About NCOAE
At NCOAE, Partnerships Keep Us Outside and Global
…One tree doesn’t offer the strength of a forest, just as one organization can’t lead an entire industry. According to others, we here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) have distinguished ourselves as outdoor and adventure education industry leaders. But without collaborations, our ability to be creators and innovators would be…
Wilderness Medicine Training
A Tip of Our Cap to the Wilderness Medical Society
…One thing we don’t do here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education is work within a vacuum. We depend heavily upon many organizations that went before us or that help us realize our mission and full potential. Today, we’d like to shine the light on one of those groups that works behind…
International Expeditions
Cape Fear Academy Students Immerse Themselves in Ecuador’s Culture
…Late last year, the staff at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington, North Carolina, asked for our help in creating a unique and meaningful 10-day, outdoor and adventure-based out-of-country expedition for a handful of its high school students. In particular, Cape Fear’s educational leaders were looking for a diverse destination that would enable their students to…
AEE
NCOAE Garners Prestigious ‘Organizational Member of the Year’ Award from AEE
…NCOAE is proud to have been recognized as a 2023 Organizational Member of the Year by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE)!…
Outdoor Education
Leadership Skills & Personal Development are Backcountry Bonuses at NCOAE
…Editor’s Note: Today’s post is the 250th since we launched our blog in December of 2013. And what better way to mark the occasion than by publishing a post about the efficacy of outdoor and adventure-based experiential education. Thank you to everyone who has been along for the ride so far. From our writers and…
EMT Training
Signs That an Intensive EMT Training Course Might be Right for You
…Intensive is one of those words that, when you say it out loud or write it down, sounds foreboding or, as the word itself suggests, promotes a feeling of tenseness. However, when we talk about completing an intensive EMT training course here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), the word is…
Wildlife
Inspiration Through a Journey of Exploration — Part Three: Outdoor Magazines
…As you’re probably already aware, outdoor magazines such as Bike, Surfer, Powder and Snowboarder have all shuttered their windows and shut down their presses. So now what? Where do you turn for some real human-powered and adventure-based outdoor and journalism? And by journalism, we’re not talking about tweets, posts, and pieces written in and curated by…
Staff Profiles
Get to Know Us: Dr. Christopher Davis, NCOAE Medical Director
…Dr. Christopher Davis, The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education’s medical director, spent most of his adult life combining his passion for helping others with his love of the outdoors. He serves as medical director for all of our field courses and trainings, including wilderness medicine and EMS training programs, ad outdoor educator and…
Meet the Team
Meet the Team: J.T. Schexnayder III, NCOAE Outdoor Program Coordinator
…Coming off a four-year stint as coordinator for a university outdoor recreation program, J.T. Schexnayder III is proving to be a masterful leader as our outdoor program coordinator. Raised in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this neighboring state native led his middle school peers on backpacking, climbing, caving and paddleboard expeditions to backcountry areas in his home…
Staff Profiles
Get to Know Us: Chris Brooks, NCOAE’s EMS Program Director
…Growing up in a small town in the foothills of North Carolina, Chris Brooks claims his lifetime dream from the age of 5 was to become a paramedic. Today, he is the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Director here at The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education (NCOAE), where he teaches EMS courses in order…
Custom Programs
NCOAE Now Offers Custom Programs
…We’re not sure who said it first but the person who coined the phrase ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ really was onto something. Whether it’s in education, hats, management, or financial services, one size doesn’t fit all, and the same goes for your employee training and teambuilding. That’s why we’re pleased to announce the launch…
About NCOAE
NCOAE Now Has a Basecamp in Northern Patagonia
It’s official. We’ve symbolically planted a National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) flag in the ground and established a basecamp for our South American operations in Southern Chile/Northern Patagonia. What does that mean to you? It means that — as of the final days of last year — we officially have a base…
Custom Programs
Outdoor Education Program Consulting Now Available
“Phone’s ringing, Dude” — The Big Lebowski The phone’s also ringing here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), and a good number of times the caller is representing a public, independent or charter school that is seeking help with their fledgling outdoor education and wilderness-based adventure programs. These educational institutions either…
EMT Training
Gaining the Clinical Experience to Get into Med School: EMT Training and Direct Patient Care
…How do I get the patient care experience I need to get into medical school if I’m not a doctor? Discover ways to get hands on experience now….
EMT Training
Intensive Self-paced EMT Certification Course for Oregon and North Carolina
…Enroll in our self-paced EMT training program, offering flexible online certification for aspiring EMTs in Oregon and North Carolina….
Outdoor Education
Trending: Trauma-informed Learning in Outdoor-based Experiential Education
…Trauma-informed practices accounts for physical and emotional safety, trust and transparency, healthy peer-to-peer interaction, and a respect for diversity….
International Expeditions
NCOAE Is Headed To Nepal
…You know us as The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), but after today’s news, we may need to change “National” to “International”. That’s because we just booked our first overseas program — a March 2015 custom outdoor education expedition in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Sure, we’re still offering courses like…
Academic Credit
College Credit Now Available for Select NCOAE Courses and Trainings
…One of the hallmarks of a great outdoor education program provider is its ability to become accredited by the leading trade group for the industry. Another sign of a top-notch outdoor education organization is a willingness to align its courses and trainings such that when students successfully complete a course or training, they can apply…
Student Profiles
Meet the NCOAE Student: Will Newman, Hybrid EMT Course Graduate
…Meet NCOAE Student Will Newman and learn how our Intensive Hybrid EMT course jumpstarted Will’s education and career!…
Inspiration
Inspiration Through a Journey of Exploration: Part One – Alex Hotchin
…This week we begin the first in a three-part series called “Inspiration Through Exploration” where we will see how gifted and novice travelers alike can document their adventures through artwork, photography, writings and other means. Today’s inspiration comes from Australian Alex Hotchin and her beautiful — and very unique maps. Next week, we will explore…


