A Day in the Life of the NOLS Marketing Intern: Cougars, Stickers, and Beanoa Quinoa

NOLS internships are my bag. I’m in the third month of my second internship here in Lander; moving from a cubicle on the east side of the Headquarters to what we refer to as a “piecle” over on the wild west– a triangular desk space within a bigger, circular desk area. Each member of the NOLS Marketing Team gets their own slice and decorates it accordingly.

Mine is doted with island cut-outs from my boss’ Patagonia catalog of rad surfer-sailor chicks like Liz Clark (my ultimate idol), but some stick to a more professional look with books and filing cabinets. We’ve all got our own flavors, and mine as an intern is a combination of them all.

This second internship has been far from cliche; I rarely get coffee for my co-workers unless I’m trying to cheer up a colleague who’s craving a soy mocha. I get out of the office often to run around Main Street distributing posters, or even to head into the mountains for a video shoot or a re-ration in the Winds on horseback.

I’ve been tossed in rivers with a 65-pound pack strapped to my back to test river-crossing methods for Risk Management, and I’ve had products tested on me like chapstick, bracelets, and questionable milk from the staff refrigerator. I helped to organize NOLS’ involvement in the International Climber’s Festival and contributed freeze pops to the annual Rocky Mountain BBQ; all while participating in the design of a NASA display for NOLS Pro, contacting bands for the 45th Anniversary celebrations, giving alumni talks to returning students, and heading to San Francisco for a Marketing event (and sight-seeing) for the weekend.

My life is far from boring, and while some days I stroll over to the thrift store for some midday treasure hunting, other days I’m getting back-boarded all morning for the WMI class up in Sinks Canyon and then heading straight to the office to talk to students, test a backcountry recipe, and write three articles for The Leader.

Being an intern at NOLS has been a blast, but I have to admit I’m excited to move into my new position as an Admissions Officer and pass on the torch to a fresh new face.