We believe positive, ethical leaders change the world.

Based on this belief, NOLS has become the leader in wilderness education.
Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, NOLS takes students of all ages on remote wilderness expeditions and teaches them technical outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics.

The Exploration Film Tour presents stories that aren't about extremes and adrenaline. They focus on the inter-personal role that boundary-pushing and boundless nature serve in helping us to understand our own potentials, set our own goals and define our identity.

In the fourth annual Exploration Film Tour our objective is to bring audiences together to share a spirit for adventure, curiosity and wonder through storytelling. These events are free on college campuses and create opportunities to network with NOLS staff and learn about experiential education in the great outdoors. The tour also features guest speakers and filmmakers.

Selected films will have the opportunity to screen internationally during the 2019 Exploration Film Tour as well as compete for $200 in expedition gear from the NOLS Store and a $3,000 scholarship to a NOLS course. (https://store.nols.edu/)

We accept films under 30min in length which feature storytellers and subject matters facing the outdoor community. eg. inclusion, conservation, achievement, exploration, education, discovery, ect.

Special privilege will be given to films featuring NOLS skills, locations and alumni.

We do not accept films explicitly graphic/profane or those which do not advance the audiences understanding of wilderness education.

Submissions are accepted via secure-online screeners. Please label all work clearly with your name, contact information, exhibition format and running time.

Final programming decisions will be made by the screening committee in shortly after the final decision deadline. All entrants will be notified via FilmFreeway.