North Carolina

When high school students return to classes after summer break, they’re often asked to write an essay on “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” For many, there’s not much to  write about. Maybe a week spent with the grandparents or binge watching your favorite show on Netflix.

Instead, imagine spending a 32-day summer semester engaged in wilderness adventure, exploration, and learning in North Carolina, Oregon, or Ecuador.

Our summer high school semester, designed for rising 10th and 11th graders, offer students the opportunity to engage in hands-on, experiential learning and outdoor adventures, all under the guidance of our world-class, certified field instructors and guides. 

Throughout these monthlong NCOAE High School Semesters, which take place in June and July, or July and August, students participate in Honors-level Natural Science field research and study — all while earning high school credit. 

Students also earn certifications in Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace (LNT), and Outdoor Leadership. These 32-day high school semesters blend academic rigor with outdoor adventures, leadership lessons and experiences, and exposure to activities that positively impact personal growth and development.

A High School Experience You Won’t Forget

Whether you choose to explore North Carolina from the Mountains to the Sea or the beauty of Oregon’s Cascades, or experience cultural immersion in Ecuador’s Andes Mountains, your High School Summer Semester at NCOAE will offer a learning experience like no other — a meaningful, memorable adventure that really gives you something to write about.

Each summer high school semester begins with a week of on-campus learning in preparation for the field experience. Students participate in a range of activities that offer a mix of academics, adventure, and team building. For example: (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…)

Long touted for offering hybrid EMT instruction in North Carolina, The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) also offers Hybrid EMT training in Oregon. 

This highly effective 21-day EMT training includes 10 days of virtual instruction delivered online, followed by 11 days of hands-on, practical training in Oregon’s Tygh Valley. The program offers an ideal format for college students, premed students, working professionals, and anyone else who appreciates the flexibility of learning in a fast-paced hybrid format.

Whether you choose a hybrid EMT training program that features in-person, hands-on skills training in Oregon or North Carolina, your NCOAE training and experience will include the following:

Before your course begins: We’ll ask you to complete up to 30 hours of asynchronous web-based training using our online eLearning platform. The benefit to this approach is (more…)