For some, surviving outdoors for 80 days without technology would be a nightmare.

But students of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), it's more like a dream.

One student, sophomore appropriate technology major Kate Heldreth, spent the majority of her summer in the back countries of Idaho and Utah. She said the experience was life changing.

"It is an experience that will follow you wherever you go," Heldreth said. "You learn a lot about yourself and others."

The NOLS program specializes in wilderness education and outdoor survival. Students are not allowed to bring any technology along, in order to distance them from civilization.

Heldreth said she didn't miss gadgets during her time with NOLS.

"The first couple of days, everything is really busy, so you don't notice technology," she said. "When time goes on, you don't really realize it."

The school offers courses like backpacking, mountaineering and wilderness medicine and can range from 10 days to a full academic year.

Heldreth took three courses during her time in NOLS: water, rock climbing and backpacking.

She said the water course was her favorite section. She spent 12 days kayaking on the Green River and the Lodore Canyon of Colorado and Utah, camping on beaches at night.

Appalachian State University's Associate Director of University Recreation, Rich Campbell, is a NOLS alumnus. He said he encourages any interested student to get involved with the program.

"When you take the time to disconnect from typical, day-to-day electronic communication for some time, you begin to discover what you are capable of and how much you can accomplish when you set your mind on learning a new skill in a new environment."

Campbell said students develop in "incredible ways" from the programs offered.

"We encourage students to find a way to interact with the natural world in a way that makes sense for them," he said. "Whether that is through their own adventures, through a program like [Outdoor Programs], NOLS, Outward Bound or some other organization, we want to see students getting outside because we feel they are stronger - physically, mentally, emotionally - as a result."

For more information, visit nols.edu.

Story: RYAN NAGY, Senior Lifestyles Reporter