…Nobody likes to be hot and sweaty on the trail. But when things turn from being uncomfortable to becoming downright dangerous, it’s time for quick, on-the-spot emergency action.  Heat illness is a range of medical conditions that result from the body’s inability to cope with an elevated heat load. When that occurs, it is more…

…Just obtaining an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license opens a world of career possibilities both inside and out of the medical field. Sure, you have to put in the effort, but the opportunities are as diverse as our EMT students here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). Fact is, we receive…

…Priscilla Trimble has an impressive resume working in outdoor education — where shehas excelled at facilitating and instructing backcountry expeditions. This Raleigh, N.C.,native has worked for the city of Durham Parks and Recreation as an outdoor recreationspecialist, and the Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department as anoutdoor recreation instructor. She has also served as…

…Florida-based Zinnia Long, is a field instructor for our backpacking and canoe expeditions,where she sees leading people on outdoor adventures as a “win-win” in her book. Prior to joiningus here at NCOAE, Zinnia was a campus coordinator of student life at Eastern Florida StateCollege. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned…

…Having a first aid kit handy is always a good idea, but what should it contain? The answer to this question really depends on what you plan to be doing. There are different considerations for a kit that you carry in your car versus one that you grab up for a mountain bike ride or…

…By Ben Ari – Authority Magazine Taking the risk to start a company is a feat few are fully equipped for. Any business owner knows that the first few years in business are anything but glamorous. Building a successful business takes time, lessons learned, and most importantly, enormous growth as a business owner. What works…

…The suicide rate among emergency medical service (EMS) professionals rose a shocking 38 percent since 2009, according to a study published in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. But as shocking as that statistic is, it should come as no surprise. As an emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic, you typically work a five-day rotation…

…While spine immobilization has long been the standard procedure for treating patients in the backcountry, growing research suggests Spinal Motion Restriction may be the safer option!…

Caleb O’Connor-Genereaux is a National Center for Outdoor & Educational Education(NCOAE) field instructor. Caleb has a decade of experience working in the outdooreducation industry, connecting with students and facilitating their learning through hishis love of nature and the environment. This native of Ryegate, Vermont, was formerly a teaching coordinator for Tracker’sEarth, which offers summer camps…

Hailing from Bethesda, Maryland, Celia Parr is a field instructor at The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina. Previously, she was an adventure instructor at Avid4Adventure in Boulder, Colorado., and head counselor at Camp Merrie-Woode — a nonprofit residential camp for girls ages 7 to 17 in the western…

…Two organizations in Wilmington will partner Wednesday for Whole Foods Market’s Community Day to benefit local youth. According to a news release, five percent of all sales at Whole Foods on Oleander will go to the National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education, which is a Wilmington-based non-profit that promotes critical thinking, improved interpersonal relationships…

…Bleary eyed from a scarcity of shuteye, you shimmy out of your sleeping bag, stick your head out your tent flap, and observe your campsite. It’s not a pretty picture. In fact, it looks like you woke up in the middle of a yard sale. Or the tail end of a party turned bad. There’s…

Zac and Celine, co-founders of NCOAE, are featured in Episode 15 of the “It’s In the Experience” podcast, presented by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and hosted by Sherry Bagley, AEE’s executive director. This 45-minute episode, titled “Overcoming Challenges: Creating Positive Experiences in Experiential Education,” can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast App,…

Matthew McPherson joined the team at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in 2024 as an EMT Instructor, bringing nearly eight years of experience in emergency medical services. Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, Matthew has served as a paramedic with Novant Health New Hanover Emergency Medical Services in Wilmington and Mecklenburg EMS…

…The testing for EMT Certification’s has changed drastically over the years. Learn more about how standards have changed, and new innovations!…

…Most people think of wilderness medicine as providing medical care in a remote setting where access to conventional healthcare resources is limited or unavailable. They imagine someone treating a wound, applying a tourniquet, performing CPR, or fashioning a splint out of sticks and a bandana enabling a hiker with a broken leg to hobble to…

…In the movie Die Hard 2, hero John McLane, played by Bruce Willis, receives a fax at a car rental kiosk at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. informing him of the identity of a suspect. The agent behind the desk, who’s been flirting with McLane through the entire scene, says, “Hey, I close in…

…Chances are good that you’ve had to take at least one course in English composition that required you to write a 500-word essay entitled, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” Most teens talk about their vacation or their summer job, but you can talk about leadership activities for teens. Perhaps you had the best summer ever…

Roni Deckard is a Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she brings a passion for environmental connection and years of hands-on experience in outdoor leadership. With a background that spans coast to coast, Roni has worked with a range of organizations focused on adventure…

Jessica Prescott is a Field Instructor at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she combines her love for experiential education and the natural world to create meaningful outdoor experiences for our students. With a background in youth engagement and environmental learning, Jessica believes deeply in the power…