April 2025

Last September, we told you we were seeking accreditation from a trio of the nation’s top accrediting bodies: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC).

And today, we’re pleased to share that Cognia — the parent organization of the above-mentioned agencies — has officially granted The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) full accreditation status. This is a huge milestone for us, and even more so for the students and families we serve.

What Cognia Accreditation Means for NCOAE Students and Partners

This recognition confirms that NCOAE meets Cognia’s rigorous performance standards, which are the same standards applied to traditional schools, education service providers, and school districts across the country and around the world. More important, it means that students who complete select NCOAE programs — including our High School Summer Block-Semester — may now be eligible to earn and transfer academic credit to their high school.

We’ve always believed that wilderness and the backcountry is a powerful classroom. Now, it’s also an accredited one. 

Why Cognia Accreditation Matters

Cognia is a globally respected nonprofit that accredits more than 36,000 schools and education providers in over 90 countries. Through its regional agencies, Cognia is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Its rigorous evaluation process ensures that institutions like ours deliver high-quality, student-centered learning.

By earning this accreditation, NCOAE: (more…)

Chances are good that you’ve had to take at least one course in English composition that required you to write a 500-word essay entitled, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” Most teens talk about their vacation or their summer job, but you can talk about leadership activities for teens.

Perhaps you had the best summer ever and found yourself struggling to limit your prose to a paltry 500 words. However,  most students have trouble finding enough verbosity to attain the required verbiage. 

Don’t let that happen to you. You can make this summer the one you’ll never forget!

Explore the outdoors while building your technical outdoor skills on a Teen Leadership Expedition this summer with us here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE).

For 2025, we are offering several 14-day summer camp courses designed specifically as teen leadership activities. Based in Alaska, North Carolina, and the Pacific Northwest, these guided expeditions offer the perfect blend of outdoor adventure, hands-on experiential education, camaraderie, and fun in some of the most awesome wilderness settings in the United States!

Our 14-day teen expeditions feature a ton of adventure, with exciting outdoor activities that include backpacking, mountaineering, trekking, and rock climbing — not to mention paddling activities like canoeing, kayaking, or whitewater rafting.

Here’s what you should know about each destination and course, starting with our two-week Alaska Teen Leadership Expedition. (more…)