PALMER, Alaska – March 4, 2025 – The American Packrafting Association (APA), Alpacka Raft, and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) have partnered to offer “The Packrafting Scholarship” that will provide an experience to participate in a NOLS packrafting course at NOLS Alaska. The application period opens today and will close on April 4, 2025, and the recipient will be chosen by early May to participate in the NOLS packrafting course this summer.
The Packrafting Scholarship presented by APA, Alpacka Raft, and NOLS is a collective effort to raise awareness of packrafting and provide an experience of packrafting to underserved communities.
“With the right knowledge and experience, packrafts allow adventurers to paddle nearly anywhere—rivers, lakes, and beyond,” said Emily Doig, Marketing Director at Alpacka Raft. “The skills NOLS teaches in their courses are essential for those looking to incorporate packrafting into their backcountry trips. We are thrilled that this scholarship will make these opportunities accessible to someone who may not otherwise have the chance and hope they, in turn, share their knowledge within their communities. Partnering with NOLS and APA on this initiative is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to empowering more people to explore the packrafting safely and confidently.”
Packrafting combines hiking and backpacking with a lightweight, inflatable boat (packraft), allowing adventurers to incorporate rivers into their journey instead of detouring around them. It’s a versatile and adaptable mode of transportation for wilderness adventures, providing access to remote and challenging terrain that would otherwise be difficult to reach by other travel modes.
“Packrafting perfectly encapsulates what makes a NOLS course unique,” stated Ashley Wise, campus director for NOLS Alaska. “It bridges the technical skills of backpacking and whitewater while allowing participants to think more broadly about how they lead, manage risk, and plan adventures across varied environments and routes. It is the ultimate way to travel in the Alaska wilderness, utilizing the ever-present rivers to traverse mountain ranges. We couldn’t be more excited to teaming up with APA and Alpacka to offer this scholarship.”
“APA is excited to partner with Alpacka Raft and NOLS to make packrafting more accessible through this scholarship opportunity,” said Sarah Kilbourne, APA’s Executive Director. “NOLS is a leader in outdoor education, and this course embodies APA’s core values: professional training in safety and education, a welcoming community built through teamwork, and place-based opportunities to learn about land stewardship in a supportive environment. We’re excited to support this effort by offering this scholarship to expand access and welcome more people into the packrafting community.”
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About NOLS
Founded in 1965 in a small cabin in Sinks Canyon, Wyoming, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help individuals step forward boldly as leaders. We believe that anyone can be a leader; it’s our role to provide the environment and training to help them discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and remote wilderness areas worldwide. The scope of NOLS’ mission and impact is broad, with 14 campuses across six countries and educational opportunities worldwide. The school enrolls over 28,000 students and employs over 1,000 full-time and part-time staff and instructors with an annual budget of approximately $40 million in a typical year. NOLS currently has more than 360,000 active alumni.
For more information, visit nols.edu | @nolsedu | 800.710.6657
About Alpacka Raft
Founded in 2000 by mother-and-son team Sheri and Thor Tingey, Alpacka Raft makes the world’s best packrafts. With packrafts designed and handmade by a talented group of makers in its Mancos, Colorado facility, Alpacka Raft packrafts have been used and trusted on expeditions by some of the world’s most well-known adventurers. Alpacka Raft is committed to building a diverse community of boaters and is proud to provide high-quality, living-wage manufacturing jobs in a rural, mountain-town economy.
For more information, visit alpackaraft.com.
About American Packrafting Association (APA)
Founded in 2012, the American Packrafting Association (APA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a strong packrafting community through safety, education, and conservation. APA advocates for responsible packrafting access on public lands while promoting best practices to ensure the sport’s longevity. Mission: To promote community among packrafters, enhance packrafting safety and education, and expand opportunities to packraft responsibly on public lands. Vision: A vibrant global community of packrafters committed to safety and stewardship on both land and water.
MEDIA CONTACTS
NOLS
Kelli Lusk
Communications Director
208.309.3793 | kelli_lusk@nols.edu
BACKBONE MEDIA
Sean Van Horn
970.963.4873 | sean.vanhorn@backbone.media
