The International Wilderness Leadership School is a division of Alaska Mountain Guides and Climbing School, Inc. No other leadership organization has the technical background, scope of programming, and the hands on leadership and guiding experience of IWLS.

Financial aid and scholarships are available.

The International Wilderness Leadership School has been training outdoor leaders and providing technical instruction for over 20 years.

No experience is necessary to sign up for many of the leadership and guide training courses. All that is generally required is good physical and emotional health and motivation for unique learning experiences.

New participants have varying levels of experience. A strong desire to be an active participant and learn new technical and leadership skills are the most important factors for success on an IWLS course. More experienced students will have more time to focus on specific guiding considerations and teaching skills.

You don’t need to be a superstar athlete for your IWLS course, however, a modest amount of physical fitness training will help you to prepare for active participation in the expedition you will participate in during your training.

IWLS will recommend a variety of books and reading material that will support your course. Reading these materials will help you prepare for the technical skills and environmental considerations associated with your course.

Courses vary from half day Sea Kayaking and Rock Climbing programs to a full semester (160 days) for college credit, or even a full year of instruction (240 days). They have custom courses with multi-sport trips to expeditions on the highest mountains in the world. Most courses are 12-24 days.

Along with varied technical skills and numerous certifications, their training puts a strong emphasis on developing leadership skills, from managing crisis situations to handling client demands in a professional, efficient manner.

Cost for their courses averages $145.00 per day (price based on a 24 day course). They offer scholarships to some talented individuals, and college students are eligible for Financial Aid programs.

They often hire former students.