News About Prosocial Outdoor Education
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Get to Know Us
Education Without Walls is a prosocial outdoor education and mentorship program that provides academic and life skills guidance for motivated teens facing hardships. By merging meaningful outdoor adventures with ongoing mentorship we help aspiring students achieve their academic and personal goals.
who we are
beyond the classroom
Listen to our students talk about their advocates and the outdoor expeditions in this personal and engaging look at our program
scholarships
Full scholarships are available for teens living below the federal poverty guidelines or in foster care. Partial scholarships are offered on a sliding scale based on individual family needs.
outings
Using outdoor adventures as a classroom offers an exceptional learning environment — one where students apply critical thinking, and amazing memories are constructed.
courses
Using the wilderness as a classroom offers an exceptional learning environment — one where instructors foster curiosity, students apply critical thinking, and amazing memories are constructed and not soon forgotten.
scholarships
Education Without Walls is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization established by The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in order to provide scholarships for motivated students in financial need.
beyond the classroom
Watch as EducationNC, an award-winning journalism and public policy research organization, goes behind the scenes on a recent Education Without Walls expedition.
beyond the classroom
Watch as EducationNC, an award-winning journalism and public policy research organization, goes behind the scenes on a recent Education Without Walls expedition.
scholarships
Education Without Walls is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization established by The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) in order to provide scholarships for motivated students in financial need.
courses
Using the wilderness as a classroom offers an exceptional learning environment — one where instructors foster curiosity, students apply critical thinking, and amazing memories are constructed and not soon forgotten.
close
Many of our students return year after year with 47% coming back for a second expedition. One student has even accumulated over 6 months of backcountry travel with Education Without Walls.
Each of our students hiked 63 miles on trails in 2018, while learning leadership skills and reflecting upon their own civic and environmental impact.
In 2018, our students participated in 42 days and nights of outdoor expeditions, supported by 365 days of mentorship.
These ambitious go getters are a force to be reckoned with. Our students are seeking change. When asked what it is they want to get out of Education Without Walls, many students say they want to do better in school, meet new friends, explore outside, feel more confident, and learn new things. Our students are excited to climb tall rocks, paddle rivers, hike down into valleys and surf fun waves. Unfortunately access to Wilderness and year-round academic support isn’t inherently part of their experience. We change all of that, because hardships don’t have to limit access, nor should they dampen our students’ adventurous spirits.
our students rock!
"Hiking through the Pisgah National Forest while learning about Leave No Trace, wilderness travel, and myself, gave me a new appreciation for wilderness and a growing passion for environmental conservation. My experience has changed my outlook on life and influenced my focus of study in college. Because of this trip, I have decided to major in Environmental Studies at UNC Asheville. I want to enroll in more courses and maybe even be an instructor."
-Sabrey Franks, student
"This was one of the greatest experiences of my life! It helped me to grow emotionally and taught me skills that I am able to transfer into my everyday life. I am truly grateful and lucky to have been a part of this program. The wilderness adventures I experienced, including backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking and surfing, were ones I’ll never forget. The instructors were teachers, friends and role models and along with the other students on my course, I felt I’ve made a family for life!"
-Joaly Canseco, student
"My daughter Ana’s experience has served as a positive launching pad for how she now chooses to approach her life. I am so impressed and so very thankful for the experience she had on her course."
-Michelle Dickens, parent
"The best thing about the expeditions is the Summits. It’s a place where I was able to be me and wasn’t judged. I was somebody. I expressed a side that never gets to come out. In the end, no matter how challenging it was, I would turn around and do the whole thing again."
-Nyasia King, student
"I am grateful to have been a part of this program. I’ll never forget the wilderness adventures I got to participate in, including backpacking & mountaineering, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking and surfing. It has helped me to grow emotionally and I had a lot fun while doing it."
-Cam Nau, student
-Nyasia King, student
get started
Get started by completing this interest form. Once we receive it, we will schedule a New Student Interview to complete registration.
How to Apply
Full scholarships are available for teens living at the poverty line or in foster care, while partial scholarships are reserved for teens facing financial and/or other hardships
Who It's For
Education Without Walls awards full and partial scholarships. Partial scholarships are offered on a sliding scale based on needs.
What We Offer
Do you want to explore the backcountry, make new friends, be active, challenge yourself, learn new things, and be part of something that’s larger than yourself? We can help!
we offer scholarships!
READ OUR FAQS
read post
Famed 19th-century self-promoter Phineas T. Barnum often opined that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. And while that philosophy certainly worked well for the American circus owner, we here at The National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education (NCOAE) have discovered that a little promotion for a genuinely good cause can go even further. […]
January 17, 2019
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Over the past two summers, The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) has received a total of nearly $9,000 from Island Women, Inc., a group of savvy, talented and passionate women who live in nearby Pleasure Island, N.C. Island Women is a not-for-profit organization that’s on a mission to enhance the quality of […]
November 16, 2018
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Meet an Education Without Walls Graduate — Joaly Canseco We here at The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) are very proud of our Education Without Walls program that provides adventure education experiences for diverse teenagers who have expressed a sincere desire in personal growth and development. By using Wilderness as a classroom, Education Without […]
January 16, 2018
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(910)515-9157
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