NOLS Patagonia

NOLS Patagonia semester is an 80-84-day course where we started with sea kayaking and went on to the hiking and rock climbing sections. I was initially nervous as I am an Indian and did not know Spanish, but the warm welcome and support I received from the NOLS staff helped me overcome this obstacle. The NOLS base in Coyhaique was beautiful as was Chile's country and culture. Before starting this 84-day journey, we learned much about Chilean culture and maté. We packed rations, took care of the equipment that would be needed on this trip, and went over the route that we would take. After all this Patagonia still managed to take my breath away as the terrain was stunningly beautiful from the oceans to the mountains the serenity of Patagonia was clear. We learned different skills in sea kayaking, hiking, and rock climbing and worked on individual and team goals with the support of our amazing instructors. Safety, Risk management, and LNT were the three main topics we focused on in our everyday routine, whether it was sea kayaking, hiking, or rock climbing. The highlight of my trip was the Independent Student Group Expedition (ISGE)
at the end of the three sections or ration period, students choose a route to hike on for 10 days without the instructors in a group of 4 to 5 people where we students plan our rations
for 10 days. We as a group decided to hike through two high passes on our 10-day route and 2 peak ascends. I had fun getting challenged differently navigating through the forests and oceans of Patagonia and learning the skills needed to do it safely. I would recommend this course to anyone who is looking for a new perspective, challenges, and a lot of fun while doing it.

I participated in the Pacific Coastal Expedition from NOLS Patagonia branch during a gap year between high school and college. I had always heard about NOLS courses and how they were "life-changing." I didn't buy it. It seemed like more responsibility and commitment than I wanted on my gap year. Looking back on it, I can't imagine a better way to spend a month in a year where my priorities were to grow and develop into a better human being. NOLS taught me the value of mental toughness and grit. While those seem like things that could be learned in a less extreme environment, I have yet to find an opportunity that has given me the same perspective and compassion that my NOLS trip did. Every day on a NOLS trip is a life lesson and you leave your trip with a wealth of knowledge about yourself and the world around you. It has been over a year since my trip and I think about it every single day in one way or another. For anyone who is hesitant about taking part in a NOLS trip, I would say it will always seem more difficult to handle until you're in it and to take the plunge. You will not regret it!!

3 month in the Patagonia wilderness with NOLS is an experience I would never trade for the world due to the strength of their community and ability to teach valuable lessons in a new context. Spending a long amount of time in the outdoors is a challenge for any individual and in addition this experience took place in a foreign country. Naturally these circumstances allow for life long bonding and NOLS enhances your ability to grasp life skills applicable to more than just the outdoors. I learned how to and how not to make critical decisions in bigger group dynamics enriching my communication skills as a whole

Excellent experience if your want to learn technical outdoor skills and go to some wild, remote and incredibly beautiful places! I did a course with NOLS Amazon which included canoeing a tributary of the Amazon river, a hiking section in the mountains, and a cultural section.