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Camera William Woodward

Wilderness First Aid

Duration

16 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$170 to $500

See Dates

Prepare for the unexpected with this engaging, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two or two and a half days. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.

This course is great for people of all experience levels, and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions.

You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!

Course Policies
Please review our policies including cancellation policies, attendance requirements, minimum age requirements, and more. 

Links/Downloads

WFA Course Outline

COVID-19 Disclosure

COVID-19 Video

WFA Course Overview

Student Agreement

Additional Details

Academic Credit (Learn more)
This course is approved for 1 college credit through the University of Utah and 0.5 college credit through Western Colorado University.
 

Course Approval
This course meets the American Camp Association 2012 Standards and the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid training requirements. Additionally, the Wilderness First Aid course (WILDMI-554), and when included the CPR/AED course (WILDMI-134), are approved by the United States Coast Guard to meet the first aid and CPR training requirements of 46 CFR 11.201(i)(1)(ii) and 46 CFR 11.201(i)(2)(iiI) for a merchant mariner credential.

Course Dates

161 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Golden, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Apr 15, 2021 –
Apr 16, 2021

$265

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Spokane, WA
Saint George's School

Apr 16, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
Rutabaga Paddlesports

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$275

Enroll Now

Johnson, VT
Northern Vermont University

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$245

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Centennial, CO
REI Outdoor School

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Boone, NC
Mountain Alliance

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$200 to $240

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$255 to $285

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Bowling Green, KY
Western Kentucky University

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Outdoor School

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Cedar Creek, TX
REI Outdoor School

Apr 17, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Gardiner, MT
Yellowstone Forever

Apr 20, 2021 –
Apr 21, 2021

$300

Enroll Now

Grand Marais, MN
Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply

Apr 22, 2021 –
Apr 23, 2021

$255

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI Outdoor School

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Moscow, TN
Pinecrest Camp

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$240 to $260

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Outdoor School

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Grand Marais, MN
Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

$255

Enroll Now

Abingdon, VA
Southwest Virginia 4-H Center

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Outdoor School

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Winona, MN
Global Treks And Adventures

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$315

Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Outdoor School

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Westwood, MA
REI Outdoor School

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Cumming, GA
REI Outdoor School

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Bentonville, AR
37 North Expeditions

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$295

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Post 58

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$170 to $260

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Juhlatila Bugdehemmet, Vartioharju, Helsinki, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

May 7, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$275 to $305

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Austin, TX
REI Outdoor School

May 8, 2021 –
May 9, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Jacksonville, AL
Jacksonville State University

May 12, 2021 –
May 13, 2021

$200 to $250

Enroll Now

Bailey, CO
Camp IdRaHaJe

May 14, 2021 –
May 15, 2021

$250 to $307

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$250

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Crossing Latitudes

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$270

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Outdoor School

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Ojai, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Outdoor School

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$265

2 spaces Enroll Now

Minneapolis, MN
Wilderness Inquiry

May 15, 2021 –
May 17, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Outdoor School

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Dubois, WY
SOAR

May 20, 2021 –
May 21, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Medelfors Folkhögskola, Skellefteå, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

May 21, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$295 to $325

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Roswell, GA
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Lake City, CO
Sky Ranch at Ute Trail, Inc

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

TBA

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$255 to $285

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Asheville, NC
Landmark Learning

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$240

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Pullman, WA
Washington State University

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$200 to $275

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

May 22, 2021 –
May 23, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Granby, CO
Camp Chief Ouray

May 25, 2021 –
May 26, 2021

TBA

5 spaces Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$280

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Snohomish, WA
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$245 to $275

4 spaces Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Austin, TX
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Thoreau, NM
Cottonwood Gulch Foundation

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$399

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$255 to $285

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Jun 3, 2021 –
Jun 4, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Sheridan, WY
Sheridan Area Search and Rescue

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Cedar Creek, TX
REI Outdoor School

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Outdoor School

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

$250

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Ipswich, MA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Bentonville, AR
37 North Expeditions

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$305

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Ojai, CA
Biocitizen Los Angeles

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Snohomish, WA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Snohomish, WA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 15, 2021 –
Jun 16, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Stanley, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 15, 2021 –
Jun 16, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 19, 2021 –
Jun 20, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Outdoor School

Jun 19, 2021 –
Jun 20, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Jun 19, 2021 –
Jun 20, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Jun 19, 2021 –
Jun 20, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

STF Saltoluokta Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jun 20, 2021 –
Jun 23, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin

Jun 23, 2021 –
Jun 25, 2021

$325

Enroll Now

Rutland, MA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Ogden, UT
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Pasadena, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Roswell, GA
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

STF Abisko Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jun 27, 2021 –
Jun 29, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

STF Grövelsjön Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jul 2, 2021 –
Jul 4, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jul 10, 2021 –
Jul 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 10, 2021 –
Jul 11, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 17, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Jul 17, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

$250 to $280

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Jul 17, 2021 –
Jul 18, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Outdoor School

Jul 20, 2021 –
Jul 21, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 24, 2021 –
Jul 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Jul 24, 2021 –
Jul 25, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Morrison, CO
REI Outdoor School

Jul 24, 2021 –
Jul 25, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Canfield, OH
Environmental Collaborative

Jul 31, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 31, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Outdoor School

Jul 31, 2021 –
Aug 1, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Lithonia, GA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Morrison, CO
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 7, 2021 –
Aug 8, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Pasadena, CA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Santa Fe, NM
The Mountain Center

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Carbondale, CO
Carbondale Community School

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
The Bush School

Aug 16, 2021 –
Aug 18, 2021

$275

Enroll Now

Los Olivos, CA
Dunn School

Aug 20, 2021 –
Aug 21, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 21, 2021 –
Aug 22, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Morrison, CO
REI Outdoor School

Aug 21, 2021 –
Aug 22, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Outdoor School

Aug 21, 2021 –
Aug 22, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Nelson/Richmond, New Zealand
NOLS New Zealand

Aug 27, 2021 –
Aug 29, 2021

$290

Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Outdoor School

Sep 4, 2021 –
Sep 5, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Thoreau, NM
Cottonwood Gulch Foundation

Sep 4, 2021 –
Sep 5, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Jyderup, Denmark
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 10, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 11, 2021 –
Sep 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Jyderup, Denmark
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 17, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Kobarid, Slovenia
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 17, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$450

Enroll Now

Topsfield, MA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 18, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Sep 18, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Sep 18, 2021 –
Sep 19, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Sep 25, 2021 –
Sep 26, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Sep 25, 2021 –
Sep 26, 2021

$250 to $280

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Sep 25, 2021 –
Sep 26, 2021

$245

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Oct 2, 2021 –
Oct 3, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Cumming, GA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 2, 2021 –
Oct 3, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
Rutabaga Paddlesports

Oct 2, 2021 –
Oct 3, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 9, 2021 –
Oct 10, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 16, 2021 –
Oct 17, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

Oct 23, 2021 –
Oct 24, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Outdoor School

Oct 23, 2021 –
Oct 24, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Santa Cruz, CA
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Oct 23, 2021 –
Oct 24, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Simpsonville, SC
Trail Blazer Survival School

Oct 23, 2021 –
Oct 24, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 25, 2021 –
Oct 27, 2021

$500

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

Oct 30, 2021 –
Oct 31, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Fort Snelling, MN
REI Outdoor School

Oct 30, 2021 –
Oct 31, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Outdoor School

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Miami, FL
University of Miami

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Mattapan, MA
REI Outdoor School

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Nov 6, 2021 –
Nov 7, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Humak Nurmijärvi, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 10, 2021 –
Nov 12, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Airway Heights, WA
Spokane County Fire District 10

Nov 13, 2021 –
Nov 14, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Nov 13, 2021 –
Nov 14, 2021

$250 to $280

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Outdoor School

Nov 20, 2021 –
Nov 21, 2021

$295 to $325

Enroll Now

Syöte, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 26, 2021 –
Nov 28, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Dec 4, 2021 –
Dec 5, 2021

$265

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Outdoor School

Dec 4, 2021 –
Dec 5, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Dec 4, 2021 –
Dec 5, 2021

$255 to $285

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Outdoor School

Dec 4, 2021 –
Dec 5, 2021

$275 to $305

Enroll Now

Berkeley Hills, CA
REI Outdoor School

Dec 11, 2021 –
Dec 12, 2021

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Ranikhet, India
NOLS India

Mar 15, 2022 –
Mar 17, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Topics Covered

  • Patient Assessment System
  • Evacuation Plans and Emergency Procedures
  • CPR (on some courses)
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Shock
  • Head Injuries
  • Wilderness Wound Management
  • Athletic Injuries
  • Fracture Management
  • Dislocations
  • Cold Injuries
  • Heat Illness
  • Altitude Illness
  • Lightning
  • The Medical Patient
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Wilderness First Aid Kits
Curriculum details

Financial aid & Scholarships

NOLS supports a variety of outside financial aid options:

  • AmeriCorps
  • 529 College Savings Plans
  • Veteran's Benefits (In Wyoming only)

If you are fluent in American Sign Language or Signed Exact English, you may be eligible to receive a full scholarship to your wilderness medicine course. 

 

"The staff was excellent, very knowledgeable, professional, and personable...with good communication skills. Handled and answered our questions well. The course gave real life examples of how to handle injuries in the wilderness."

Keep Your Certification Current

To keep up on your WFA certification, retake the course after two years.

 

Recertifying Other Certifications

The WFA may also be used to recertify your Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder and the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT certification. If you're using the WFA to recertify, you'll need to pass both a written and a practical examination.