…Bethany Smith’s journey with The National center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) is one marked by passion, adventure, and a deep commitment to outdoor and experiential education.  Joining our team in 2022, Bethany quickly became an important member of our field operations. After taking a brief break in 2023 to explore the world, we…

We here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) are very proud of the Education Without Walls program and its students! Education Without Walls is a wilderness-based outdoor education program that engages 13 to 18 year old students in a variety of adventure activities, including backpacking, rock climbing, surfing, kayaking, and camping.  This…

…Looking for a teen expedition this summer? We here at NCOAE are excited to announce that our 2022 season of backcountry and wilderness adventures for teen-agers is already up and running and in full swing. At the end of February, a dozen students led by a team of NCOAE field instructors, headed down to Ecuador…

Here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), it’s not always necessary for employees to be front and center in order to be seen as a vital asset to our operations. Take Liz Shirley for example. Sure, this veteran outdoor program director can often be found leading our clients on a variety…

…Jena Honeyman was born to teach, but not in the public school system where standardization appears to have removed hope of educating the individual. That’s why Honeyman — a native of Washington State who was raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York — is a perfect fit for the staff here at The National…

…Embark on a transformative journey with NCOAE and earn accredited continuing education credits through the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Our immersive Wilderness Medicine courses not only empower you with life-saving skills but also grant you official recognition that sets you apart. …

…No doubt about it. The wilderness is an absolutely inspiring place to visit. However, we certainly can’t be hanging out in the forests or atop the mountains all the time. So how do we stay connected and inspired? One excellent way to remain in contact with nature is through books — allowing words to describe…

…The W-EMT curriculum includes the essential medical foundation combined with required skills for accessing and managing medical issues….

North Carolina’s breathtaking backcountry provides the perfect backdrop as you expand your technical outdoor skills and grow as a leader….

…If you have a deep passion for education and the outdoors and take immense pride in your work—apply to become an NCOAE instructor!…

…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…

…NCOAE is proud to have been recognized as a 2023 Organizational Member of the Year by the Association for Experiential Education (AEE)!…

…Our industry-standard wilderness medicine course provides hands-on medical training combined with skills in outdoor leadership and critical thinking….

…Instructors and educators are responsible for managing the safety of trips while facilitating multi-day adventure education courses….

…Celine Adair, our own co-founder and director of operations, has been recognized with a Women of Achievement Award for her work in social justice, presented earlier this week by the YWCA Lower Cape Fear. The award ceremony — held each year since 1985 — is the YWCA’s signature fundraiser to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments…

…Our industry-standard wilderness medicine course provides hands-on medical training combined with skills in outdoor leadership and critical thinking….

…Our skillful medical first-aid training is for outdoor educators looking to professionally certify their emergency preparedness….

…If you’re considering a career in the field of outdoor education and adventure programming that involves leading groups through remote wilderness areas, your career path will come to a fork in the road where you will face an important choice: Do you want to become a backcountry guide or an outdoor educator? At first glance,…

…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…

…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…