Camp · Adventure · Ages 14–17 · $2,533/week
Directory · United States · Wyoming · Lander
▌ Adventure · Ages 14–17

National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions

Various wilderness locations across the US and internationally. · $2,533/week

Long Lake Camp for the Arts is a performing and fine arts summer camp in the Adirondacks, NY, offering a...

▌ Editor's read The NOLS Teen Expeditions website loads successfully, detailing a variety of wilderness courses for teenagers. NOLS is a non-profit organization founded in 1965 by Paul Petzoldt, indicating 59 years of operation. While not found in the ACA directory, NOLS is a well-established leader in outdoor education. The website mentions a comprehensive instructor training program and states that all instructors undergo background checks. Programs are exclusively overnight expeditions, ranging from backpacking and mountaineering to sea kayaking and wilderness medicine. Google reviews for 'NOLS' show a strong rating of 4.8 stars from over 1,000 reviews, with many praising the transformative experiences and highly skilled instructors. Social media handles are @nolsedu on Instagram and 'nolsedu' on Facebook, both actively maintained.
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Since 196759+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Register → Shortlist in planner → Visit website

Who thrives here Ages 14–17

National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in adventure, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type
Overnight camp
ACA accredited
Not verified
Established
1967 (59 years)
Operator
Nonprofit organization
Staff-to-camper ratio
Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

  • Category: Adventure
  • Ages: 14–17
  • Hours: 24-hour residential
  • Address: NOLS, 284 Lincoln Street, Lander, WY 82520, USA
  • Phone: (914) 693-7111
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Cost notes: 3-week sessions cost $7600, and 6-week sessions cost $14,200. Shorter 2-week sessions may be available upon request.

Runs 24-hour residential, 19 sessions (0 one-week, 19 multi-week blocks), from Jun 1 to Jul 18.

Sessions ⛓

Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.

  • Session 2 Jun 1 – 30, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 3 Jun 3 – Jul 2, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 4 Jun 6 – 28, 2026 · 4 weeks
  • Session 5 Jun 6 – Jul 5, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 7 Jun 7 – Jul 6, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 1 Jun 8 – 23, 2026 · 3 weeks
  • Session 8 Jun 8 – Jul 7, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 11 Jun 8 – 21, 2026 · 2 weeks
  • Session 12 Jun 11 – Jul 10, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 13 Jun 11 – Jul 1, 2026 · 3 weeks
  • Session 16 Jun 12 – 30, 2026 · 3 weeks
  • Session 17 Jun 13 – Jul 12, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 18 Jun 15 – Jul 7, 2026 · 4 weeks
  • Session 19 Jun 15 – 28, 2026 · 2 weeks
  • Session 20 Jun 17 – Jul 8, 2026 · 4 weeks
  • Session 21 Jun 18 – Jul 17, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 22 Jun 18 – Jul 8, 2026 · 3 weeks
  • Session 23 Jun 19 – Jul 18, 2026 · 5 weeks
  • Session 24 Jun 21 – Jul 4, 2026 · 2 weeks

↗ What parents like

  • 100% freedom to choose activities
  • Small camp size
  • Non-competitive philosophy

↘ Watch for

  • Expensive tuition
  • Website is a bit dated

Logistics

  • Lunch provided: Yes
  • Transportation: No
  • Financial aid: No
  • Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions

What ages does National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions accept?
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions cost?
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions publishes $2,533/week for the standard session. 3-week sessions cost $7600, and 6-week sessions cost $14,200. Shorter 2-week sessions may be available upon request. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
What are National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions's hours?
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
Who runs National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions?
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 59 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions provide lunch?
Yes — National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
How does National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions compare to other adventure camps in Lander?
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions is one of 5 adventure camps in Lander that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions with other camps.

Camps near here

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