Marlie's NOLS Fund
Donation protected
Hi there! My name is Marlie Hooper and I have been blessed with an incredible and unique schooling opportunity in the Rocky Mountains. I was accepted by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to their gap semester program this fall. NOLS is a wilderness based, nonprofit school that uses wilderness skills to teach leadership, risk management, and environmental studies. This organization is based on values and beliefs I am passionate about. Living in the wilderness, away from distractions of modern civilization, encourages us to gain self reliance, judgement, respect, and a sense of responsibility for our actions. I believe whole-heartedly in this.
NOLS believes positive, ethical leaders change the world. Since working at Hike Bike Kayak Sports as an adventure guide for three years, I have realized the best guides come from nature. Whether it's teaching five year olds to surf or guiding 65 year olds through a dark sea cave, I am filled with great joy by helping people fall in love with our natural world and facilitating thier empowering moments of discovery.
What NOLS teaches cannot be learned in a traditional classroom. Regarding the leadership skills taught, I hope to gain a greater respect for challenge and hard work, patience for my own and others' anxiety, tolerance for discomfort, and open-mindedness for the ambiguity of the unknown. Furthermore, the wilderness skills taught include equipment care and selection, ration planning, route-finding, navigation, map reading, Leave No Trace, and much more. This semester long, educational backpacking expedition provides ample opportunities to practice and master all of these skills.
While the adventure and wilderness experience is a thrill of its own, I am also very interested in the invaluable skills I will gain becoming a nationally recognized outdoor leader and educator. This course will provide the necessary credentials to take my guiding to the next professional level, such as the WFA (Wilderness First Aid) and LNT (Leave No Trace) Masters Certifications.
My goal is to continue with the skills learned and become an outdoor educator all over the world. I plan on traveling and would like to guide in Alaska, New Zealand, Patagonia, and South Africa. After that, wherever life takes me!
Embarking on this journey with NOLS will only be possible with your help. My semester begins September 9th and I am nearing the deadline to complete my enrollment. I have applied for scholarships and have been working full time to fund this trip. Whether your support is financial or positive thinking and sending good energy, I am forever grateful! (But money will really help!)
If I am unable to reach my goal, I will be returning all donations.
Thank you so much!
Marlie Hooper
[email redacted]
If you are interested in learning more about NOLS, check out their website!
https://www.nols.edu/
NOLS believes positive, ethical leaders change the world. Since working at Hike Bike Kayak Sports as an adventure guide for three years, I have realized the best guides come from nature. Whether it's teaching five year olds to surf or guiding 65 year olds through a dark sea cave, I am filled with great joy by helping people fall in love with our natural world and facilitating thier empowering moments of discovery.
What NOLS teaches cannot be learned in a traditional classroom. Regarding the leadership skills taught, I hope to gain a greater respect for challenge and hard work, patience for my own and others' anxiety, tolerance for discomfort, and open-mindedness for the ambiguity of the unknown. Furthermore, the wilderness skills taught include equipment care and selection, ration planning, route-finding, navigation, map reading, Leave No Trace, and much more. This semester long, educational backpacking expedition provides ample opportunities to practice and master all of these skills.
While the adventure and wilderness experience is a thrill of its own, I am also very interested in the invaluable skills I will gain becoming a nationally recognized outdoor leader and educator. This course will provide the necessary credentials to take my guiding to the next professional level, such as the WFA (Wilderness First Aid) and LNT (Leave No Trace) Masters Certifications.
My goal is to continue with the skills learned and become an outdoor educator all over the world. I plan on traveling and would like to guide in Alaska, New Zealand, Patagonia, and South Africa. After that, wherever life takes me!
Embarking on this journey with NOLS will only be possible with your help. My semester begins September 9th and I am nearing the deadline to complete my enrollment. I have applied for scholarships and have been working full time to fund this trip. Whether your support is financial or positive thinking and sending good energy, I am forever grateful! (But money will really help!)
If I am unable to reach my goal, I will be returning all donations.
Thank you so much!
Marlie Hooper
[email redacted]
If you are interested in learning more about NOLS, check out their website!
https://www.nols.edu/
Organizer and beneficiary
Marlie Hooper
Organizer
La Jolla, CA
Elizabeth Hooper
Beneficiary