Why Choose Us

I have heard of NOLS, SOLO and Wilderness Medicine Associates. I haven’t heard of your program. Why is that?

All wilderness programs teach the same standardized curriculum. Our program is authorized by the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), a nationally recognized provider of first aid, CPR and safety training programs. ASHI is recognized as functionally equivalent by all state professional licensing agencies and by the Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts of America.

What makes your program different?

By using ASHI course materials, we are able to obtain all course material at a lower cost than from the other “name brand” organizations. Since education is ASHI’s only business, they concentrate on providing quality course material at a reasonable cost. They do not rely on the sales of course material to subsidize their other programming.

What is the advantage of all that practice?

We believe, and experience has shown, that practical hands-on training is essential to fully understand the how and why of each first aid skill. It is impossible to learn the essential skills strictly from the classroom. The more you get to practice, the more automatic the skill becomes. When seconds count, knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.

I really enjoyed your class. Are there additional classes I can take?

Yes. We also offer Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness EMT (upgrade) courses for those that want to take their training to a higher level.

Can I sponsor a class for my scout troop, school group, club, hunting group, etc?

Definitely. We will travel to your facility to teach. Please contact us for details. You will have to provide appropriate indoor and outdoor facilities for the program and there is a minimum class size that must be met.

Where can I go for more information?

Call us or check the class schedule.

I am a Boy Scout leader going to Philmont this summer. Does this class meet the requirement for a wilderness first aid class?

Yes. The ASHI wilderness first aid course has been approved by Philmont and all other High Adventure programs that currently require wilderness first aid.

Most courses are 16 hours long. Yours is longer than that. Why should I commit to the longer course time?

A sixteen hour course will provide you with the basics of wilderness first aid and nothing more. Many of the shorter courses are taught exclusively in the classroom. We combine classroom instruction with scenario based practice sessions. The additional time is devoted to more practice than you can get in a shorter program.

Can’t I just call 911 on my cell phone and let them handle the emergency?

This is a Wilderness First Aid course. When medical emergencies happen on outdoor adventures, there may or may not be cell phone service available. Additionally, EMS personnel may not be able to find you if you are deep in the woods. If you are in a boat, how will they get to you? In these emergency situations, the only person with any medical training may be you. We give you the tools to manage a sick or injured person for hours or even days until you can get to more definitive care.

I’m not a camper and I don’t plan on going outdoors for any length of time. Is this the right class for me?

That depends. If you are the type of person that wants to be prepared for emergencies or wants a bit more skill than a basic first aid course, this is likely the course for you. During a severe snowstorm or a hurricane, emergency services may become overwhelmed. Natural disasters crop up all the time. Urban environments can become “wilderness” in a matter of minutes by crumbling infrastructure due to weather. Being able to take care of someone for an extended length of time during these types of emergencies is a valuable skill.

I am a single individual and want to take a class. Can you accommodate me?

Yes. We teach classes frequently. Check our class schedule.