NOLS State of the School 2018

STATE OF THE SCHOOL REPORT 2018

Oscar Manguy

NOLS emboldens us to step forward.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ENGAGEMENT Step Forward Campaign Goes Public, Reaches Halfway Mark.........5 John Gans, NOLS President, to Retire in 2019................................7 It’s a Family Affair............................. 9 GIVING The NOLS Fund....................................11 The NOLS Endowment.................... 14 Planned Giving............................... 15 HIGHLIGHTS Risk Management.......................... 17 Financial........................................ 19 NOLS SUPPORTERS.........................26

nols.edu | 2

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

I

“We have made the

world a better place and it has been an honor of the highest order to serve as the fifth leader of this remarkable organization.”

— John Gans President

3 | State of the School Report 2018

t’s a challenge to succinctly capture the complex story of a year, especially a year with the numerous twists and turns Fiscal Year 2018 had. Until mid-year, our financial picture was gloomy, and there was reason for concern. The lesson of FY2018, however, is that it’s truly not over until it’s over.

In previous years, our field expedition programs drove our results and financial picture, with semesters as very strong secondary drivers. Semester enrollment was down in the fall and spring, though, and the early- to mid-year outlook was concerning. We had to adjust, change plans, and make modifications to our programming. We launched a study examining semester enrollment, and hardworking staff members took steps to reverse the trend.

Along the way, we discovered we have secondary drivers besides semesters. The performances of NOLS Custom Education and NOLS Wilderness Medicine clearly changed the year for the better, and the rising impact of risk consulting, the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, and alumni courses also were notable.

Add strong philanthropic support, solid investment returns, and great financial management, and we put together a very successful year.

We educated a record number of students, produced great student outcomes, had strong risk management outcomes, invested in our staff and systems, and made progress on our strategic plan. We raised record support in the NOLS Fund and awarded record scholarship support. That support helped expand the reach of our mission and our programs. Our endowment reached a new record high and our investment return was very strong.

The endowment also increased through a strong year of support for our Step Forward campaign.

On the heels of such a successful year as a team, it’s with mixed emotions that I announce my intent to retire from the presidency of NOLS. I started working for NOLS in 1981 and by the time I retire, around fall 2019, I will have dedicated 39 years to NOLS. In 1995, over 23 years ago, I was selected to serve as executive director. At the time, Paul Petzoldt told me it was my time “to carry the heavy pack.” I am exceedingly proud of what we have accomplished together over these 23 years, most importantly educating over 320,000 students around the world. We have made the world a better place and it has been an honor of the highest order to serve as the fifth leader of this remarkable organization.

It has been a gratifying and extraordinary experience to work with all of you to make the magic happen. I can’t sufficiently express my gratitude to staff, former staff, Advisory Council, trustees, donors, alumni, and all who have given of themselves for our students and mission. It has been a gift to learn from you and share this chapter.

John Gans President

Karolina Bassa

nols.edu | 4

Lindsay Yost

ENGAGEMENT

STEP FORWARD CAMPAIGN GOES PUBLIC, REACHES HALFWAY MARK

by Katelyn Hiett Foundation Relations Manager

Oscar Manguy

5 | State of the School Report 2018

A

fter more than 50 years of NOLS education, we are excited to announce Step Forward: The Campaign for NOLS. This new campaign—the most ambitious in NOLS history—is a $30 million comprehensive campaign that deepens the school’s commitment to excellence while making a NOLS education ever more accessible to an increasingly diverse student body. As we announce this strategic priority publicly, we are also celebrating commitments that already bring us past the halfwaymark, setting a pace for growth as we step forward into the school’s next 50 years.

This campaign is the most ambitious in the school’s history.

The campaign has four main objectives: access and affordability, sustainability for a changing world, campus improvements, and providing core support to meet immediate annual needs. At $15 million, access and affordability is our central campaign priority. Increasing access to our courses through strategic partnerships and scholarships will create new opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate. With this goal as our top priority, we are committed to expanding cultural horizons on our courses while making NOLS more representative of the changing demographics of our world.

This campaign also seeks to expand our commitment to sustainability through smarter and more efficient business practices. We won’t stop there, however, because we also aim to amplify the impact of that work as we educate our more than 25,000 annual students. With a $3 million investment we will amplify efforts to protect NOLS’ outdoor classrooms and will update our physical assets, making them more energy efficient. As part of this goal, we are committed to creating a $1 million Green Fund to endow this work in perpetuity.

Our campuses and classrooms will benefit from the Step Forward campaign too, with a goal of $2 million to make much-needed improvements across our locations. This work will expand classrooms to improve educational outcomes in NOLS Patagonia, and an expansion of the NOLS Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus will allow us to educate more students every year. Finally, we will continue to invest in what makes NOLS the global leader in wilderness education by raising $10 million to fund core programs. We’ll achieve this strategic goal through the NOLS Fund, which helps to meet the school’s annual needs while keeping tuition and other student costs low.

This campaign is the most ambitious in the school’s history. But with more than $17 million already raised and with 100 percent commitment from our Board of Trustees, Advisory Council, and executive leadership, as well as the loyal support from staff and donors, we are confident we will meet our campaign goals. We invite you to step forward with us as we continue the NOLS mission of time-tested leadership and wilderness education into the next half century. nols.edu/stepforward

Oscar Manguy

IMMEDIATE SUPPORT $10 Million

Campaign Goal

$30 MILLION

SUSTAINABILITY $3 Million

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS $2 Million

ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY $15 Million

nols.edu | 6

ENGAGEMENT

JOHN GANS, NOLS PRESIDENT, TO RETIRE IN 2019

by Anne McGowan Development Communications Coordinator

NOLS Archives

NOLS Archives Kirk Rasmussen

7 | State of the School Report 2018

A

fter 24 years as the president of NOLS, John Gans announced last November he is—to borrow a phrase from Paul Petzoldt—putting down “the heavy pack” and retiring at the end of 2019.

John is NOLS’ fifth president and, marking 23 years in that role, its longest-serving leader. He took his first course 40 years ago as a scholarship student on a Semester in Kenya. After a stint as an instructor, John went on to serve as director of NOLS Alaska, admissions and marketing director, and operations director before assuming the role of president in 1995.

When John was named executive director, NOLS was celebrating its 30th anniversary. He directed the school’s leadership team to achieve a number of “firsts” for NOLS, including long-term strategic planning and empowering staff and instructors to be a part of the vision for the school. NOLS also formally established an endowment in this time, enabling it to achieve financial stability and share its mission more broadly.

Mara Gans

“I’m exceedingly proud of what we’ve accomplished together over these last 23 years.”

In fact, John’s tenure is marked by innovation and fiscal acumen, focused on putting students first while achieving financial stability. Under his leadership, NOLS increased overall income by 300 percent, grew faculty and staff from 475 to 1,296 members, and contributed almost $2 million in financial aid awards in 2018 alone.

John, however, calls the formal development of the NOLS leadership curriculum his proudest legacy. Before 1995, leadership was taught on NOLS courses in an organic and sometimes inconsistent way. Just a year into his role as director, John launched the Leadership Project, inviting senior NOLS staff to study and develop teaching best practices. The result was the nationally-recognized 4-7-1 leadership model, incorporated into NOLS’ course offerings today.

“Defining the leadership curriculum enabled NOLS to bring our leadership training into the 21st century, helping solidify the school’s mission and becoming a key differentiator for our programs,” John said, noting NOLS offers a curriculum sought by business schools, Google management, NASA, the military, and schools across the nation.

John’s leadership pushed NOLS from operating solely as an expedition-focused organization to an industry leader, providing a portfolio of services. For instance, NOLS acquired the Wilderness Medicine Institute, the leading provider of Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder courses, in 1999. Today, NOLS Wilderness Medicine provides credentials to 23,500 students annually. Then, in 2000, the school created NOLS Custom Education to better serve corporate and group markets, providing personalized leadership training to NASA, top

Brad Christensen

ranked business schools, military service organizations, and youth pathway programs. That success led to NOLS’ investment in risk management consulting and the creation of NOLS Risk Services, which provides risk management reviews and consultations. NOLS Risk Services is also a founder and legacy partner of the 25-year-old Wilderness Risk Management Conference.

“I’m exceedingly proud of what we’ve accomplished together over these last 23 years,” John said. “Together, NOLS has made the world a better, more inclusive place and it’s been an honor of the highest order to serve as the fifth leader of this remarkable organization.” nols.edu | 8

Courtesy of the Sarti Family

ENGAGEMENT

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR

by Molly Herber NOLS Senior Writer

9 | State of the School Report 2018

F

or many NOLS graduates, expedition behavior is a skill they reflect on and put into action long after their courses. With its emphasis on serving the group and attention to others, it’s also easy to see why expedition behavior is especially transferable to families. It may be why we see growing numbers of multi-generational NOLS families, those that include NOLS graduates from across the years.

Often, parents who are NOLS grads make taking a course a priority for their children. We also see spouses inspiring their partners, and children bringing their parents into the NOLS family. In the Sarti family, for example, husbands and wives, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters have taken a variety of courses, from Wilderness First Responders to exploring Alaska’s Brooks Range. Michelle Sarti, a former NOLS Board member, described the appeal of NOLS for her many family members: Nick Springer

“We all had unique experiences, yet we all experienced the common themes found throughout every NOLS course: exceptional skill-based training with an emphasis on leadership and managing risk, and the subtle but powerful education in expedition behavior and getting along with all kinds of people, in all kinds of environments.”

Scott Kane

Families thrive on common ground, and for many NOLS families, that becomes a shared love of the outdoors with the skills to support new adventures.

For NOLS parent Alyssa Walker, expedition behavior was also a key take-away, helping her family know better when to step in and help and when to leave someone alone.

“It’s about realizing that you can rely on others when you need to,” Alyssa said. “It’s about picking up, doing your share, and getting on with it. That’s not just in the outdoors. That’s parenting. That’s relationships.”

Of course, while an expedition has defined start and end dates, families are for life. The relationships are intricate, and sometimes messy, embodying the “illstructured problem solving” students so often confront on expeditions. It’s easy to imagine that on some days one would rather bushwhack for six miles than try to apologize for a snippy comment made at dinner last night. But, as the Sartis discovered, the benefits of a NOLS course are tangible and go beyond good EB. “As a parent, it was particularly gratifying to talk to my boys when they returned from their NOLS courses,” Michelle explained. “They really enjoyed the physical and mental challenge of hiking and rock climbing every

day. It’s good for kids to do hard stuff—to realize they can do it and that it’s actually fun. NOLS was a definite confidence builder for them.”

Families thrive on common ground, and for many NOLS families, that becomes a shared love of the outdoors with the skills to support new adventures. It can be a rich and textured journey for everyone—and perhaps a rare moment when mom and dad don’t have to take the lead.

nols.edu | 10

GIVING | THE NOLS FUND

CONSISTENT GROWTH SUPPORTS THE MISSION

E

ach year NOLS alumni, parents, staff, and friends join together to support the NOLS Fund. Gifts to the annual fund help support scholarships, sustainability, research, and outreach initiatives that make a difference to our students and the school.

This year, 3,129 NOLS Fund donors stepped forward to help us raise an unprecedented $2,244,689 in support of the school’s mission. We exceeded our financial goal by almost 7 percent. Of that, 93 percent were unrestricted gifts, giving NOLS the flexibility to use the money where it’s needed most.

11 | State of the School Report 2018

Other highlights included a 56 percent retention rate in donors, 100 percent participation by our Board of Trustees and Advisory Council members, and a record number of online donations.

Your contributions allow us to empower our students to see beauty in the outdoors, inspire them to become effective leaders, and show them how they can use the knowledge gained on their course in their lives and communities. Thank you!

David Morgan

nols.edu | 12

DONOR STORY | JAMES “KG” KAGAMBI

Longtime Instructor Witnesses Growth on Courses James “KG” Kagambi is one of NOLS’ senior-most instructors. First hired in 1989, and with more than 820 weeks teaching in the field, KG has seen the benefits of a NOLS course over and over again. That’s why he donates to the NOLS Fund.

“I believe NOLS can change lives. It changed mine,” he said. As a teacher in his native Kenya, KG spotted a NOLS bus on his way to work. He was intrigued and, because NOLS encouraged him, he took a mountaineering course, then an instructor course, and soon found a new career.

NOLS does a rare thing for students, said KG: It gives people chances, an opportunity to fail in an atmosphere of acceptance.

“NOLS allows people to make mistakes in a place where they get feedback immediately, and where there are fewer people to witness their mistakes,” he said.

At the same time, NOLS can make a student feel like they have the whole world available to them. “It’s like everything is open to you, and you can try anything,” he said.

KG is most inspired by the growth and changes he sees in students on courses—particularly young students.

“I see the gifts people leave NOLS courses with,” he said, specifically mentioning young students. “You can see how they develop and grow, especially at that young age.”

NOLS isn’t within reach for everyone, though, so KG supports scholarships through gifts to the NOLS Fund.

“I give to support that. I give to help those who can’t do it without a scholarship,” he said. “The gift I give joins others and becomes an amount that makes a difference.”

“If you support the NOLS mission, you keep the spirit going by giving,” KG recommended. “How can you expect others to give if you don’t?”

13 | State of the School Report 2018

Jack Thoene

GIVING | THE NOLS ENDOWMENT

ENDOWMENT ENSURES STABILITY

N

OLS’ healthy endowment is the reflection of a well-run organization committed to a strong future. It’s also an indication of the effort and vision required to achieve it.

Funds in the endowment are invested and generate income, allowing leadership education and outdoor experiences to be made available to all who seek them. Equally important, they ensure stability for our current and future needs.

In short, Fiscal Year 2018 was another very strong one for our endowment, which grew by $5,964,000, or almost 15 percent. Growth was due to a combination of new gifts and pledges to the Step Forward campaign, board designations to the endowment, and positive investment returns.

Those investments saw a return of 10 percent for the fiscal year.

Growth is a trend for the endowment; it has seen steady growth for the last four fiscal years, growing by 46 percent since the beginning of FY2015. The release from the endowment, consequently, continues to grow each year. In FY2018, the release provided nearly $1,370,000 to support scholarships and programs. Over the four years since FY 2015, the release has provided a total of $4,657,000.

Though less than 20 years old, the NOLS Endowment’s success signals stability for decades to come.

nols.edu | 14

HIGHLIGHTS | RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK MANAGEMENT 2018

R

• Our emergency and evacuation systems worked smoothly and effectively at all our locations worldwide. Most evacuations are logistically straightforward, but 13 percent this year were more complicated and required additional assistance, including the use of helicopters, power boats, fixed wing aircraft, horses, and team assists.

• There were 444 medical incidents (injuries and illnesses) reported—50 incidents less than average. There were more illnesses (253) than injuries (191) reported.

isk and consequence make our education relevant and practical. Risk is inherent in the remote locations through which we travel and our approach to risk is one of respect gained through knowledge, skill, experience, and expertise. We value critical thinking, reflection on experiences, resilience in difficult times, and commitment to our students. We continually enhance our systems of risk management as societal expectations change, wilderness travel techniques evolve, and technology improves and develops. Risk management is a core element of our curriculum.

Our risk management performance in 2018 was successful on many levels. Following are the year’s results:

• There were 150 medical evacuations—3 percent below average. The evacuation rate of 0.95 evacuations per 1,000 program days was the 10th lowest rate in 33 years of collecting data.

• Out of all field course students, 7 percent had a reportable injury or illness and 3 percent were evacuated. In total, 3.4 percent of field students had to leave NOLS before the end of their course: 1.7 percent for medical reasons and 1.7 percent for non-medical reasons.

• Our most serious incidents on field courses were two incidents of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). On a wilderness medicine classroom course, a student suffered cardiac arrest, and survived (see Risk Management in Action).

Rate/1,000 Program Days

NOLS Medical Incident and Evacuation Rates

17 | State of the School Report 2018

3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

2.77

2.91

2.65

2.81

Medical Incidents Medical Evacuations

1.12

0.99

0.91

32 Year Avg. 1985-2017

10 Year Avg. 2008-2017

5 Year Avg. 2013-2017

0.95 2018

Kyle Wilson

RISK MANAGEMENT IN ACTION The most significant life-threatening event of the year did not occur in the backcountry, but during a classroom-based Wilderness EMT course in Jackson, Wyoming, in March.

A 62-year-old man suddenly went into cardiac arrest while sitting in a chair in the classroom. Three NOLS instructors were present and quickly responded and determined he did not have a pulse. They began CPR, administered oxygen to him from the course supplies, used an AED (automated external

defibrillator) that was available in the facility, and called 911.

The other students assisted by clearing the classroom of chairs and desks, helping maintain the patient’s airway and chest compressions, and relaying information to the 911 dispatcher. They were able to revive the patient, who developed a pulse, blood pressure, and improved skin color, and they continued to aid his breathing with oxygen.

Emergency medical services from Grand Teton National

Park arrived and assumed patient care. The patient was transported to a hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho via life-flight helicopter. The student survived and was discharged four days later. He went to visit the course in Jackson Hole before returning home to recuperate.

The instructors, and students who assisted, saved this man’s life. The gentleman returned in September and completed his course. nols.edu | 18 nols.edu | 18

Mara Gans

HIGHLIGHTS | FINANCIAL

STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE NOLS Balance Sheet Aug. 31, 2018 and 2017 Assets

2018

2017

Cash

$11,253,000

$16,883,000

Investments

18,937,000

10,683,000

Endowment investments

44,725,000

39,564,000

Receivables

694,000

1,596,000

Pledges receivable

2,729,000

1,541,000

Prepaid expenses

418,000

344,000

1,045,000

1,119,000

Merchandise Other Property, plant, and equipment net Total assets Liabilities and net assets Accounts payable

19 | State of the School Report 2018

1,175,000

1,114,000

28,385,000

27,729,000

$ 109,361,000

$ 100,573,000

2018

2017

$5,638,000

$4,961,000

Student deposits

6,619,000

6,558,000

Total liabilities

12,257000

11,519,000

Net assets

$97,104,000

$89,054,000

Total liabilities and net assets

$109,361,000

$100,573,000

A

s we come to the end of another fiscal year, it is with great pride that we’re able to once again share that the financial position of NOLS has never been stronger.

Through the hard work of staff and the guidance of our supporters, we have operated in a very fiscally responsible manner at all levels of NOLS, which is clearly reflected in our balance sheet. We know that the greatest strength of NOLS is our mission, and also that a strong financial foundation is needed to carry that mission into the future. Through a combination of a growing endowment, identified reserves, and lack of long-term debt, we believe we have built that foundation.

Our endowment is an increasingly important piece of our financial footing, providing support for scholarships and our mission. Over the last nine fiscal years, the value of the endowment portfolio has more than quadrupled, growing to $44,725,000. We are grateful for the support from our friends in building this crucial piece of our financial foundation. The trust placed in us by the supporters of our endowment is humbling, and the prudent management of this resource continues to be key to our mission.

The financial resources that have been generated over the past years from operations and our donors are an important responsibility and opportunity for NOLS.

A core organizational goal identified in our current strategic plan is to maintain our disciplined financial stewardship. We have achieved this by creating and funding cash reserves. These reserves not only sustain us in difficult circumstances but also maintain our facilities and allow us to pursue opportunities to expand our reach and mission. We will continue to invest and use our financial reserves to support our students and mission while protecting the integrity of our financial resources.

NOLS Endowment $45,000,000

$44,725,000

$40,000,000

$39,564,000

$35,000,000

$34,484,000

$30,000,000 $25,000,000

$31,159,000

2014

2015

$24,288,000

$20,000,000 $15,000,000

$30,641,000

$16,861,000

$18,770,000

$10,000,000 2011

2012

2013

2016

2017

2018

nols.edu | 20

Nicholas Valentine

HIGHLIGHTS | FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

O

ur Statement of Activities is reflective of one of our strongest ever financial years. In fiscal 2018, we saw our overall net assets increase by $8,050,000 compared to an increase of $7,926,000 in the prior year. This increase in our overall net assets can be attributed to success in all areas: excellent operating results, strong philanthropic support, and positive investment returns.

Running NOLS operations in a fiscally responsible manner continues to be one of our strengths. While our operating results have remained consistent, the way we’ve achieved these results has evolved. Expedition programs remain our foundation and the largest portion of our tuition, but growth in our NOLS Wilderness Medicine and NOLS Custom Education programs has led to continuing

diversification of both our revenue stream and the reach of our mission. Staff throughout the school have continued to evolve as well to respond to these changes.

One of the highlights of the fiscal year was the strong support we received from our many donors. In FY 2018, our total philanthropic revenue was $5,741,000, an increase of $1,297,000 from the previous year.

Another highlight of the financials was our investment returns. We benefited from the overall rising markets, and for the fiscal year our investment return— primarily on our endowment—totaled 10 percent. The gains on our investments, along with the continued support from our friends, added to both the current year and our future.

Expenses

Revenue 76% Program

71% Tuition and Fees 4% Other Program Revenue 12% Investment Earnings

21% Administration 13% Philanthropic 3% Fundraising

21 | State of the School Report 2018

NOLS Statement of Activities

For the fiscal years ending Aug. 31, 2018 and 2017 Revenues and Other Support

Unrestricted

Temporarily Restricted

Permanently Restricted

Total 2018

Total 2017

$32,150,000

$-

$-

$32,150,000

$31,468,000

Program revenues Tuition and fees Other program revenues

1,733,000

-

-

1,733,000

1,771,000

$33,883,000

-

-

$33,883,000

$33,239,000

Contributions and grants

1,462,000

1,119,000

3,160,000

5,741,000

4,444,000

Released from endowment

947,000

(947,000)

-

-

-

656,000

(656,000)

-

-

-

Total program revenue Fundraising activities

Net assets released from restriction for Program Buildings and Equipment

-

-

-

-

-

$3,065,000

(484,000)

3,160,000

$5,741,000

$4,444,000

Interest and investment income

634,000

360,000

-

994,000

1,296,000

Net realized and unrealized gains on investments

1,786,000

2,501,000

-

4,287,000

4,519,000

60,000

-

-

60,000

39,000

Total investment and other revenue

$2,480,000

$2,861,000

-

$5,341,000

$5,854,000

Total revenue and other support

$39,428,000

$2,377,000

$3,160,000

$44,965,000

$43,537,000

$28,133,000

-

-

$28,133,000

$28,056,000

7,819,000

-

-

7,819,000

6,591,000

Total fundraising revenue Investment and other revenue

Gain (loss) on sale of equipment

Expenses Program Administration

963,000

-

-

963,000

964,000

Total expenses

$36,915,000

-

-

$36,915,000

$35,611,000

Change in net assets

$2,513,000

$2,377,000

$3,160,000

$8,050,000

$7,926,000

Fundraising

nols.edu | 22

HIGHLIGHTS | SEVEN-YEAR FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

T

he last seven years has been a time of continued growth in both the educational impact and financial position of NOLS. Each new fiscal year presents us with a new set of operational and financial opportunities and challenges. Though the numbers on paper can look similar from year to year, the story behind them continues to evolve. We are proud of how staff in all areas of NOLS respond to these challenges and opportunities and continue to move us forward.

Our net assets have increased in each of the last seven years and have nearly doubled over this time. Growing our

net assets is not a part of our mission, but it is a key part of our financial foundation. These continued positive results are indicative of the commitment of NOLS staff and supporters to ensure the NOLS mission thrives today and into the future.

While each of the last seven years is a collection of unique stories, NOLS has consistently seen strong operating results and support from our friends. Contributions to our mission have continued to grow through gifts to the Step Forward campaign, the NOLS Fund, our endowment, the International Base Camp Initia-

tive, Campaign NOLS, and the NOLS Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus. Gifts to these campaigns over the past seven years have reached nearly $32 million.

Thanks to the support and efforts of many, we continue to build on the successes of our past and look to our future with a strong financial position.

We recognize the importance of being excellent stewards of our financial resources. Our positive financial results and strong balance sheet are due to the support and efforts of many and will help us to carry our mission into the future.

Jonah Raether

23 | State of the School Report 2018

NOLS Seven-Year Financial Highlights 2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

Total Assets

$109,361,000

$100,573,000

$93,870,000

$88,587,000

$87,532,000

$79,100,000

$71,140,000

Total Liabilities

$12,257,000

$11,519,000

$12,742,000

$12,443,000

$11,916,000

$11,674,000

$11,847,000

Net Assets

$97,104,000

$89,054,000

$81,128,000

$76,144,000

$75,616,000

$67,426,000

$59,293,000

$33,883,000

$33,239,000

$34,182,000

$32,998,000

$32,182,000

$30,724,000

$29,512,000

Contributions

5,741,000

4,444,000

2,708,000

3,103,000

3,234,000

5,998,000

4,923,000

Investment

5,281,000

5,815,000

3,402,000

(1,497,000)

5,199,000

2,794,000

978,000

Revenue Program

Other Total revenues

60,000

39,000

16,000

53,000

67,000

1,000

62,000

$44,965,000

$43,537,000

$40,308,000

$34,657,000

$40,682,000

$39,517,000

$35,475,000

$28,133,000

$28,056,000

$27,764,000

$26,516,000

$25,231,000

$25,464,000

$24,326,000

963,000

964,000

890,000

858,000

864,000

909,000

974,000

Expenses Program Fundraising

7,819,000

6,591,000

6,670,000

6,755,000

6,397,000

5,011,000

4,445,000

Total expenses

Administration and Interest

$36,915,000

$35,611,000

$35,324,000

$34,129,000

$32,492,000

$31,384,000

$29,745,000

Change in net assets

$8,050,000

$7,926,000

$4,984,000

$528,000

$8,190,000

$8,133,000

$5,730,000

NOLS field courses

4,990

4,833

5,141

4,698

4,320

4,210

4,056

NOLS classroom courses

Number of Students 22,487

21,711

20,771

19,010

16,763

15,853

14,288

Total students

27,477

26,544

25,912

23,708

21,083

20,063

18,344

Number of student days

227,235

227,853

231,912

224,256

217,559

208,787

205,155

Scholarship recipients

979

900

1,030

883

603

624

613

Scholarships awarded

$1,921,000

$1,722,000

$ 1,930,000

$1,761,000

$1,543,000

$1,543,000

$1,519,000

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DONOR STORY | CATHERINE BROADHEAD

Supporting NOLS Through Adversity

Catherine “Cat” Broadhead enjoys challenges and teamwork. The four-time NOLS alumna and businesswoman—she’s a performance consultant working with students and athletes to improve their mental skills—knows a lot about both. Last year, at 42, Cat completely lost her hearing from a rare autoimmune disease and viral meningitis.

“I think of this challenge as an expedition,” she said, looking back to her NOLS experiences for lessons in tolerance for adversity and uncertainty. Cat completed a Wind River Wilderness course as a teen, and three NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses in support of her professional life.

“Adversity and uncertainty are part of an expedition and part of life, but there are appropriate ways of managing them,” Cat said. The day after she completed her Wilderness EMT course, she fell on a mountain, chipped her patella and severed her patellar tendons, but was prepared for this emergency medically and emotionally.

“Life is unpredictable and bad things happen. I believe it’s important to be prepared,” she said. “I was able to manage the wound until medical professionals arrived,” she recalled. “More importantly, I was able to ‘spread calm,’ in the words of my instructor, when my friends were freaking out.”

She’s just as capably managing her hearing loss.

“I’m training, through speech reading and American Sign Language, to meet communication challenges and developing deaf-education programs in my work. And I’m asking for help from my team, the people who support me,” Cat said. NOLS taught her that teamwork means asking for help when you need it. “Being a leader does not mean doing it all on your own.”

A member of the NOLS Summit Team—those who have made a planned gift to the school—Cat is also using her unique experience to recognize the need for and to support a sign language interpreter on a 2018 NOLS Wilderness Medicine course. “I’d like to give the opportunity of NOLS to more people,” she said.

Monica Keller

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Ben Lester

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Jessica Rock

DONOR STORY | CHARLEY BROOKS

Memorial Scholarship Benefits 165 Students— and Counting Charley Brooks was a free spirit.

“He didn’t give a damn about the strictures of society, but he was very concerned about environmental issues,” his father Tony said. Charley didn’t just think about nurturing the Earth—he did his part, said his mother Linda, recalling how Charley travelled off paths and climbed over rocks to gather trash.

Tony and Linda are the founders of the Charles W. Brooks II Memorial Scholarship, one of NOLS’ oldest and largest endowed scholarships. It’s named in memory of their son, who died in a car accident just months after finishing his 1990 Wind River Mountaineering course. After the tragedy, Charley’s brother pressed for something tangible and good to come from it. The scholarship was established soon after.

“NOLS was the recipient because of all the good it did for Charley,” Tony explained. “We thought if we could facilitate a NOLS course for someone else, it may be life changing for them too.”

Gary Wilmot, NOLS Director of Development and Alumni and one of Charley’s instructors, said that Tony and Linda have built an incredible legacy for Charley through scholarships at NOLS.

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“Ten Brooks Scholars hit the trail this summer, in fact, and next summer there will be 10 more, and on it will go, forever.” Gary said. “That reach is amazing and as I think back to sharing the summit of Gannett Peak with Charley nearly 30 years ago, I smile to think of all of his scholars striking off on similar adventures every year.”

Tony agreed, estimating about 165 kids over time have benefited from the scholarship.

Recipients are asked to pay a portion of their tuition, and to send a letter to the Brooks describing their experience.

“We read all the letters and are just thrilled,” Linda said. “Most of them say their NOLS course really changed their lives.”

The family also continues Charley’s habit of picking up trash, and encourages others to, as well. Every year, they send hundreds of notes to friends, encouraging them to “clean up—anytime, anywhere,” on September 28 in memory and celebration of Charley.

“He would be so pleased to know there are people all over the world picking up trash,” his mother said. “The world really is a better place because of Charley Brooks.”

Cass Colman

Peyton Weigel

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DONOR STORY | DAVID NEWMAN

NOLS Gave Him Confidence to Lead David Newman believes deeply in the power of the wilderness to change people, and through them, the world. He also believes in NOLS as a path to achieving this transformation.

“When you’re immersed in the natural world for an extended period of time, wonderful things happen,” Dave said. “What may have initially felt foreign—living outdoors—feels like a natural part of being alive in the world, and a sense of belonging and comfort settles in. Students recognize capabilities and strengths that have never been tested, like hauling gear across raging rivers, or cooking dinner in a storm, or navigating with a map and compass.”

Now, 25 years since his first NOLS experience, Dave remains inspired by the values awakened on his course. He works today as an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council to help restore wild fisheries to sustainable levels; that work is a natural extension of his lifelong interest in wilderness pursuits, formed by experiences like summers spent in Maine and a NOLS Semester in Alaska. Dave came away from his semester with the confidence to accomplish what he sets out to do and the knowledge that leadership is often not about being in charge.

“Instead, leadership is an awareness of a situation or goal, and a recognition of your particular role within the social context,” Dave said. “NOLS’ strength is that it provides an experience where actions have immediate and serious consequences, and where success depends on working closely as a group.”

Dave received more than a few gifts on his NOLS course but chief among them were a love of nature and the confidence to take the lead. Dave and his wife Stephanie donate to the NOLS endowment today because of those important gifts. Their support of NOLS is rooted in the belief that people need to experience the power of the natural world. In fact, they believe our future depends on it.

“Getting young people in nature,” he said, “is the only way we can save humanity from itself.”

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Nick Springer

Will Stubblefield

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DONOR STORY | STEVE BOCK

Teamwork and Attitude are Lessons for Life

For Steve Bock, the best take-away from his NOLS courses is the value of his backpack. “It’s a symbol of independence,” he said. Knowing that he could survive and thrive with only 55 pounds of gear and food on his back gave him the confidence to face anything life tossed him.

Steve is a two-time grad—at NOLS East in 1970 and NOLS Mexico in 1972—who first heard of NOLS while watching the 1969 documentary “Thirty Days to Survival,” filmed by a crew who accompanied Paul Petzoldt and several dozen students into the Winds.

“I watched that program and was fascinated by the adventure and outdoors aspect of the program and was driven to learn more,” Steve said. So, in that time before the internet, he wrote a letter to the TV network asking for more information, and two weeks later received his introduction to the fledgling outdoor school.

A lesson in leadership came early: while climbing Mount Washington in New Hampshire as part of his NOLS East course, the summit was in sight, but course members failed to reach it due to strong winds and sleet.

“That was an important lesson,” Steve remembered. “Failure to reach a goal— in this case the summit—wasn’t failure, but a lesson in how to deal with adversity.”

Tolerance for adversity and uncertainty are part of our everyday life, Steve said, and the approach to those factors is the key. Teamwork is part of the solution and attitude is another.

“The experience you gain and confidence you build helps add to your life lessons needed to face future tests,” Steve said.

Steve and his wife Camilla have made a habit of giving to NOLS, donating since 1990. “I compare the many years of donating to climbing a mountain,” Steve said.

“One step or donation at a time will eventually result in reaching the summit.”

NOLS Archives

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Anthony Fox Samaripa

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Front Cover Photo: Nicholas Valentine Back Cover Photo: Oscar Manguy