 to 22 Only
NOLS Gap Year in Patagonia - Argentina
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Summer Programs for Teens
NOLS Summer Semester in Alaska
NOLS Summer Semester in the Yukon
NOLS Summer Semester in the Rockies
NOLS Pacific Northwest Girls Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Pacific Northwest Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Idaho Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Adirondack Backpacking and Canoeing Adventure
NOLS Salmon Backing and Rafting Adventure
NOLS Wyoming Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Adirondack Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Salmon River Adventure
NOLS Adirondack Girls Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Wyoming Backpacking Adventure (3 weeks)
NOLS Idaho Girls Backpacking Adventure
NOLS Wind River Wilderness
NOLS Absaroka Backpacking
NOLS Adirondack Backpacking and Canoeing (16 and 17 Only)
NOLS Adirondack Canoeing Expedition (16 and 17 Only)
NOLS Alaska Backpacking
NOLS Alaska Backpacking (16 and 17 Only)
NOLS Alaska Backpacking and Sea Kayaking
NOLS Alaska Backpacking and Sea Kayaking (16 and 17 Only)
NOLS Alaska Mountaineering
NOLS Leave No Trace Master Educator
NOLS North Cascades Mountaineering
NOLS Pacific Northwest Backpacking
NOLS Pacific Northwest Mountaineering and Sailing
NOLS Pacific Northwest Sea Kayaking
NOLS Rock and River
NOLS Rock Climbing in Wyoming 21 Days Program
NOLS Rock Climbing 21-Day (16 and 17 Only)
NOLS Rock Climbing 30 Day
NOLS Salmon Backpacking and Rafting
NOLS Waddington Range Mountaineering
NOLS Whitewater River Expedition
NOLS Whitewater River Expedition (16 and 17 Only)
NOLS Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)
NOLS Wilderness Horsepacking
NOLS Wind River Mountaineering
NOLS Wind River Service Expedition
NOLS Wind River Wilderness 16 and 17 Only
NOLS Yukon Backpacking
NOLS Yukon Backpacking and Wilderness Canoe
NOLS Yukon Mountaineering and Whitewater Canoeing
Testimonials
One thing’s for sure, I would not have been the same person if I had just gone to college after high school. As a college student now I realize just how sweet the whole NOLS experience was. I personally think if everyone took a NOLS trip sometime after high school, the world would be a better place.
Away from technology, social norms, and societal restrictions I felt free, and excited for life at all times. That is a feeling that I will never forget and one that I will continue to strive for throughout my life… I truly believe that my NOLS course was the turning point in my life, and I emerged from it a better person in every way.
A NOLS course provides an excellent transition from high school to university because it is a generous gift of time and adventure to reflect on where you have been, who you are, and who you would like to become. Its challenges require personal growth, especially in teamwork and other interpersonal skills. It requires students to disconnect from their digital world for an extended period, providing space for them to come to know and appreciate our national world.
Parents have concerns about their children going off to college, and having an intermediate step for kids is a good thing… They are better prepared for adversity and challenges in life because they’ve experienced adversity and challenges at NOLS.
Away from technology, social norms, and societal restrictions I felt free, and excited for life at all times. That is a feeling that I will never forget and one that I will continue to strive for throughout my life… I truly believe that my NOLS course was the turning point in my life, and I emerged from it a better person in every way
Life will keep showing me new challenges and testing my values, my strength, my focus. NOLS reminded me that most of what I need already exists within me, if I can get out of my own way to let it be free.