<p>D2 is considering a summer program. Anyone had experience with the program?</p>
<p>No direct experience, but my daughter’s BfF from high school did it and loved it. My sense is that one needs to be a committed outdoor/hiking/backpacking type to really enjoy this program. I know D’s friend had been hiking and backpacking for a number of years before she did NOLS. This friend now goes to Colorado College.</p>
<p>My son did a summer program. Life changing. He had some cold feet right before he went but he is glad we did not let him back out. My rule is once I pay the money you are going! I am glad we pushed him.
He was in good shape but had never been backpacking before. His trip was listed as co-ed but ended up being all male. At first he was not happy about that but it ended up being fine. Strange as this may sound he said they were all sad at the end of the 28 days to walk back to civilization. They all felt it had gone way to fast. Quite a few on his trip were boys from the inner city who had won their trips. They did not come across any other human beings in there 28 days out.
He would definitely recommend Nols and he would like at some point to take another trip. I would love to send Child 3 on a NOLS trip when she is old enough.
One thing I would point out is that there is little hand holding for the parents from NOLS. We did not hear from our son from the moment I put him on the plane till he was in transit on the way home. At one point I did get frustrated when I had not heard from my son after the trip was over and he was supposed to be headed home. The NOLS office gave me the number of the shuttle bus company. The shuttle bus dispatcher called the driver who assured me that he had dropped son off at the airport in Wyoming and even that son’s plane had left on time.
Also NOLS has a great packing list. They rent almost everything on the list. I can’t recall how much it added to the cost of the trip but it was not inexpensive. But at least we did not have to buy everything.
And if you have not only viewed their website request the catalog. Beautiful scenery.</p>