FRIENDS SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE AT NOLS | A PUBLICATION OF THE NOLS ADVANCEMENT OFFICE | AUG 2022
ALUMNI TRIPS: FUN, CHALLENGE & REKINDLED CONNECTIONS By Rich Brame, NOLS Instructor
“
G
’night, Molly.* I love you.” “I love you too, dad.” That’s what we heard in a quiet, darkened bunkroom, somewhere above timberline in the Italian Dolomites. We’d just snuggled into our sleeping sacks, under heavy comforters, after a great, multi-course dinner and a long day hiking on steep trails. What could be better than sharing in that daughter/father exchange on a NOLS mountain adventure? NOLS offers trips and global backcountry adventures for all kinds of grads, their guests, and their families. Our excursions vary in length (usually 7-16 days), physical difficulty, and format, and all are designed for adult learners and calendars. Some trips climb high peaks: from Gannett at the top of Wyoming, to Washington’s Mt. Rainier, to Argentina’s Aconcagua, or Kilimanjaro in Africa, our challenging mountain adventures review basic backcountry living and travel skills and then add pertinent technical curriculum that helps participants and the team succeed. In the tradition of NOLS expeditions, these trips are tough and committing. Not everyone wants to carry a large backpack, so we also offer water-based trips that let watercraft carry the gear. From sailing, to canoeing, to whitewater rafting and sea kayaking, water adventures explore remote wildlands and challenge our groups to learn and work together while honing skills. Many of our water trips travel to hard-
Alumni trips can be long, short, challenging, and filled with camaraderie and fun—and they’re a great way to share NOLS with friends and family. Rich Brame
to-reach locations like Croatia, the Greek coast, or the Bahamas. We also offer rock-climbing in basecamp settings, so days are spent learning climbing and rope systems rather than travel techniques. Rock climbing trips are suitable for novices, or experts as our experienced instructors share and build progressive vertical skills. Often, our rock climbing trips head to the sunny Southwest’s warm granite that gives participants a break from gray winter days in the north.
We know that grads like to share a NOLS experience with friends and family members—including parents, or younger children. Some of our trips cater specifically to families by tapping llamas, horses, or rafts to carry the heavy stuff. These trips let the team explore iconic wilderness areas like Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains, or Utah’s river canyons while participating in a true expedition experience. CONTINUED ON PG. 4
“The recipe for magic at NOLS is actually very simple. Great people + amazing places + learning = NOLS magic. Our Alumni trips follow this same recipe, we just expand the audience. Working Alumni trips all over the world has taught me the value of multi-generational groups. Someone’s prior NOLS experience, age, outdoor background, life path, none of those things matter. The power is in the humans, the space, and the curious minds. Putting those together is the NOLS magic.” —Travis Welch Alumni Trips Director FRIENDS IS FOR PEOPLE COMMITTED TO HELPING NOLS PROVIDE THE WORLD’S BEST EDUCATION IN WILDERNESS SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP. This newsletter aims to provide useful and interesting information on charitable gift planning and supporters of the school. NOLS is not engaged in rendering legal or tax advisory services. State laws govern wills, trusts, and many charitable gifts, and these laws vary from state to state. While NOLS welcomes and encourages inquiries about the material in this publication, individuals should consult with their professional advisors when planning their wills or deferred gifts.
NOLS.EDU | 1