Take your skills to the next level!
Our Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) course is offered in partnership with SOLO Wilderness Medicine. This 36-40 hour intensive program is designed for those who want to deepen their understanding of emergency care in remote environments, making it ideal for outdoor leaders, guides, and adventurers looking to be better prepared for longer trips into the backcountry. 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. Gain confidence in your ability to handle complex medical situations in the wilderness, and earn a SOLO AWFA certification that reflects your readiness for the challenges of remote care.
Tuition
$500 tuition fee
SOLO CPR is included (follows AHA guidelines)
Course Length
36-40 hours
+
2 hour
CPR/AED course
(Included, but optional)
Certificate
Yes, AWFA certificate valid for 2 years
CPR/AED Course
CPR/AED Course: An optional CPR/AED course will typically occur after the first day of class ends, lasting about 2 hours.
Requirements
- Students must be at least 16 years of age to take this course.
- All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
AWFA Course Details
SOLO courses are highly interactive and focus on hands-on learning, with numerous outdoor scenarios and skills labs. This allows participants to practice and refine their skills in real-life conditions. Please be prepared to spend time outside, regardless of weather conditions—rain, snow, or shine.
CPR and AED training is included in the AWFA course. The certification is through SOLO and follows the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines.
Classes typically run from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET with an hour break for lunch.
Lodging: We have an onsite lodging option
Ready to Enroll for AWFA?
Select a date to sign-up and pay your tuition.
- June 10-12, 15-16, 2026
- April 30-May 4, 2027
- June 9-11, 14-15, 2027
Course Topics
Please be aware that the following topics and subjects are commonly covered in the Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) course. However, the order and progression of topics may vary during the course.
- Introduction & Foundational Skills
- Differences between wilderness and standard emergency care
- Medicolegal considerations
- Patient assessment system (primary & secondary surveys, SOAP notes)
- Shock and long-term patient care
- Wound management, bleeding control, infection prevention, and burns
- Trauma & Environmental Considerations
- Musculoskeletal injuries, head & chest trauma
- Fractures, sprains, dislocations, and splinting techniques
- Environmental emergencies: drowning, hypothermia, frostbite
- Environmental & Medical Emergencies
- Heat-related illnesses, lightning strikes, bites & stings
- Medical emergencies: cardiac issues, diabetes, poisoning, respiratory distress, seizures, strokes
- Practical Applications & Certification
- Lifting, moving, and transportation techniques
- Personal preparedness & leadership
- Mock rescue scenarios and final testing for certification
Supplies List
You should plan to have clothing that will be appropriate to the season for where and when you will be taking the class. Weather permitting, we will be spending a significant portion of the class time outside. The following list is to supplement the clothing you will be wearing. If you have questions regarding the usual weather where your course will be held, please contact the sponsor.
We will be providing some clothing for splinting materials, sleeping pads, and training med kits.
Please note, we use moulage throughout the training that can stain some clothing, therefore, you may want to bring older or darker clothing to wear for scenarios.
Required Items
The following items should be packed for each class:
- Backpack to put everything in
- Extra clothing (for splinting materials and personal layering)
- preferably NOT made of cotton, which loses its ability to hold heat if wet
- Water bottles (for drinking water)
- Footwear for the environment (closed-toe shoes for outdoors / sandals are OK for inside)
- Watch (with a second hand)
- Notebook with Pen/Pencil
- Items that you would normally take on a day hike or overnight hike
Helpful Things to Bring
- Ground cloth or small tarp
- Sleeping pad
- Bandanas/Cravats of any kind
- Rope
What to Expect After Enrollment
After enrolling in an Outdoor Leadership Training Center course and paying the tuition, you can expect a e-receipt to be sent to you immediately.
All courses will be held on Kalamazoo College’s campus. You will receive an email closer to the course date with details such as your class’s location, parking, etc.