Whether you are a backcountry trip leader or merely a frequenter of the outdoors, the ability to react quickly and effectively in a crisis situation may prove to be a matter of life or death. Class participants who satisfactorily complete this 80-hour training will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification which is the industry standard for commercial outdoor leaders and guides.

Taught by expert instructors from the Wilderness Medicine Institute (a program of the National Outdoor Leadership School), the curriculum includes standards for urban and wilderness care situations, and emphasizes decision making and injury prevention. Some of the topics covered include CPR, dehydration and heat-related injuries, shock, spine and head trauma, musculoskeletal injuries, wound management, environmental emergencies and common expedition problems.

Most of the instruction takes place in a classroom setting or in nearby wooded areas. A practical exam will be conducted in a remote area of the park during a simulated rescue operation. Free group camping throughout the class is provided for all participants, and free Wi-Fi is available at various locations in the immediate area.