RED CROSS REMOTE & WILDERNESS FIRST AID

2026 Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Stay prepared for medical emergencies in remote and wilderness environments with this American Red Cross–aligned Wilderness and Remote First Aid course. Built around OSHA Best Practices and Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid curriculum and doctrine, this course teaches advanced first aid skills for identifying, managing, and stabilizing traumatic and medical emergencies when help is delayed.

Through classroom instruction, scenario-based training, and hands-on wilderness skill application, students will gain the confidence and competence needed to care for themselves and others in challenging environments.

Course Registration Options - Click Here

Full Course Overview

• Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
• Includes: Classroom instruction, field scenarios, and wilderness skill integration
• Evaluation: Overnight scenario Saturday evening and a 4-hour final practical and written evaluation on Sunday

Enrollment Requirements (Important)

• Students must submit a copy of their current American Red Cross CPR/AED certification when registering.
• No other CPR/AED certifications will be accepted.
• CPR/AED may be completed locally, check here for more information.
• Enrollment cannot be completed without verified CPR/AED certification.

Registration deadline: Two (2) weeks prior to the class start date.

For questions regarding classes or gear lists, please contact our Lead Instructor, Ty Barker, at (304) 237-2173 or by email at tybarker73@yahoo.com. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST.

Prerequisites

• Must be at least 14 years old
• Students under 18 years old must be accompanied by a registered adult

Daily Structure (Full Course)

• 1-hour lunch break around 12:00 PM each day
• Overnight patient-care scenario on Saturday evening
• Final practical and written evaluation on Sunday

Who This Course Is For?

These updates apply to:

• Pathfinder Instructor Candidates
• Students with an expiring WFA card
• Anyone needing WFA for 2026 requirements
• Individuals seeking wilderness medical skills for personal or family preparedness

Core Medical Topics

• Primary and Secondary Patient Assessments
• Head, Brain, Neck, and Spinal Injuries
• Heat-Related Illnesses & Hypothermia
• Altitude-Related Illnesses
• Abdominal Problems & Chest Injuries
• Asthma, Seizures, Stroke
• Poisoning & Drowning
• Diabetic Emergencies
• Allergies & Anaphylaxis
• Burns & Lightning Injuries
• Bone & Joint Injuries
• Wounds, Infection, and Wound Care
• Evacuation Decisions & Patient Packaging

Additional Wilderness Skills

• Navigation principles for emergency positioning
• Plant medicine (preparations and applications for first aid use)
• Fire building for warmth and water purification
• Emergency shelter construction for patient temperature management
• Improvisation using the Pathfinder 10 C’s of Survivability

The Pathfinder 10 C’s

This course incorporates the 10 C’s of Survivability.

Students should pack the 10 C’s separately in an easily accessible backpack or haversack (shoulder bag), as they will be used throughout this course and others at the Pathfinder School.

Instructors:

Alongside Dave Canterbury, the Pathfinder School currently has five American Red Cross CPR & WFA instructors on staff:

• Kyle Sanborn
• Vaskin Badalow
• Ty Barker
• Michael Johns
• Bart Caudill

Materials & Gear

• Small required gear list - Click Here
• Required books may be borrowed or purchased

Recertification Note

• The American Red Cross does not currently offer a WFA recertification option
• This course functions as a full retake or partial retake, depending on the option selected

Course Options & Pricing:

1.     Full Course (Certification + Pathfinder Patch)

• Classroom and field components
• Cost: $350

2.     Classroom Only – New Certification (No Patch)

• Friday & Saturday classroom portion
• Cost: $225

3.     Classroom Only – Renewal Option

• Friday & Saturday classroom portion
• Must have previously completed the full course at the Pathfinder School
• Cost: $125

Pricing is reduced because CPR/AED is completed separately.

Why the Change?

This update was a collaborative effort between Dave and the Pathfinder instructional staff, driven entirely by student and staff feedback.

By separating CPR from the WFA course:

• CPR can be completed locally and conveniently
• Students avoid missing an extra day of work
• Overall cost remains similar, with significantly more flexibility

The program has been fully reworked to reflect what students actually need, resulting in a streamlined, practical, and highly effective course.

We’re excited to offer this updated 2026 Wilderness First Aid program and look forward to training you.

Meeting Location - Click Here
Cabin Rentals - Click Here
Cancellation Policy - Click Here

About our School:

• Fully Insured
• Red Cross Certified Training Facility
• EMT’s and Paramedic’s on Staff
• AED on Location 
• Epinephrine on Location
• Instructors are CPR and Wilderness First Aid Red Cross Certified 
• Low Student to Instructor to create a Pedagogy learning environment. 
• Most Instructors either former Military, EMS, or LE
• Dave Canterbury is NASAR Advanced Search and Rescue Certified 
• Dave Canterbury is Certified Expert Trapper by Fur Takers of America and a Certified Intermediate Herbalist by the Herbal Academy International School of Herbal Arts and Sciences
• All Instructors are equipped and licensed in HAM radio as well as PLB SAT comms for emergency communications away from classroom area.
• Training area is over 4500 Forested Acres 

Disclaimer:
Please make sure you take all gear with you at the end of the class. If gear is left behind, we will not be able to ship it to you, and will be considered abandoned. 

If you bring a minor (under 18 yrs old) that is not your child, you must have a signed Emergency Care Authorization form filled out by that child's parent(s) or legal guardian. Reference your Confirmation email for this document.

 IMPORTANT: This class will require hikes of 2+ miles at a time in possibly very muddy and uneven while carrying your gear. Port-a-Pots are located approximately 400 yards from the base camp near the parking area. Water is available from jugs always located in Base Camp.

If you suffer from a medical condition or chronic pain, please bring your prescribed medicines with you. If you have recently undergone surgery or a hospital stay within the last 30 days, DO NOT attempt this course until you have had more time to recuperate.

Due to property insurance restrictions: There will be NO camping on the school property prior to the start of the class or after the class concludes.

If you need to cancel..

Once you purchase a class for The Pathfinder School, the Pathfinder Gathering, or for a Self Reliance Outfitters store event, you have up to 14 days before the event or class to cancel and receive a refund. This provides us time to open the spot for someone else to purchase. 

Any cancellations past that threshold will not be eligible for a refund. A cancellation due to an emergency will be handled on a case-by-case basis and will only be eligible for a store gift card.

If you do not show up for a class or event your registration fees are forfeited, and no refunds or store credits will be issued.

If a class gets canceled...

We require a minimum of 5 to 10 students to conduct a class (depending on the class).  If a class needs to be cancelled due to an insufficient number of registrations, you will be contacted by phone or email. You will then have the option to transfer to another class (if available), receive a store gift card, or a refund.

Please note: The Pathfinder School LLC is not responsible for travel expenses, airline tickets, or other accommodations if a class is cancelled.