““We’ve worked with STEP for over a decade, bringing more than 250 students on our Alaska leadership expeditions. It’s a partnership we’re so happy to have. This community we build is becoming more and more important for our country and for the world today.””
Though NOLS and STEP have different mission statements, there’s a lot of overlap. Reflecting on his conversations with NOLS graduates over the years, John says, “What stands out are the lessons in leadership and expedition behavior. These carry on for a lifetime in school, work, and any team setting where you work with people from various backgrounds.” But there are unique takeaways for STEP students: “Travel to a totally different environment – you can’t get much more different than Arizona to Alaska! A lot of students have never been on an airplane. For them, they realize they can choose a college that’s not just right down the road. It expands their horizons in terms of geography and possibilities.”
John admires STEP’s unique emphasis on pursuing a college degree. “The overlap in our missions – leadership, confidence, and knowledge – sets the students up well to pursue college degrees.”
On a personal level, John has witnessed how both STEP and NOLS are working together to build community with a wide geographic reach. “When my middle son, a NOLS grad, was preparing to leave Wyoming to go to Bowdoin College in Maine, he found out that his roommate was a STEP alum. It’s interesting to see how the dots connect… How a Wyoming public school kid and an Arizona STEP student make that connection. It builds community and it’s an important deal for our country and for the world.”