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

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…

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

…The Dalles, Oregon, 9/8/2023. Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC), with locations in The Dalles and Hood River, Oregon, announced today a partnership with a worldwide leader in outdoor education and urban and wilderness medicine training, the National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). This is one of the newest partnerships developed by CGCC to…

…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…

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…

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…

…This is the last post in our four-part series on trends to be aware of in outdoor and adventure-based experiential education. In Part 1, we covered DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Part 2 focused on restorative practices. And Part 3 called attention to trauma-informed learning.  Here in Part 4, we’re wrapping up the series with…

…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…

…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….

…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…

Lydia Showalter is a field instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). Like many of our field instructors, Lydia has plenty of experience as an outdoor educator — much of which was acquired well before her arrival at NCOAE. For instance, she wore many hats while working with Avid4Adventure in Boulder,…

A native of Grants Pass, Oregon, Samantha Edwards has been leading river trips for theNational Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) since 2020. When she’snot guiding NCOAE adventurers, Samantha works as an interventionist at Oregon Health& Science University’s (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, where sheprovides full-spectrum pediatric care. Before joining NCOAE as a…

Mandy Goff is a field instructor for The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education (NCOAE). Previously, Mandy worked for NCOAE’s sister organization — Education Without Walls. She is also currently the program director at Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center in Lithia, FL, and before that, was the program director and assistant director at Johnsonburg…

We like to take backcountry cooking to the next level at NCOAE – Check out a few of our favorite recipes to keep yourself energized!…

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…

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

…One of the most important parts of proper wilderness medicine is the assessment process to determine the extent of your patients injuries….

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…