Fremont County has continued to see the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as local cases increase, statewide public health orders continue to be extended, and school closures, among many other things.
One of the more significant local economic impacts came this week from NOLS, a nonprofit worldwide outdoor educator based in Lander since 1965. In an open letter to the community NOLS President Terri Watson announced, due to the cancellations of their worldwide programming through the end of June 2020, the difficult decision has been made to layoff more than half of their full-time staff and instructors. Many of whom live in Lander and surrounding areas.
It is important to me that you know that we have run through every conceivable alternative option before we made this decision. We have cut our already-lean operations to the bone, idled most projects, taken voluntary pay cuts, accessed all operational reserve funds that we legally or ethically could, and explored every federal assistance option we might be qualified for — and it’s not nearly enough for sustainable operations without tuition revenue. -NOLS President, Terri Watson
Terri Watson’s letter to the Lander community: Letter from NOLS President Terri Watson