…North Carolina’s more than 40 state parks are sharing a centennial anniversary with the National Park system this year, all offering an enormous amount of biodiversity and geographical features to explore. The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education’s (NCOAE’s) world headquarters and home campus is located in Eastern North Carolina, which has amazing biodiversity…

…If you asked me to list the attributes that allowed Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) to survive more than a year stranded in Antarctica, I point to characteristics like leadership, adaptability, teamwork, ingenuity, and perseverance.  What Shackleton and his men employed was a mindset that intentionally embraced a set of values and behaviors that…

Those of us who work here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) are taking some time off for the holidays this week and next, and we’re also taking this last-chance of-the-year opportunity to seek donations, gifts and volunteer time from our partners and friends. First, we want to tell you about…

…Some lucky eighth- and ninth-graders are heading out for a three-day expedition to the remote and undeveloped Masonboro Island near Myrtle Grove, N.C., this weekend, joined by a pair of instructors and a course director from here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education. The eight youngsters are from the Wilmington, N.C., area…

…There was a time, not so long ago, that when it came out outdoor recreation gear, apparel and accessories, women were told one size fits all. “You there, young lady! I understand you need a backpack for a serious wilderness expedition? No problem. See that one over there that Jonathan is trying on? That’s the…

…Liz Shirley joined the NCOAE family full-time in the spring of 2017 as a Program Director, responsible for directing field operations and staff training….

…For those of us who work in the fields of outdoor and adventure-based experiential education and/or emergency medicine, the importance of professional medical training cannot be dismissed as merely “class time.” While it’s true EMT training and certification may not be a requirement for many backcountry jobs or outdoor education positions, possessing certification for EMT…

…Some veteran backpackers claim the only time a heated can of Dinty Moore stew tastes delicious is when eaten outdoors, but today there are many quick and easy ways to pull together a gourmet meal from what you can grab out of your backpack. The trick is knowing what to pack! Truth is, we here…

As founder and executive director of NCOAE Zac ensures the proper caring of this growing outdoor and adventure education company….

Our DEI practices are intertwined into policies on staff recruitment & selection; compensation & benefits; professional development and more. Learn more!…

…During our latest Instructor Candidate (IC) course, I had the opportunity to witness one of the most beautiful shifts in group dynamics I’ve seen in a long, long time. Our instructor candidates had just finished two days of challenging climbs — made all the more difficult by torrential rains, equipment challenges and late — very,…

…It’s the end of a long day trekking through the backcountry. Tents are being set up, water is being collected and brought to the campsite and everyone is tired and hungry. A conversation ensues: Student: The stove won’t light. Instructor: Okay. Student:  Should we fix it? Instructor: Do you need it to cook dinner? Student:…

…Jacob Bernthal is a distinguished graduate of the NCOAE’s Instructor Course, embodying the expertise and values we seek in our field instructors. Prior to joining our team, Jacob excelled as a sailing trip leader at Camp Don Lee in Arapahoe, N.C., and showcased his versatility as a retail associate and fly-fishing guide at Great Outdoors…

Jasmin Gonzalez is a Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), where she guides groups on backcountry expeditions and teaches young people how important it is to protect our planet. And like all NCOAE field instructors, she has the skills and experience to provide the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts…

Locations Course Overview Through this interdisciplinary course, students engage in hands-on learning, drawing direct connections between their natural surroundings and the principles of ecology, biology, and environmental science. These courses foster critical thinking and leadership skills while offering practical knowledge and adventure. Experiential Learning in Outdoor Education Experiential education at NCOAE combines leadership development, hands-on…

…Language provides a foundation for human progress. Having a common language enables us to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate our efforts in able us to achieve more together than any of us could possibly achieve on our own. It allows us to organize our thoughts and solve problems collectively. It’s when we’re not speaking the same…

…Throughout our lives, we develop knowledge and wisdom, in part, by learning from our mistakes and those of others. In the context of outdoor education and adventure programming, we learn from both catastrophic events and near misses — close calls. These are events in which nearly every factor necessary to cause serious injury or death…

…Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died on Jan. 10, 2026, hopefully reuniting with fellow band members who passed before him — Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (died in 1973), Jerry Garcia (died in 1995), and Phil Lesh (died in 2024).  I say, “Fare thee well,” in reference to one of their songs and…

…You don’t have to look at a calendar to know summer is quickly drawing to a close. Look at the traffic in your hometown. Notice anything different? How about the roads leading to and from local or regional shopping malls and big box stores? With most kids and their parents hitting the stores — or…

Interested in a career in outdoor and adventure education? NCOAE may be the right fit for you! Explore our open positions and join our team….