March 15-16, 2025 WFA

Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Sponsored by Pacific Wilds & NOLS Wilderness Medicine

Dates: March 15-16, 2025 (two days) Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 8am-5pm

Cost: $320.00 - Tuition only

Location: Mt Hood Town Hall, 6575 OR-35, Mt Hood, OR 97041

About this Course

PLEASE REVIEW NOLS WILDERNESS MEDICINE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE MITIGATION PRACTICES PRIOR TO REGISTERING

Prepare for the unexpected with this fun, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.

You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, how to manage environmental emergencies, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions. You will spend half your time practicing skills and participating in realistic scenarios.

NOLS Wilderness Medicine's WFA course is approved by such organizations as the American Camp Association, the United States Coast Guard, as well as other state and federal agencies.

Successful course completion will earn the following NOLS Wilderness Medicine certifications:

• Wilderness First Aid

• Epinephrine Auto-injector

Class Format

Arrive between 7:30 am and 7:45 am on the first day. On subsequent days, please plan on arriving by 7:45 AM. Course days run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with an hour-long break for lunch at noon.

The class format involves lectures integrated with practical scenarios, case studies, and skills practice sessions. Attendance is required at all classes.

Scenarios and practice sessions will take place both inside and outside. Bring outdoor clothing appropriate for lying on the potentially wet, snowy, or cold ground while playing the role of both rescuer and patient. Stage (moulage) blood and make-up are used to enhance the realism of a scenario. The classroom environment generally lends itself to a pair of indoor comfy shoes.

Course Logistics

There is no food, travel, or lodging package offered for this course. Students should secure their own camping or lodging, transportation, and food. There is daytime parking at the classroom venue. You may not camp at the venue. See below for camping suggestions.

Camping & Lodging: 

There are many great campgrounds near Parkdale. The closest campground is Tollbridge Park.There is free camping on forest service roads and at Little John Sno Parkif you’re equipped to camp self contained. Hotels and Airbnbs are available in Hood River (14 miles north). Cooper Spur Resortalso offers lodging up on the mountain nearby. 

Other nearby campgrounds: 

• Toll Bridge Park(1.5 miles from class) offers tent and RV sites on the East Fork Hood River

• Nottingham Campsite(13 miles from class) is a peaceful Forest Service site also on the East Fork

• Sherwood(11 miles from class) also on the river, and also lovely

• Kinnikinnik(Lawrence Lake) - (10 miles from class) The lake is nice for swimming.  There have been some issues with the road so check ahead. 

Travel:

The course is just 14 miles from Hood River and 3 miles from the town of Parkdale.This course is being held at the Mt Hood Town Hall. From Hood River, drive south on OR-25 for approximately 14 miles. The town hall will be on your left.

Curriculum

Our curriculum has been developed and has evolved over decades by medical professionals and experts in outdoor education. Our instructors are expert educators with years of medical and wilderness leadership experience. Please see the WFA Course Outline for an overview and schedule of topics covered during your course. You can read more about our curriculum on the NOLS website as well as view other curriculum resources here.

What to Bring

• Notebook and pencil or pen

• Outdoor work gloves (gardening, leather, or canvas)

• Personal bottle of hand sanitizer

• Watch with a second hand or digital second

• Sunglasses and/or protective eyewear

• Water bottle

• Light day pack

• Headlamp

• Waterproof outerwear–top and bottom

• Light hiking boots or sturdy shoes

• Clothing layers that allow you to be comfortable in a variety of weather conditions, including a hat

• Camp chair

• Clipboard or hard surface to write on

• Sunscreen or sunhat

Optional:

• Slippers or comfortable shoes for classroom time

• Knee pads

NOLS Wilderness Medicine Student Agreement

Please download the NOLS Student Agreement and read it carefully as it affects your legal rights. We will also have copies in class that you may use if you don’t get a chance to print it.

You may ring this two-page signed document to the first day of the course. If you are a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the document as well. Without a signed document, you cannot participate in the course. NOLS Wilderness Medicine participants, including minors, will have unsupervised free time throughout the course. Any activities during the free time are not part of the NOLS Wilderness Medicine program and are at the sole risk of the participant.

Please follow the links below to the NOLS website for overviews of other pre-course planning resources:

College Credit

Continuing Education

Recertification Policies

Alcohol, tobacco, and firearm policies

Scholarships and financial aid

Pets and service animals

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Minimum age requirements

Registration & Cancellation Policy:

How to Register

Please register by clicking the register button at the top of this page

If you cancel or withdraw from a course:

• Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course start date, Pacific Wilds will retain a $35.00 administrative fee and refund your deposit/tuition.

• Between 30 days of the course start date and 5 p.m. Pacific Time on the last business day before your course begins, Pacific Wilds will transfer your enrollment and funds, minus a $60.00 administrative fee, to another scheduled Pacific Wilds course if available. If no same course type is available, your tuition is non-refundable.

• Once the course has begun, the full tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable. Pacific Wilds will consider exceptions on a case by case basis.

• In alignment with our Cancellation Policy, we will not refund or transfer any students who are unable to attend a course within the cancellation deadline due to last-minute personal or medical issues including COVID-19; this policy is inclusive of issues that arise once the course has started. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip insurance which includes coverage for COVID-19. Policies vary greatly and it is your responsibility to ensure your policy is the right fit for your needs and has appropriate coverage. While there is a range of available Tuition Protection and Travel Insurance providers, our preferred provider is MDM Group Associates, Inc.. Please read each policy carefully and discuss any questions with a policy specialist at the provider you select.

Course Cancellation by NOLS or Pacific Wilds

Courses may cancel up to 30 days prior to start date. Usually this is due to under enrollment. If a course cancels your tuition will be refunded. NOLS and Pacific Wilds are not responsible for refunding travel, lodging, or other non-tuition expenses.

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.