NOLS Launches Global Healthcare Semester in India

October 21, 2025

The 68-day immersive course combines intensive medical training with a backpacking expedition in rural India; course spots still available for Spring 2026

LANDER, Wyo. – Oct. 21, 2025 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is proud to announce a new Global Healthcare Semester in India, with spots still available for the first course being offered in February 2026. The comprehensive 68-day course includes intensive medical training in the United States, as well as a backpacking expedition and cultural immersion in rural India.

The program begins with a four-week Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) course at the Wyss Wilderness Medicine Campus in Lander, Wyoming. This 200-hour course integrates urban Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training with wilderness medicine, preparing participants to respond to emergencies in diverse environments. Successful completion qualifies students to take the National Registry of EMTs certification exam.

Following the WEMT training, participants travel to the NOLS India campus in Ranikhet. They will embark on a 20-day backpacking expedition through the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the Indian Himalayas. This segment focuses on developing outdoor skills, leadership, and teamwork as students navigate rugged, high-altitude terrain and engage with local communities.

The final phase involves a cultural immersion experience in the village of Majkhali. Participants live with local families, engage in daily activities, and gain firsthand insight into rural Indian life. They will also participate in community service projects, Hindi language classes, and shadow healthcare professionals at a rural health clinic, gaining a comprehensive understanding of global health practices.

“This course offers a unique opportunity for students to become leaders through EMT training, service, and adventure,” stated Logan Maclean, WEMT Manager for NOLS Wilderness Medicine. “By combining a leadership curriculum, one in which NOLS is well-known for, with the integration of wilderness medicine training and culture immersion, a student can graduate from this semester with a well-rounded and valuable education to prepare them for the next steps in their career.”

The Global Healthcare Semester in India offers 17 college credits, including courses in environmental studies, leadership techniques, risk assessment, cultural studies, and WEMT training. Certifications earned include WEMT and EMT.

For more information about the NOLS Global Healthcare Semester in India, please check HERE.

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About NOLS

Founded in 1965 in a small cabin in Sinks Canyon, Wyoming, by Paul Petzoldt, 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 13 campuses across six countries and educational opportunities worldwide. The school enrolls over 28,000 students and employs more than 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 366,000 active alumni.
For more information, visit nols.edu | @nolsedu | 800.710.6657

MEDIA CONTACT

NOLS Communications Director

Kelli Lusk

208.309.3793 | kelli_lusk@nols.edu