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Let's celebrate June 8, 1965, as it marked the day a group of 43 students gathered near Lander, Wyoming, to head into the Wind River Mountains for 30 days of camping, hiking, fishing, and mountaineering, establishing the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Now, 58 years later, we celebrate the founding of NOLS and embrace the belief that there is value in taking groups of young people into the wilderness to learn about nature, leadership, group dynamics, and themselves. NOLS is much more today, with an international footprint and global impact centered around the wilderness.

We invite you to support the mission of NOLS by making a gift on Founders Day! Generous donors will match your gift to NOLS – help us reach our goal of unlocking these dollars! Every gift given has a significant impact on our future leaders!

Please help us spread the word #NOLSFoundersDay and share your impactful NOLS memories with us on Social Media!

Photo Credits:

Historic photos NOLS Archives top BJ Klophaus middle left to right Colleen Kelley; Kyle Strachan; Lindsay Yost

NOLS Founders Day

Honor the past and create future leaders and lovers of wilderness with a gift today!