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…

…Backcountry and wilderness expeditions and daytrips can be a blast! One minute you’re  stimulated by the views and having fun, and in some instances, the next minute you’re on the ground after tripping on a rock, asking yourself, “Where did all that blood come from?” Having the right medical supplies can turn a potential disaster…

…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…

…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,…

…You sit. The clock is ticking. You hear only the clock. And all the stress and anxiety vanish. Solace. Laughing with friends around a backyard campfire on a Friday night. Distant traffic and an occasional train whistle provide the soundtrack. The weight of the week disappears. Solace. Sitting quietly on a rock on Day 20…

…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…

…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….

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…

…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…

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

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

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….

…Sarina Maki is a Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina. She leads custom group expeditions, including multi-day backpacking trips through North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, which are designed to build participant’s confidence, connection, and a love for the natural world. Originally from Ishpeming, Michigan, Sarina…

…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…

…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…