Wilderness First Responder

The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the standard level of medical training for professional outdoor recreation industry field staff that work in remote environments. Our comprehensive and practical curriculum has gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts, endurance athletes, and adventure travelers who push their boundaries in remote areas with limited resources, unreliable communication, and the potential for delayed or self rescue. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER*

*You will be redirected to our partner’s website (Jackson Hole Outdoor Leadership Institute)

BECOME THE PARTNER YOU SEEK

WFA COURSE DETAILS

Length: 5 Days in person + 30 hours of self paced online learning
When:
August 11-15, 2025
Where: Cardigan Mountain School – Canaan, NH

COST

WFR course with lodging and meals included: $1320

WFR course with meals included: $1070

WHAT TO EXPECT

Itinerary

WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER

  • Check into your lodging after 4PM the night before your course begins.
  • Day One – 8AM-6PM
  • Day Two – 8AM – 6PM
  • Day Three – 8AM – 6PM
  • Day Four – 8AM – 6PM
  • Check out of your lodging before class. Day Five – 8AM – 6PM

Course Details

The WFR is 80 hours long (5 days + 30 hours of online learning), and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies.

Course participants will develop strong patient assessment skills, adopt treatment tools to stabilize life-threatening conditions, and learn how to provide extended patient care in austere environments. Most importantly, this training will prepare individuals to prevent many environmental illnesses and proactively manage pre-existing conditions in the field. Individuals will also develop the confidence to professionally call in a rescue in the event of a backcountry emergency and manage the evacuation of a medical or trauma patient.

The online section is hosted on CANVAS®, a cloud-based classroom and powerful learning management system that allows individual students to work at a their own pace. An instructor team assigned to each course supports participants with navigation of the online material and facilitates interactive elements and skill-based learning. The online material consists of reading assignments, case studies, videos, photos, animations, quizzes, and discussions, culminating in a comprehensive midterm exam. The online section is available to course participants approximately 1 month before the practical section is to begin.

Lodging and Meals

3 meals per day will be included in your course tuition. Cardigan Mountain School will provide meals in their cafeteria on campus. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.
Single-occupancy lodging is available on-site for an extra fee. This can be added onto your course tuition at checkout. Lodging will be in the dorm rooms at Cardigan Mountain School. Sheets and towels will be provided but you will need to bring a blanket and pillow.

What Do I Need?

FOR THIS COURSE, YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING

You should plan to wear or have with you clothing that will be appropriate to the season and location. Weather permitting; we will be spending a significant portion of the class time out-of-doors. The following list is to SUPPLEMENT the clothing you will be wearing.

 

NECESSARY ITEMS

Notebook and pen/pencil

Raingear tops and bottoms

Layers of clothing (so you can take a layer off if you are hot/put one on if you are cold, these are also used for splinting)

Hat – warm, not made of cotton

Mittens or gloves if it will be cold out

Backpack to put everything in

Reusable water bottles (1qt or 1 liter) for drinking water

Footwear for the environment (Closed-toe shoes for being outdoors- sandals are only acceptable for indoor activity.)

HELPFUL ITEMS TO BRING

Ground cloth or small tarp (6X4 sheet of plastic is fine)

Sleeping pad (Examples: Ensolite, Ridgerest, Thermarest)

Bandanas or cravats of any kind

Parachute cord

 

General Policies

GENERAL POLICIES

NEMs Adventure itineraries are subject to change or be adjusted based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, terrain, group dynamics and many other factors. NEM has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including the discretion to change program schedule or itinerary, and change guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather or route conditions. In such a case, an NEM credit for the full value is given; however, NEM cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred in preparing for the program (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or rental, hotel reservations). NEM reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a trip at any time if NEM determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating in the program. This includes being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

SUMMIT ATTEMPT

Northeast Mountaineering cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit or complete the objective you have signed up for. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities or the abilities of others may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire party will have to turn around without reaching the summit. Your program fee entitles you to one mountain experience on your specified dates.

MINIMUM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Most of our programs do not have a minimum enrollment. If you are the only one registered, it will likely become a private outing. For our Waterfall Rappelling adventure, we must have at least 50% enrollment (3 people) to run the adventure. In the event of low-enrollment, we will reschedule your adventure to another date. If another date cannot be accommodated, you will receive an NEM credit.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety is NEM’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in the mountains but they cannot eliminate them. NEM guides draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sound decisions that maximize your experience without compromising the necessary margin of safety. Please clearly understand that mountaineering and all other mountain adventures are inherently hazardous sports. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which participants have been injured and killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risk and hazards of these sports, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in these activities.

NEW ENGLAND ADVENTURES

Payment in full is due at the time of booking. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check.

BEYOND NEW ENGLAND INCLUDING MOUNT RAINIER

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

CANCELLATION FOR NEW ENGLAND PROGRAMS

Up to 30 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 29 days - 72 hours before your adventure: Full Refund in the form of NEM credit Within 72 hours of your adventure: No refund will be issued* In the event that you have a positive COVID-19 test and need to cancel within 72 hours, you will be issued an NEM credit for your adventure.

CANCELLATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND

Up to 90 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 89 days - 30 days before your adventure: Participant will be responsible for paying 50% of the total balance. If the balance is paid in full, participant will receive a 50% refund in the form of NEM credit. Within 30 days of your adventure: No refund will be issued and participant will be responsible for paying the full balance.* *Travel Insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment. If NEM cancels your adventure due to weather or another unforeseen reason, you will receive an NEM credit.

CHANGE OF DATE

Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 7 days prior to your adventure without incurring a date change fee. Date changes may be requested between 7 and 3 days prior to your departure date for a $25 fee per person. There are no date changes allowed within 72 hours before your adventure.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES

NEM requires payment in full within 2 weeks of your program. If you have an outstanding balance inside of this time-frame, the reservation will be marked as an NEM credit and the date will be released.