NOLS Alaska

05/05/2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of former NOLS Alaska staff member and longtime community member, Dylan Lenzie.
Dylan began his journey with NOLS Alaska as an Issue Room Assistant in 2018, where his exceptional organizational skills, love for gear, and passion for the outdoors quickly stood out. He soon became the Issue Room Manager, a role in which he supported hundreds of instructors and thousands of students with care, dedication, and pride in the NOLS mission. Over his 5+ seasons, his thoughtful and caring nature allowed him to build meaningful relationships across the community, and he was often the person you could count on to head out on an adventure after a long workday.
Following his time at NOLS, Dylan pursued his dream of becoming a heli-ski guide. He joined Crown Mountain Guides where he worked his way to lead guide this season. He also worked as a lead instructor with the Alaska Avalanche School and contributed as a professional observer for the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center. Dylan had recently completed his Pro 2 Avalanche certification and was recognized in the American Avalanche Association’s 2026 Pro Training Scholarship Spotlight.
On April 29, Dylan was caught and buried in an avalanche while heli-ski guiding in the field. He was quickly transported to the hospital in Palmer, where he received care for two days. On May 2, Dylan passed away, surrounded by his family, partner, Ella Light and close friends.
Dylan leaves behind a legacy of adventure, generosity, and deep connection to both people and place. His presence shaped the NOLS Alaska community in lasting ways, and his impact will continue to be felt by all who knew him.
We send our love and support to Dylan’s family, Ella, and all members of our community during this difficult time.
📸

03/03/2026

Staff Highlight ↠ Aaron Divine

Aaron was exposed to NOLS in 1996 on an Alaska Semester, while earning college credit toward a degree in Parks and Recreation at Northern Arizona University. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he moved to Alaska and began working for NOLS in supportive roles helping instructors and students with their expeditions. In 2000 Aaron participated in the first NOLS AK Instructor Course, began leading/teaching field courses and also returned to college for his graduate studies in Forestry Sciences and Public Land Policy. Approaching the 30-year mark of working in Outdoor Education, Aaron continues to split his time between Flagstaff, AZ where he is a teaching professor at NAU ( ) blending field and traditional classroom learning experiences; and returning to Palmer, Alaska in summers (and any other opportunity) for a diverse combination of NOLS roles, including working in the field, serving as a mountaineering program supervisor. Aside from NOLS and NAU, Aaron also finds joy and diversity in periodically working with other high-quality programs, such as, , and

In his free time, Aaron enjoys continuing to explore the wilds of Alaska and the desert Southwest with friends - he has a soft spot for biking adventures, technical canyoneering, glacial travel and mountain traverses, and navigating far northern expanses of tundra and river networks while packrafting. At home he is rekindling desires to play guitar, read more paper print books, and become a better baker using gluten-free flours!

02/17/2026

Staff Highlight ↠ Paz Torres

Paz was a NOLS Patagonia scholarship student in 2005 and has been a senior sea kayaking and hiking instructor ever since, with around 320 field weeks under her belt—mostly in NOLS Patagonia and Alaska. She’s based in Coyhaique, Patagonia, Chile.
Students consistently describe her as “passionate, inspiring, and caring,” which tracks with her deep love for nature and remote wilderness expeditions.
Living outdoors feeds her soul. When she’s off the clock, Paz day hikes, knits, takes yoga classes, shoots nature photography, and spends time with loved ones.

(Photo credits to Paz, Molly Hagrand, Paula Urizar and NOLS students!)

02/03/2026

Staff Highlight ↠ Lukas Hallberg

“Lukas works as a field instructor for NOLS in the sea kayak program—though lately he’s been branching into mountaineering and hiking too. He’s been with the school for two years, mostly in Alaska and Patagonia, and he puts a lot of energy into photo documenting his expeditions.

Right now Lukas is based out of his parents’ basement in Sweden, which is a nice way of saying he doesn’t have a home or a car. He’s fully committed to the seasonal worker lifestyle—all the pros and cons that come with it.

When he’s not working for NOLS, he spends his winters on skis. He’s worked several seasons on ski patrol and picked up photography jobs on the side.”
phallberg

01/20/2026

Staff Highlight ↠ Inge Davids ✨

Inge first came to NOLS in 2012 as a student on an Alaskan Backpacking & Sea Kayaking course, and left feeling really inspired by the NOLS community and mission. After a few years of working intown in Patagonia and Alaska, she took the New Zealand instructor course in 2019. Since then, she’s been spending her summers instructing backpacking and sea kayaking courses at NOLS Alaska.

Inge holds Dutch and New Zealand citizenship, and lives in the Netherlands. While the flat landscape is a far cry from Alaska’s enormous mountains, she loves finding ways to enjoy the Dutch and European outdoors. From hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites or Alps, to simply exploring the Utrecht area by bike.

When she’s not on her bike, Inge enjoys playing piano, climbing, running, photography, and planning her next adventure — a 5,000 km bike ride to Cape North, Norway.

01/07/2026

01/07/2026

We're honored to partner with NOLS Alaska to create life-changing outdoor education opportunities for Alaska youth, inspiring the next generation of outdoor leaders and stewards of Alaska’s magnificent public lands. 🌎💚

Through Alaska Geographic expeditions, students gain hands-on wilderness experience, build leadership skills, and deepen their connection to Alaska’s public lands.

Each year, TWO Alaska Geographic alumni receive a full NOLS scholarship to continue their journey on a NOLS expedition in Alaska—at no cost.

Our 2025 Peak Scholar, Madalynn, shares her experience on a NOLS expedition, reflecting on the confidence, community, and growth that come from time spent learning and leading in the wilderness.

As we wrap up our campaign, your support of Alaska Geographic’s Education Programs helps make opportunities like this possible. Donate today!

https://akgeo.org/donate/?give=VZD2MNER

01/05/2026

Staff Highlight ↠ Caio Poletti ✨

Caio has been part of the NOLS world for about 16 years, with roughly 200 weeks in the field and nearly eight years on the program side. His journey with NOLS started at 20 years old, when Caio joined a NOLS Semester in the Amazon as a student, an experience that helped set the course for everything that followed.
Since then, he’s worked across a mix of expedition and outdoor education communities, including Outward Bound Brazil and Kroka Expeditions, wearing many hats, and learning a lot along the way. All of it shaped his love for wilderness education and meaningful experiences in wild places.
Originally from Brazil, Caio now calls Alaska home, where he lives with his sled dogs, a cat, and his partner.
These days, he works as the Program Manager for NOLS Alaska, supporting instructors and students. He’s an Advanced WEMT, Wilderness Medicine Instructor, Rescue Technician, former ACA Level 4 Open Water Kayaker, and volunteer firefighter. When he’s not working, you’ll probably find him paddling, biking, or spending time with good people and family— preferably outside.

12/29/2025

Staff Highlight ✨ Arizona Fraser

Arizona has worked as a field instructor for NOLS since 2016, and as Expeditions Admissions Manager since 2022. Her home base is in Squamish, and her favorite place to work in the field is Alaska!

When not working for NOLS, Arizona spends her time scheming personal trips in BC, watching baseball (go Matsu Miners!), browsing thrift stores, solving crosswords, and learning to knit.

Arizona’s most recent field time was an Alaska Wilderness Backpacking (AKW) in June, and her most recent personal trip (in part funded by NOLS) was a paddle from Prince Rupert, BC to Bella Bella, BC in August.

Photo credits:
2- Mike Dooley
3- Audrey Lloyd ()
4- Chris Morales ()
5- Mazli Mehr ()