Dedicate your gift to a specific decade and help lead the way!

From 1965 - 2026, which decade can show the greatest support for this year's Founders Day?

Reflect on your favorite decade at NOLS and show your support for future adventurers! 

We NOLS students of the 1960s had already seen a lot, coming of age in a world that was rapidly changing. Heading into the mountains in leather boots and Army-surplus wool sweaters, carrying on our backs everything we needed to thrive for the next four or five weeks, we were taking a chance on a new way to live—if only for a short time—and a new way to lead.

We NOLS students of the 1970s had opportunities earlier graduates did not: we could hike Mount Katahdin, climb in the Cascades, sail in Baja, and ski on the first NOLS Winter courses in the Wind River Mountains. This era also marked the beginning of NOLS' international expeditions, with the first courses offered in Kenya.

We NOLS students of the 1980s saw the expansion of the school's global footprint. This decade brought us to the majestic alpine of the Tetons and the arid deserts of the Southwest. University of Utah and NOLS established a partnership to offer students academic credit and NOLS installed their first computers in Headquarters.

We NOLS students of the 1990s experienced great growth and change at NOLS – many of us were among the first NOLS Wilderness Medicine students, while others got to experience the remote and rugged beauty of NOLS Patagonia’s wilderness classrooms.

We NOLS students of the 2000s were part of an era that emphasized leadership and environmental stewardship on a global scale. We navigated the waters of Alaska’s Prince William Sound and brought wilderness medicine training into an expedition format. We embraced lightweight backpacking techniques and synthetic materials, enhancing our ability to explore further and deeper into the wild.

We NOLS students of the 2010s benefited from advances in technology and training that enhanced our wilderness experiences. The decade saw a surge in diverse course offerings, including mountaineering in the Himalayas and sea kayaking in Scandinavia. We also embraced Leave No Trace principles more rigorously, ensuring that our adventures had minimal impact on the environments we cherished.

We NOLS students of the 2020s are navigating a world that continues to evolve, with challenges and opportunities shaped by global events and technological advancements. Our courses now include virtual learning components and advanced wilderness skills training, all while staying connected to NOLS' core values of leadership, resilience, and environmental ethics.