NOLS Bus Tour Declares Energy Independence

LANDER, Wyo.-Fueled by French fries, the NOLS on the Road: Finding Tomorrow’s Leaders bus tour travels the country bringing the non-profit school’s educational program of outdoor skills, leadership and environmental awareness to communities across the nation.

Sponsored by SilkT, the makers of organic soymilk, the NOLS bus runs on RVO, a cleaner, renewable alternative to petroleum. The specially adapted vehicle is refueled with RVO at restaurants. In addition, solar panels power audio-visual equipment, lights and computers.

“For several years NOLS has pursued the idea of introducing our educational program to people where they live, but driving a gas guzzler around the country ran counter to our educational mission and values,” says Bruce Palmer, NOLS marketing director. “Then some of our college-age graduates introduced us to RVO as a fuel. Now we can put our show on the road and live our values.”

The bus brings NOLS’ high-quality outdoor education right into communities. Activities include a climbing wall on the side of the bus, a caving simulation under the bus, fly-fishing clinics, and Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (WMI) clinics.

Evenings will feature the bus’ solar-powered outdoor theatre showing the NOLS movie “The Expedition,” NOLS alumni expedition slide shows and sneak previews of the NOLS TV series. High-quality outdoor gear will also be raffled on college campuses.

The project’s environmental components were what attracted the attention of SilkT. As a socially responsible company, having SilkT delivered on college campuses by a bus running on used vegetable oil and solar power seems perfect.

White Wave, Inc. (www.SILKisSOY.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Foods (NYSE: DF), was established in Boulder, Colo., in 1977. In 1996, White Wave introduced Silk, America’s first refrigerated soymilk. Today, Silk is available in 11 flavors and is the No. 1 selling organic consumer packaged goods brand in the nation. White Wave’s product offerings include Silkr Soymilk, SunSoyr Soymilk and the new TofuTownT Tofu TendersT line of ready-to-eat tofu.