Custom Programs
Students From China, Korea, and the USA Team up to Challenge Alaskan Wilderness
…Two National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) instructors recently guided an international group of high school students on a 16-day custom outdoor education program in the Alaskan wilderness. The teens, all of whom were enrolled in a youth leadership program in South Korea, got their first introduction to Alaska’s glaciers, jagged mountain ranges,…
Outdoor Education
Trending: Trauma-informed Learning in Outdoor-based Experiential Education
…Trauma-informed practices accounts for physical and emotional safety, trust and transparency, healthy peer-to-peer interaction, and a respect for diversity….
EMT Training
Intensive Self-paced EMT Certification Course for Oregon and North Carolina
…Enroll in our self-paced EMT training program, offering flexible online certification for aspiring EMTs in Oregon and North Carolina….
High School Summer Semester
Adventure Meets Education: NCOAE’s High School Summer Semester for 10th and 11th Graders
…When high school students return to classes after summer break, they’re often asked to write an essay on “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” For many, there’s not much to write about. Maybe a week spent with the grandparents or binge watching your favorite show on Netflix. Instead, imagine spending a 32-day summer semester…
Life At NCOAE
Celebrating 2024: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Milestones at NCOAE
The year 2024 was another great one for The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). From groundbreaking program launches to prestigious accreditations, we’ve continued to grow, innovate, and strengthen our commitment to education and adventure. Here’s a look at our top milestones from 2024: Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence In 2024, we celebrated…
Student Profiles
Meet the NCOAE Student: Robert Fox, EMT Course Graduate
Meet NCOAE student Robert Fox, who recently graduated from NCOAE‘s 21 day intensive EMT course to begin his career as an EMT!…
Student Profiles
Meet the NCOAE Student: Tina Haver Currin, WEMT
…Tina Currin, an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, recently completed NCOAE‘s W-EMT course. Learn more about how her journey led her to us!…
Outdoor Education
Trending: Restorative Practices in Outdoor-based Experiential Education
…A few weeks ago, we published Part 1 of this series, which covers what we here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) view as the trending best practices to know about in outdoor and adventure-based experiential education. Here, in Part 2 of this series, we introduce you to Restorative Practices, and…
Pacific Northwest
…Rugged, remote, and breathtaking, Oregon’s Cascade Mountains become your classroom on an NCOAE expedition….
Privacy Policy
Read this Privacy Policy for important information on how and why we collect, store, use, and share your personal information….
Video Gallery
…Explore a variety of videos from actual NCOAE field experiences, from EMT training to adventures that take place in the backcountry….
Education Without Walls
Update from NCOAE Spinoff — Education Without Walls
…If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you may recall that Education Without Walls (EWOW) began more than a decade ago here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). Today, EWOW has become a successful organization — a self-sustaining not-for-profit complete with its own administrative staff, board of directors, programs, and…
Outdoor Equipment
When It Comes to Program Backpacks, NCOAE Opts for Osprey
Here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) we’re not very big on endorsing products or brands. In fact, if you were to research our blog all the way back to the first entry at the end of 2013, you probably won’t find more than two or three posts chatting up products…
Funding News
Vertex Rail Corp Provides NCOAE With Funding and Volunteer Support
…If you follow us on Facebook, you may have read about a Community Outreach grant we recently received from the Vertex Railcar Corporation — a startup that’s focused on building the next generation of safe rail tank cars. Vertex and The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education’s (NCOAE) are neighbors here in Wilmington, N.C….
Outdoor Educator Training
UNCW Students Can Earn 6 Credits While on Winter Break in Patagonia
…How would you like to spend three weeks in windswept Patagonia, summiting a 19,000-foot-high peak in the Andes, taking on Class III and IV rapids alongside a volcano — and picking up six college credits for adding this adventure to your academic experience? The University of North Carolina-Wilmington (UNCW) is offering this 24-day course (EVS…
College Credit
NCOAE offers select high school credits through Blueprint Education, an accredited distance learning school for grades 8 through 12….
Expeditions
High School Summer Semester – 10/11th Grade North Carolina
…Explore the remote Pacific Northwest, on a 25-day wilderness expedition!…
Outdoor Educator Training
Outdoor Industry Jobs Require Personal Experience and Certifications
…Professional development — learning that allows you to earn or maintain professional credentials — is key to career planning, especially when it comes to considering a career in the outdoor adventure and education industry. Much more than participating in a bunch of classes, our sector of the outdoor industry looks favorably on applicants with wilderness…
Education Without Walls
How To Help Provide Outdoor Experiences for Youth in Need
…At first glance, our website might lead the casual observer to surmise that our organization, The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), is just another run-of-the-mill for-profit business. The kind of outfit where the owners get rich by running adventure-based trips for children from well-to-do families to exotic destinations around the globe. Truth…
Custom Programs for Colleges & Universities
Partner with NCOAE as a College or University and give your students a unique experience. Request a custom program today!…


