NOLS Celebrates 60 Years of Leadership Education with Community Event, Sept 25-27, 2025

May 15, 2025

Lander-based school planning weekend-long celebration with outdoor activities, vendor village, alumni awards, and annual State of the School

Lander, Wyo. – May 15, 2025 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is celebrating 60 years of inspiring leadership education, culminating with a community celebration in Lander, Wyoming, Sept. 25-27, 2025. The event is a time for the NOLS community to gather and honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future.

The event will feature a welcome by the Mayor of Lander, Missy White, and opportunities to reconnect with fellow alumni and instructors with the State of the School, Community Dinner, the Trail Mix vendor village with live music, and a movie festival. Participants can also enjoy outdoor activities that showcase the stunning landscapes of Wyoming.

“NOLS has been a leader in outdoor education for six decades, and we are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone with our community,” said Sandy Colhoun, NOLS President. “This event is not just about looking back at our history, but also about inspiring the next generation of outdoor leaders.”

As part of the festivities, NOLS encourages participants to engage with the local community and explore Lander’s rich cultural heritage. The event will serve as a reminder of the importance of outdoor education and its role in fostering leadership skills, environmental stewardship, and personal growth.

“It’s truly special that so many from near and far will be gathering in Lander for this milestone anniversary,” said Lindsay Turner, Director of Alumni and Donor Relations. “This place holds so many memories for students, instructors, and staff alike. We’re grateful to the Lander community for welcoming this celebration, and we look forward to honoring the history and relationships that have grown here over the past 60 years.”

Please visit the event webpage for more information about the 60th anniversary celebration, including registration details and a full schedule of events.

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About NOLS

Founded in 1965 in a small cabin in Sinks Canyon, Wyoming, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help individuals step forward boldly as leaders. We believe that anyone can be a leader; it’s our role to provide the environment and training to help them discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and remote wilderness areas worldwide. The scope of NOLS’ mission and impact is broad, with 14 campuses across six countries and educational opportunities worldwide. The school enrolls over 28,000 students and employs over 1,000 full-time and part-time staff and instructors with an annual budget of approximately $40 million in a typical year. NOLS currently has more than 360,000 active alumni. For more information, visit nols.edu | @nolsedu | 800.710.6657

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NOLS

Kelli Lusk

Communications Director

208.309.3793 | kelli_lusk@nols.edu