National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) founder Paul Petzoldt conceived a simple idea in 1965: take people into the wilderness for an extended period of time, teach them the right things, feed them well and when they walk out of the mountains they will be skilled leaders. Petzoldt's core ideas remain the backbone of every NOLS course. Today, NOLS is recognized as the world's premier teacher of outdoor skills and leadership on expeditions from two to 12 weeks.

NOLS is based out of its international headquarters in Lander, Wyoming. NOLS is a non-profit school with locations on five continents and is the largest backcountry permit holder in the US. NOLS provides college credit programs with credits transferable to more than 400 US colleges. Since 1965, NOLS has educated more than 75,000 students in skills including backpacking, canoeing, whitewater expeditions, skiing, caving, rock climbing, horse packing and rock climbing. Students range in age from 14 to 70 and come from diverse backgrounds, from 50 states and 42 countries. NOLS operates in 11 different worldwide locations in the Americas, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Student and educator values are intimately tied to wilderness protection, education, leadership, risk management, community and excellence. NOLS is a founding partner of the national Leave No Trace (LNT) program, and writes its curriculum as well as trains land managers, outdoor leaders and others. The leadership skills learned at NOLS apply to everyday life in the same way they did 40 years ago.