Kenneth Hippe, WFR, is Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor &Adventure Education (NCOAE). A self-employed options trader by day, Kenneth is muchmore comfortable in the backcountry than working with futures and figures.Hailing from Oakton, Virginia, Kenneth is a 2018 graduate of James Madison University(Harrisonburg, VA) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree…

…As you’ve probably heard or read, last month was the hottest June our planet has ever experienced — topping a prior record set in 2019. In fact, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the nine hottest Junes ever occurred over the past nine years. In addition, extreme heat creates crispy conditions, and…

…When it comes to wilderness medicine, theres so much more than tree branch splints. Explore the world of wilderness medicine with NCOAE!…

Watson Goh has been a National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) field instructor since 2021. Prior to joining Team NCOAE, Watson was a trip leader and guide for the Outdoor Adventures program at Duke University (Durham, North Carolina), and an analyst for Cornerstone Research.Watson maintains an active membership in the Association for Experiential…

…They say you never forget your first kiss. And while that’s very sweet and sometimes even true, the point I’m going to attempt to make is this: If you’re an avid surfer, rock climber, or backcountry enthusiast, there are times when you look back on your first epic outdoor adventure. Sometimes it’s with a grin,…

…Visitors to our blog are going to react in one of two ways when they see an article with “Do it Yourself” in the headline. You’re either going to avert your eyes and try to find a less intimidating article. Or you’re going to greet this headline and subsequent instructions with enthusiasm and frenzied fervency….

…NCOAE explores the full history of wilderness medicine, including it’s origins, key developments, and the future of wilderness medicine….

…Most healthcare professionals, including some pediatricians, would rather treat adults than children. That should come as no surprise. If you’ve ever had to draw blood from a young child, you know how heartbreaking it can be for everyone in the room. Maybe in the building. Those screams can be dramatic! The emotional pain we feel…

Kirsten Cook is a Lead Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she brings a rare blend of outdoor leadership, scientific fieldwork, and multilingual education experience to her role. She has more than a decade of guiding, instructing, and environmental teaching experience to her credit. Born…

As the Outdoor Program Coordinator at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina, J.T. Schexnayder brings a rare blend of classroom teaching and outdoor leadership experience to every trip he plans and participates in. With a foundation in science education and a passion for the outdoors, J.T. helps NCOAE…

…According to some emergency medical professionals, including one of my early mentors, every emergency medical service (EMS) call involves a search. Even in urban settings where we’re given a home address for a patient, we need to confirm the location, find it, and gain access to the patient. And even after arriving at the right…

…Over the past couple of decades, outdoor adventure enthusiasts have developed a growing obsession with speed — fastest climber (ascent/descent), fastest cyclist, fastest downhill skier or snowboarder, fastest BASE jumper. Fastest, fastest, fastest.  Whether you actively compete in one or more of these categories or prefer a less competitive approach to human-powered outdoor activities, you’re…

Rodney Covault serves as an EMT Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), bringing a rich and diverse background in emergency services, law enforcement, and education to his role. Originally from Lake Forest, California, Rodney has more than 15 years of experience spanning several fields. In addition to his role at…

Alie Peterson serves as Clinical Coordinator at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), where she plays a pivotal role in supporting students as they navigate new environments and develop essential clinical skills during EMT training. Originally from Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Alie has an extensive background in healthcare. In addition to her…

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…When it comes to staying connected with outdoor activities — even in the dead of winter — the important thing is to dig deep, don’t procrastinate, and most important, remain consistent. There’s an old expression that I just made up and it goes like this: You can’t stay full on yesterday’s hotdog. What does that…

…In ecology, “sustainability” refers to one’s capacity to endure. It’s how biological systems remain diverse and productive for very long periods of time. The notion of sustainability applies also to not-for-profit organizations, and in our case here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), to our ability to attract and retain support…

…The heat index read 110-degrees. Clouds were building, preparing to light up the sky with electric current and release rain by the bucket loads. It was still summer, yet parents were starting to ask questions about school, course loads, teachers and materials needed to start the year. Year-round schools were already weeks into the fall…

…Here’s an outdoor educator’s nightmare: You’re walking through the woods and you spot a bunch of teens climbing barefoot on a rocky cliff leading to water. Other inexperienced campers clumsily tend a campfire that is about to get out of control. Still others in this group stand waist-deep in a river, oblivious to the fast-moving…

…In the 1997 film “The Edge,” starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, the pair find themselves lost in the Alaskan wilderness following a plane crash. The Hopkins character tells the other man that most people who become lost in the wild die of shame. “They say, ‘What did I do wrong? How could I have…