…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…

…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 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…

…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….

…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…

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….

…The outdoor industry uses the term “shoulder season” to indicate times of the year when we’re less busy. With the exception of the snow sport sector of the industry, for many companies and outdoor outfits, that time starts in October and can stretch all the way to May or early June.  The National Center for…

…Learn about what a typical day could look like on an NCOAE expedition. Start your adventure with us today….

…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…

…Under our industry-best instructors, gain the skills necessary to become certified in Wilderness Medicine….

…Our certified EMT instructors provide professional instruction and individualized training. Explore NCOAE‘s EMT trainings and register today….

Editor’s Note: In this, the second installment of “The Three Bears,” we’ll hear from NCOAE staffer Stephen Mullaney tell yet another true tale about confrontations with bears. In this post, he’ll attempt to find the humor in a persistent bear taking up quarters in an NCOAE camp late at night. But let’s let Stephen tell…

…NCOAE is headquartered on a 15-acre wooded campus that offers housing options for students enrolled in one of our programs….

This Supplemental Privacy Notice is dated and effective January 1, 2020. NCOAE, LLC (dba, The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education)…

Matt Evans is one of the veteran staff members here at NCOAE and is now an assistant instructor, facilitating courses in the backcountry….

…Zac Adair, our co-founder and executive director, recently asked one of our courseparticipants why they signed up for a particular outdoor adventure. “It was a photo thatappeared on your website of a guy on top of a mountaintop with the blue skies above theglaciers in the background.” Picture yourself here. It’s a common tactic in…

…Years ago, I was working in wilderness-based setting with a group of gang members who were attempting to break away from the often-violent lifestyle in which they found themselves. During a break our programming, I asked a loaded question. “Anybody want to tell me about their tattoos and what they mean?” The 30 or so…

…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….

…Pennsylvania native Bethany Smith joined the team here at The National Center forOutdoor & Adventure Education in May of 2022, working as a field instructor in bothNorth Carolina and Oregon. As an NCOAE staffer, she has led a number of backpacking,inflatable kayaking and whitewater rafting trips, including several of our TeenLeadership Expeditions. Before joining us…

Max Chandler, WFR, is a Lead Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). Prior to joining the team at NCOAE, Max worked as a field instructor for the American Camp Association-accredited Adventure Treks in Flat Rock, NC. Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Max amassed a mountain of outdoor experience at…