Summer One: Pre-College Outdoor Leadership Expedition

The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) expedition is a time of transition for the students as they experience the wilderness as a team and, in turn, develop leadership skills while preparing to enter college. Returning scholars often report that the insight and awareness they gained during NOLS has helped them to be poised and ready for the challenges and opportunities they face as undergraduate students. The skills learned through NOLS continue to develop while at UNC Charlotte and eventually contribute to their success as they emerge as future leaders.

Forging Leaders in the Wild: A Journey of Purpose and Connection

Each year, entering Levine Scholars participate in a custom-designed outdoor wilderness expedition that is focused on leadership and team building. This experience allows students to examine their core interests and values, while making purposeful choices that they can revisit and refine on a regular basis throughout their careers. Engaging in this process as a group, Levine Scholars develop a peer leadership network that provides both support and accountability throughout their time at UNC Charlotte and beyond.

In the summer of 2010, UNC Charlotte’s inaugural class of Levine Scholars embarked on a challenging and inspirational 25-day leadership expedition in Wyoming’s magnificent Absaroka Range. The second and third classes of Levine Scholars also participated in a 25-day expedition but spent their time trekking through Alaska’s Talkeetna Mountains. All subsequent classes have returned to the Absaroka and the Wind River Ranges. Expeditions are led by NOLS, which has taught leadership, wilderness skills and environmental studies to more than 120,000 students since its inception in 1965.

Kaitlyn Goslin '24

“NOLS introduced me to the world of experiential and outdoor education, which is the practice of learning by reflecting on your outdoor experiences and then applying it to other aspects of life”
Dhairya Desai '25

“NOLS allowed me to change my own definition of a leader and start to grow into the leader that I want to become”

Leadership Awaits in the Wilderness

The NOLS expedition is a time of transition for the students as they experience the wilderness as a team and, in turn, develop leadership skills while preparing to enter college. Returning scholars often report that the insight and awareness they gained during NOLS has helped them to be poised and ready for the challenges and opportunities they face as undergraduate students. The skills learned through NOLS continue to develop while at UNC Charlotte and eventually contribute to their success as they emerge as future leaders.