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Immersive learning
The full NOLS experience
Semesters combine backpacking, climbing, kayaking, and leadership into one transformative arc. Over 75 to 90 days, you will develop technical skills across multiple disciplines while building the confidence and judgment to lead in any environment.
Financial aid
Semester programs
Choose your semester
The journey
What a semester looks like
Every NOLS semester follows a proven progression that builds skills, confidence, and independence over 10 to 12 weeks.
Weeks 1-2
Training Phase
Build your foundation. Learn essential backcountry skills, navigation, camp craft, and Leave No Trace principles. Your instructors assess the group and begin forming the team dynamic that will carry you through the semester.
Weeks 3-6
Expedition Phase
Student-led travel begins. You plan routes, manage group decisions, navigate challenging terrain, and lead real expeditions. This is where leadership skills are forged through daily practice and increasing responsibility.
Weeks 7-9
Second Discipline
Shift to a new skill set. Depending on your semester, this may be rock climbing, sea kayaking, mountaineering, or winter camping. Learning a second discipline builds adaptability and broadens your outdoor expertise.
Weeks 10-11
Independent Group & Debrief
Your group operates independently, without instructors on the trail. This is the culmination of everything you have learned. The semester closes with reflection, assessment, and a celebration of your growth.
Academic credit
Earn up to 27 college credits
NOLS partners with the University of Utah to offer accredited college credit for semester programs. Credits transfer to most colleges and universities nationwide.
University of Utah accredited coursework in outdoor education, leadership, and environmental studies
Credits accepted at hundreds of colleges and universities across the country
Official transcripts provided upon completion for seamless transfer to your home institution
Financial aid and scholarships available to help offset tuition costs
Alumni story
"I went on my NOLS semester expecting an outdoor adventure. What I got was a complete shift in how I see myself and what I am capable of. The leadership skills, the friendships, the self-reliance. Nothing else in college came close."
Jake R.
Fall Semester in the Rockies, 2025
Ready to go deeper?
Your semester starts here
Talk to an admissions advisor, request a catalog, or start your application today.
