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From the Director
Leader
Summer dreaming As I look out my window today, grey clouds gliding across a cold blue sky, I’m taken to a place much warmer: summer. Rather than reflecting on exciting summers passed, however, my thoughts slip forward like the clouds, and I find myself on the edge of my seat in anticipation of summer 2013. I imagine the grins of our students on summer courses across the world, from the Pacific Northwest to the Teton Valley to East Africa. There are so many stories our alumni carry with them after their NOLS course, ranging from the young, recent graduate (see page 29) to the alumna of a decades-ago course (page 31). These are the stories that fuel our passion from season to season, from year to year. These stories are also a point of inspiration for youth who have not yet discovered the great outdoors. This summer, NOLS is embarking on a historic journey to create and disseminate stories that will reach youth underrepresented in our invaluable, wild places. NOLS’ Expedition Denali, the first African American team to make a summit bid on North America’s tallest peak, launches this summer, inspiring a generation of people of color. After the June expedition, the team will tour the nation, speaking to African American youth, inspiring them to discover, explore, and protect natural spaces. I encourage you to read more about Expedition Denali and our supporters on page 10. This reminds me of another partnership I’m delighted to see culminate this summer. Shelli Johnson, a 2011 NOLS graduate and life coach, and NOLS Professional Training are collaborating to provide an Epic Women Adventure in the Wind River Mountains this August. The ways our graduates find to use their NOLS experience and touch others’ lives continually inspires me. This is going to be an exciting summer, for our students, our graduates, and our future. As each season approaches and passes, we remain dedicated to improving the backcountry and educational experience we offer our students. Part of that involves exploring new techniques and, yes, technology. As more and more outdoorspeople are trading their paperback books for eReaders, we, too, are exploring the feasibility, applicability, and philosophical implications of implementing these tools on our expedition courses. Through a pilot project that is currently underway, invigorating dialogue and exciting data have filled NOLS Headquarters and NOLS Rocky Mountain. You can find an update on the first portion of the pilot project on page 12. As always, we invite your feedback and input on this publication. With my cold fingers wrapped around my coffee mug, perhaps the most fun subject matter in this issue of The Leader is the treasure trove of backcountry coffee tips. We invite you to weigh in (add to the comments we collected for page 4) in video form for a chance to win a brand-new Aero Press. Learn more in the Recipe Box on page 24 and on NOLS.TV. Enjoy the spring and start planning those summer adventures!
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John Gans, NOLS Executive Director
Leader
Casey Dean Editor Sam Baker Designer Alisha Bube Designer Rich Brame Alumni Relations Director John Gans NOLS Executive Director March 2013 • Volume 28 • No.2 Published three times a year in March, July, and November.
Postmaster: Send address changes to National Outdoor Leadership School 284 Lincoln St. Lander, WY 82520 The Leader is a magazine for alumni of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), a nonprofit school focusing on wilderness skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. It is mailed to approximately 60,000 NOLS alumni and an additional 10,000 prospective students. NOLS graduates living in the U.S. receive a free subscription to The Leader for life. The Leader accepts paid advertising and welcomes article submissions and comments. Please address all correspondence to theleader@nols.edu or call (307) 332-8800. Alumni can direct address changes to alumni@nols.edu or (800) 332-4280. For the most up-to-date information on NOLS, visit nols.edu or e-mail admissions@nols.edu. The Leader is printed with soy-based inks in Portland, Ore., on paper using 30 percent post-consumer-recycled content. A paperless version of The Leader is available online at www.nols.edu/alumni/leader.
What are these boxes? They’re QR codes—two-dimensional barcodes that can be read by smartphone cameras. Search “QR code” to find a free app for your phone, then use it to read images of the QR codes in The Leader. Scan the code above to see the latest episode of The NOLS Cooking Show.