ABOUT THE NOLS PROGRAM:
This trip centers around a 10-day field-based expedition that teaches leadership (as well as ecology and outdoor skills) in the Chilean part of Patagonia, one of the world's most beautiful and diverse mountain environments and a growing site of ecotourism.
The expedition is led by experienced instructors from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Students will learn technical outdoor skills, environmental practices, and leadership skills through structured lessons from the NOLS curriculum.
As part of the curriculum, you will also learn how to:
- Respond to the dynamic situations that arise exploring unfamiliar mountains in unpredictable weather with a diverse group.
- As leader for the day, students must make decisions in ambiguity and maintain morale under often challenging conditions.
- When in the role of team member, students will have to practice "active followership," acting to support the leader and the team.
NOLS instructors will guide learning from these experiences through individual and group discussions before and after each day's hike (a daily cycle of think, do, reflect). The expedition becomes a laboratory for expanding one's leadership repertoire, because each student is placed in different roles and receives granular feedback from the instructor and from peers every day. This opportunity to focus on one's teamwork skills with few distractions enables powerful and lasting self-insights, which students in past years have called "life changing."
JANUARY 2025 PROGRAM DETAILS:
Program Dates: January 7 - 16, 2024. You must be in Coyhaique starting on January 6. Expedition is January 7-16. You can leave anytime on January 17.
Program Costs: The program fee for the January 2025 expedition is $3,850. There is also a $350 equipment deposit with NOLS. Additionally, students are responsible for international airfare, 2 nights lodging in Coyhaique, and the associated costs of buying equipment (NOLS has rentals for most items).
Additional Information:
NOLS 2025 Info Session Recording
HOW TO SIGN UP:
Please check the dates of the trip to ensure you have no conflicts, as once you pay your non-refundable deposit you are considered part of the tour. There are no exceptions for classes (including Global Immersion and Block Week classes), recruiting, interviews, weddings, student activities, conferences, personal travel, etc.
Matching will open at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester.