What You'll Learn

You will learn numerous ways to prevent and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries most commonly experienced in nature. Please note, this is not a passive course. In order to achieve the level of understanding and accessibility of knowledge necessary to execute these skills in a nature-based setting, there must be a high degree of rigor including a live demonstration of skills in a small, supportive group led by an experienced instructor.

  • Assessment - Looking for and stabilizing Life Threats, Gathering your Patient's History, Completing a Patient Exam, and Gathering Vitals

  • Trauma including: Musculoskeletal Injuries, Soft Tissue Injuries, Shock, Head Trauma, and Burns

  • Environmental issues such as: Hypothermia, Frostbite, Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke, Allergies, Lightning, and Bites & Stings

  • Additional Items such as: Tourniquets, Tick Bites, and more

How exactly does this work...

  • Online Coursework

    Complete your self-directed, on-demand coursework. You will have access to the course as soon as you register. This will include videos, actions, assignments, and quizzes. Online coursework is a 6-hour commitment.

  • Skills Lab

    Attend a Live Skills Lab via Zoom. This Lab is key to crystalizing your learning. It is highly-experiential, fun, and painless. Labs are offered several times/month - daytime and evening options are available.

  • Teacher Access

    There are many opportunities for support. You can always email your instructor and expect an answer in 1-2 days. You can start a discussion in the online learning platform that your instructor will respond to. You can also attend weekly office hours. Your instructor will review your assignments and provide feedback.

  • Get certified

    After all Coursework, Skills Labs, and Final Exam are complete, you will receive your Certificate of Completion. Boom. Done. Get out there and Adventure with Abandon!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I need a First Aid certification for my work. I am taking this course to go above and beyond that. Can I get the First Aid card I need?

    Yes! We can issue you a First Aid Card via American Safety and Health Institute, Red Cross, or American Heart Association to make sure you are in compliance. The WFA Essentials Certificate of Completion is issued via Institute for Wild Med.

  • My CPR Certification is current. Do I need to redo it?

    No. If you have a current CPR Certification with greater than 6 months to expiration, you can email it to us at [email protected] and then you can sign up for WFA Essentials Without CPR. A current CPR certification with greater than 6 months to expiration is required to obtain your WFA Essentials Certificate of Completion.

  • How long will this take?

    The online coursework is about a 6-hour commitment. This includes videos, actions, assignments, and quizzes. The WFA Essentials Lab is about 2 hours. Office hours are optional and run for 1 hour every week.

  • How soon can I have my Certificate of Completion?

    You will receive your Certificate of Completion when you Coursework, Skills Labs, and Final Exam are complete. We run WFA Essentials Skills Labs approximately every 2 weeks. Check out our calendar to see what works for you - be sure to scan ahead to future months: https://calendly.com/revivify

  • I am required to have an in-person 16-hour WFA for work. Does this count?

    No, this is a 10-hour hybrid course so it does not satisfy the in-person WFA requirement. It is a very rigorous experience and is far beyond Basic CPR and First Aid.

  • Can everyone from my program get certified together?

    Yes! Please contact us for group discounts [email protected] If you have at least 6 people, you can schedule a private Skills Lab for just your program.

Course Requirements

You will need the following to successfully complete this course:

  • Reliable internet connection

  • Desktop, Laptop, or Tablet with camera and microphone

Meet your Instructor...

Nicole Roma Thurrell, WEMT

Nicole has degrees in Psychology and Recreation Therapy from the University of North Carolina. She has been a WEMT since 2001. She worked in many aspects of wilderness therapy for nearly a decade - Expedition Leader, Health Director, Director of Admissions. In addition to the roles listed above, she has been an adventure racer, a raft guide, high ropes facilitator, a clinician for kids with Autism, a Waldorf high school teacher, and a mom. She is a passionate and award-winning educator (Massachusetts Award for Excellence in Science Education) who loves turning people on to strategies for being more confident and comfortable in nature. She lives in a Solar Village in Greenfield, MA.

What people are saying...

Click the arrows for more

Hands Down

by Sabrina

“This is hands down the highest quality CPR course I have taken. The format is convenient and effective. Nicole's delivery is excellent. She is enthusiastic, professional and responsive. She went the extra mile to accommodate our needs. And I didn't expect it to be so much fun! I highly recommend this course!”

Absolutely the BEST

“Absolutely the BEST CPR course I've ever taken! After 25+ years of being CPR certified, the renewal courses have become pretty boring and ho-hum. Not this renewal course - it was engaging, informative and empowering. I feel more prepared for an emergency than I ever have before. Thank you so much!”

You should be...

"You [Nicole] should be the only person allowed to teach this course"

Perfect Fit

"As a nature-based occupational therapist, I found the Wild Med CPR and First Aid course to be a perfect fit for my work. The course was comprehensive yet delivered efficiently. I was able to process through the easy-to access modules at a pace and schedule convenient to me but I also had supportive interactions with the instructor during the live skills sessions. The scenarios were relevant to my work and the instructor was very relatable. I highly recommend this course to both professionals and parents that take their kids outdoors in all environments."

Phenomenal

"I have taken 1st Aid and CPR courses with Nicole in person and online. Both are phenomenal. She is an excellent teacher, and has created an extremely well-organized, informative, and memorable course. I feel prepared!"

Wouldn't be without...

by Hanna

"I received the first aid kit as a gift and was floored by how thoughtfully put together and complete it is! I'll never need anything else to go for a hike, the beach, or just an outing. Before I hodge podged many different kits together but now I have one that has items I hadn't even thought of but now wouldn't be without and in a handy carry case to boot!! Easily one of the most useful, most appreciated gifts I've ever received! Think I'll start giving them as gifts☺️"