Wilderness Medicine – Outdoor Programs

WFA, AWFA, and WFR…oh my!

Prepare for the unexpected with our comprehensive Wilderness Medicine courses! At the Outdoor Leadership Training Center, we offer Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA), and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses certified through SOLO wilderness Medicine. These courses are designed for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike. Our wilderness medicine training equips you with the knowledge and confidence to handle medical emergencies when professional help is far away. Led by experienced instructors, these hands-on courses focus on real-world scenarios, ensuring you’re ready for any challenge the wilderness may present. Join us and gain the skills to respond in critical situations with confidence!

If you are looking for courses that we do not offer, please contact us at Outdoor.Programs@kzoo.edu

Wilderness First Aid

Wilderness First Aid: A 16-hour course covering the fundamentals of wilderness and remote medical care. The course may also be used to recertify a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or the wilderness portion of a Wilderness EMT if your prior certification was through SOLO. The WFA certification is not valid without CPR certification. The course can be taken with or without CPR certification (additional fee required for CPR course), depending on whether a student already has current certification at the time of the course. The CPR course will occur after the Saturday WFA class ends, lasting about 2 hours. The WFA certification is valid for 2 years (3 years for WFR/WEMT recertification).

Optional Adult and Child CPR/AED Certification: A 2 hour course completed at the end of your first day of WFA. In this class you will learn how to perform efficient CPR and how to administer an AED for both adults and children.

Advanced Wilderness First Aid

Advanced Wilderness First Aid: This 36-40 hour intensive program is designed for those who want to deepen their understanding of emergency care in remote environments. Through hands-on scenarios and real-world applications, you’ll learn advanced techniques for managing injuries and medical emergencies when professional help is hours or days away. The AWFA certification is valid for 2 years.

Wilderness First Responder

Wilderness First Responder: This 8-day course is the standard for wilderness trip leaders and outdoor professionals. Through real-world scenarios, you’ll learn to assess, treat, and manage injuries and illnesses when help is far away. The course includes CPR certification (valid for 2 years). WFR certification is valid for 3 years from the course date.

Wilderness First Responder – Recertification

Wilderness First Responder – Recertification: This 2 day course is designed for WFR-certified individuals who need to refresh and update their wilderness medicine knowledge. Through hands-on practice and scenario-based learning, you’ll review essential skills, learn the latest protocols, and ensure you’re prepared to handle medical emergencies in remote environments. This certification is valid for 3 years.

Optional Adult and Child CPR/AED Certification: A 2 hour course completed at the end of your first day of WFR-R. In this class you will learn how to perform efficient CPR and how to administer an AED for both adults and children.

Please check the Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO) webpage for additional information on the WFA, WFR, and recertification requirements.

Student, Faculty, and Staff Pricing

Cancellation Policy

If for any reason you need to drop from the course, you may drop before 7 days of the start date of the course and receive a full refund. After this time no refund will be given, but the course fee can be transferred to a future course within 1 year.

Meals are not included in the price. We are not able to provide on-campus housing during the courses. The pre-course packet will include information about nearby lodging and camping options for those coming in from out of town.

Please e-mail OutdoorPrograms@kzoo.edu for questions or more information.