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Camera William Woodward

Wilderness First Aid

Duration

16 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$240 to $550

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

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

144 courses

Dates

Geolocation

STF Grövelsjön Fjällstation, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jul 1, 2022 –
Jul 3, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Jyderup, Denmark
Crossing Latitudes

Jul 8, 2022 –
Jul 10, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Buxton, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Jul 9, 2022 –
Jul 10, 2022

$335

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Jul 9, 2022 –
Jul 10, 2022

$350

5 spaces Enroll Now

Austin, TX
REI Southwest

Jul 9, 2022 –
Jul 10, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Midwest

Jul 9, 2022 –
Jul 10, 2022

$335

5 spaces Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Jul 9, 2022 –
Jul 10, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Jyderup, Denmark
Crossing Latitudes

Jul 15, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Sylva, NC
Landmark Learning

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$260 to $290

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$335

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$350

5 spaces Enroll Now

Accokeek, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Milton, MA
REI Northeast

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$335

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

El Cerrito, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Jul 16, 2022 –
Jul 17, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Midwest

Jul 19, 2022 –
Jul 20, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Jul 19, 2022 –
Jul 20, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

El Cerrito, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Jul 23, 2022 –
Jul 24, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Jul 23, 2022 –
Jul 24, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Jul 23, 2022 –
Jul 24, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Pittsburgh, PA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Jul 30, 2022 –
Jul 31, 2022

$335

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Jul 30, 2022 –
Jul 31, 2022

$335

5 spaces Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Jul 30, 2022 –
Jul 31, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Jul 30, 2022 –
Jul 31, 2022

$270

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$350

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Glencoe, IL
REI Midwest

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Fountain, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Pomona, NY
REI Tri-State

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Roswell, GA
REI Southeast

Aug 6, 2022 –
Aug 7, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Carbondale, CO
Colorado Rocky Mountain School

Aug 8, 2022 –
Aug 9, 2022

$300

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Los Olivos, CA
Dunn School

Aug 11, 2022 –
Aug 12, 2022

$250

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Aug 13, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Aug 13, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Aug 13, 2022 –
Aug 14, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

McCall, ID
McCall Outdoor Science School

Aug 15, 2022 –
Aug 16, 2022

$244

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 16, 2022 –
Aug 17, 2022

$265

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$265

Enroll Now

El Cerrito, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seekonk, MA
REI Northeast

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Aug 20, 2022 –
Aug 21, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 22, 2022 –
Aug 23, 2022

$265

Enroll Now

Woodinville, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Aug 27, 2022 –
Aug 28, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Sep 3, 2022 –
Sep 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Sep 3, 2022 –
Sep 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Raleigh, NC
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Sep 8, 2022 –
Sep 9, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$285

Enroll Now

Pittsburgh, PA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Cedar Creek, TX
REI Southwest

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Riverside, CA
REI Southern California

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Triangle, VA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Sep 10, 2022 –
Sep 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Lincoln, MA
REI Northeast

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Lincoln, MA
REI Northeast

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Sep 17, 2022 –
Sep 18, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Blairstown, NJ
REI Tri-State

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sylva, NC
Landmark Learning

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$260 to $290

Enroll Now

St. Paul, MN
Macalester College

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Waycross, GA
Okefenokee Swamp Park

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Southern California

Sep 24, 2022 –
Sep 25, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Kobarid, Slovenia
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 3, 2022

$525

Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Goodyear, AZ
REI Southwest

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Fawnskin, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Cumming, GA
REI Southeast

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Midwest

Oct 1, 2022 –
Oct 2, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Jonsered, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 7, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin - Outdoor UW

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$240 to $280

Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Headwaters Field Medicine

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Centennial, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Union, SC
Trail Blazer Survival School

Oct 8, 2022 –
Oct 9, 2022

$265

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Palo Alto, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Oct 15, 2022 –
Oct 16, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Southwest

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Great Falls, VA
REI Mid-Atlantic

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Santa Cruz, CA
NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Oct 22, 2022 –
Oct 23, 2022

$300

Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 28, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$550

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$315

Enroll Now

Santa Barbara, CA
REI Southern California

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

East Hanover, NJ
REI Tri-State

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

West Des Moines, IA
Wander Women Iowa

Oct 29, 2022 –
Oct 30, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Yucca Valley, CA
Mountain Rescue Institute

Nov 3, 2022 –
Nov 4, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Pudasjärvi, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 4, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Seekonk, MA
REI Northeast

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
REI Southwest

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Madison, WI
Rutabaga Paddlesports

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

$280

Enroll Now

New Orleans, LA
Tulane University

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Pueblo, CO
Colorado State University Pueblo

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Bentonville, AR
37 North Expeditions

Nov 5, 2022 –
Nov 6, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

El Cerrito, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Goodyear, AZ
REI Southwest

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Baltimore, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Sylva, NC
Landmark Learning

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$260 to $290

Enroll Now

Fishkill, NY
REI Tri-State

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Colorado School of Mines Outdoor Recreation Center

Nov 12, 2022 –
Nov 13, 2022

$245

Enroll Now

Colorado Springs, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Nov 19, 2022 –
Nov 20, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Lakewood, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Nov 19, 2022 –
Nov 20, 2022

TBA

Enroll Now

Brooklyn, NY
REI Tri-State

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$340

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Midwest

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Asheville, NC
REI Southeast

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

San Diego, CA
REI Southern California

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Centennial, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Los Angeles, CA
REI Southern California

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Oregon-Northern Rockies

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Southwest

Dec 3, 2022 –
Dec 4, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Seekonk, MA
REI Northeast

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$325

Enroll Now

Seattle, WA
REI Washington-Alaska

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Sacramento, CA
REI California Bay-Sierra

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Saint Paul, MN
REI Midwest

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$335

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
REI Rockies-Great Plains

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

Accokeek, MD
REI Mid-Atlantic

Dec 10, 2022 –
Dec 11, 2022

$350

Enroll Now

,

Jan 5, 2023 –
Jan 6, 2023

$375

Enroll Now

,

Jan 21, 2023 –
Jan 22, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

,

Feb 11, 2023 –
Feb 12, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

,

Apr 15, 2023 –
Apr 16, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

,

Apr 22, 2023 –
Apr 23, 2023

$285

Enroll Now

Florissant, CO
Sanborn Western Camps

May 16, 2023 –
May 17, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

May 27, 2023 –
May 28, 2023

$315

Enroll Now

,

Jun 3, 2023 –
Jun 4, 2023

$325

Enroll Now

,

Sep 9, 2023 –
Sep 10, 2023

TBA

Enroll Now

,

Nov 4, 2023 –
Nov 5, 2023

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.