What ages does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions accept?

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.

How much does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions cost?

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions publishes $2,675/week for the standard session. Cost is per course, not per week. Courses range from 2-4 weeks. Example: a 14-day course costs $5,350, which is about $2675/week. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.

What are NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions's hours?

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.

Who runs NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions?

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 59 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.

Does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions provide lunch?

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.

How does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions compare to other adventure camps in Lander?

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions is one of 5 adventure camps in Lander that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

▌ Adventure · Ages 14–17

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions

Multiple NOLS locations · $2,675/week

NOLS offers immersive wilderness expeditions for teens, focusing on leadership, outdoor skills, and environmental...

▌ Editor's read The NOLS website loads successfully and details extensive wilderness expeditions for teenagers, emphasizing leadership, outdoor skills, and environmental stewardship. Founded in 1965 by Paul Petzoldt, NOLS has been operating for 59 years as a nonprofit organization. While not listed in the ACA directory, NOLS states on its 'Safety' page that it conducts criminal background checks on all instructors and staff. The program is exclusively overnight, with expeditions ranging from 13 to 90 days in various locations worldwide. Google reviews for 'NOLS' generally show a high rating, often above 4.5 stars across thousands of reviews, with themes praising the transformative experiences, skilled instructors, and comprehensive outdoor education. Social media handles found on the site are @nolsedu for Instagram and nolsedu for Facebook.

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Since 196759+ years operating

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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt

Who thrives here Ages 14–17

NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in adventure, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Overnight camp
ACA accredited: Not verified
Established: 1967 (59 years)
Operator: Nonprofit organization
Staff-to-camper ratio: Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Adventure
Ages: 14–17
Hours: 24-hour residential
Address: 284 Lincoln St, Lander, WY 82520
Phone: (307) 332-6973
Cost notes: Cost is per course, not per week. Courses range from 2-4 weeks. Example: a 14-day course costs $5,350, which is about $2675/week.

Runs 24-hour residential, 19 sessions (0 one-week, 19 multi-week blocks), from Jun 1 to Jul 18.

Sessions ⛓

Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.

Session 2 Jun 1 – 30, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 3 Jun 3 – Jul 2, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 4 Jun 6 – 28, 2026 · 4 weeks
Session 5 Jun 6 – Jul 5, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 7 Jun 7 – Jul 6, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 1 Jun 8 – 23, 2026 · 3 weeks
Session 8 Jun 8 – Jul 7, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 11 Jun 8 – 21, 2026 · 2 weeks
Session 12 Jun 11 – Jul 10, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 13 Jun 11 – Jul 1, 2026 · 3 weeks
Session 16 Jun 12 – 30, 2026 · 3 weeks
Session 17 Jun 13 – Jul 12, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 18 Jun 15 – Jul 7, 2026 · 4 weeks
Session 19 Jun 15 – 28, 2026 · 2 weeks
Session 20 Jun 17 – Jul 8, 2026 · 4 weeks
Session 21 Jun 18 – Jul 17, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 22 Jun 18 – Jul 8, 2026 · 3 weeks
Session 23 Jun 19 – Jul 18, 2026 · 5 weeks
Session 24 Jun 21 – Jul 4, 2026 · 2 weeks

↗ What parents like

Develops leadership skills
Builds confidence

↘ Watch for

No email contact available

Logistics

Lunch provided: No
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: outdoor

Frequently asked about NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions

What ages does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions accept?: NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions cost?: NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions publishes $2,675/week for the standard session. Cost is per course, not per week. Courses range from 2-4 weeks. Example: a 14-day course costs $5,350, which is about $2675/week. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
What are NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions's hours?: NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
Who runs NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions?: NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 59 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions provide lunch?: NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
How does NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions compare to other adventure camps in Lander?: NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions is one of 5 adventure camps in Lander that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
Sports summer camps guide · Check coaching style, intensity, safety, and logistics.
Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.

Camps near here

Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside NOLS – Teen Wilderness Expeditions.

Alaska Backpacking and Sea Kayaking – 16 and 17 only · Ages 14–18 · $2,065/week
Alaska Mountaineering · Ages 14–18 · $2,492/week
NOLS - Wyoming Backpacking Adventure for Teens 14-15 - 2 Weeks · NOLS · Ages 14–15 · $2,675/week
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Teen Expeditions · Various wilderness locations across the US and internationally. · Ages 14–17 · $2,533/week