How to set up a custom program for your group

First, determine which program meets your needs.
Second, consider the program necessities.
Third, discuss your program with us and start filling your seats.

Programs

Any course can be customized to reflect the realities of a group and courses can be combined, such as Canoeing and WRFA. Below are the most commonly customized programs.

Wilderness and Remote First Aid (RFA)

The main program is a minimum of 20 hours; it runs 3 days with one overnight. Cost is $275.00  (plus HST) per participant. (more about)

Advanced Wilderness and Remote First Aid (WFA)

This option is a minimum of 40 hours, and runs 4-5 days with an optional overnight or homework. It is an agency-specific or leaders-focused program and explores more issues on the legal and professional responsibility end of things. Specifically, issues of trip planning, emergency routing, and Critical Incident Stress are covered in addition to covering all the First Aid (FA) in the main program. Cost is $375.00 (plus HST) per participant. This option can also be designed to meet the 36-hour criteria for advanced FA that many organizations seek. (more about)

Wilderness and Remote First Responder (WFR)

This session is 80 hours and runs for 8-9 days with an overnight near the end of the program. It is the most comprehensive training available before para-medicine. This level of training is becoming more desired for anyone performing in a professional capacity or doing an expedition. Cost is $900.00 (plus HST) per participant. (more about)

About the programs:

  • At least 70% of the program experience is outside, hands on, and scenario based.
  • We tailor the course to meet the group’s risk factors, concerns, and environment.
  • An overnight component is optional, not required.
  • We have begun doing programs formatted as trips. If you believe your participants would benefit from having a portion of the program as a short trip to a campsite for an overnight or the whole course as a trip this could be an option for you. The timelines may vary from the base program hours. The more we can place the students in the environment the more effective the learning process.
  • We find effective learning occurs when the student can be placed in situations that reflect their possible outdoor situations. We would ask that the student have on-hand what they would normally carry with them in their outdoor wilderness pursuits. We will focus on how they could use it in an emergency. Remember: “Everything you have with you should have at least three uses, of which one should be first aid.”
  • We have done many courses for public, SAR, guides, and leaders. All groups have a particular focus and interests given their experiences. The program comes from Alberta and has been used as a part of the Outdoor Leadership Program modules since 1980. We have been adopted as the Nova Scotia Outdoor Leadership Development Program’s WRFA module, as we offer certification.

With all courses you receive:

  • WRFA waterproof field guide.
  • Wilderness Remote First Aid and a Standard First Aid – Level C CPR certification
  • An experience quite unlike any First Aid you have ever taken….

Completion of the course will give you a Wilderness and Remote First Aid certification and a Standard First Aid certification with level C CPR recognized in the workplace in Canada. WRFA exceeds the Standard FA requirement in the workplace. As far as international recognition goes, Red Cross is in 182 countries.

Requirements:

  • A minimum of 8 participants. If you get more than 12 committed participants, we can start talking about a 10% discount and making the course cheaper for all. Although we can take 24 participant with 2 instructors, we like to cap it around 20.
  • Non-refundable deposits of $75.00 for WRFA and $300.00 for WRFR per participant at least one month (30 days) before the program begins. The deposit is refundable if the student cancels up until 30 days prior to the course start date.
  • Outdoor and indoor classrooms  that are very near to each other. How close the “outdoor classroom” is to the indoor space is important because the flow is best when we can walk out of one and into the other. Examples of venues that commonly meet these requirements are church camps, wilderness lodges, rural halls, and anywhere with a wilderness area on the property.
  • Thoughts and discussions around transportation, eating, and sleeping arrangements and costs for the instructor(s). Appropriate boarding facilities are a must and are the sponsoring organization’s responsibility.

Summary of necessary teaching materials & equipment ( We can bring, but can make it easier if you have them):

  • Indoor classroom
  • Computer projector (please confirm working status)
  • Whiteboard and/or chalkboard
  • Outdoor classroom – a wooded area very nearby and in which we can do some minor tree cutting
  • Your field pack – see suggested equipment list
  • A list of FA concerns and risk factors that you have as a group*****
  • A variety of OLD/disposable improvisational items to use (i.e. blankets, tarps, sleeping bags, old socks, plastic bottles, assorted ropes, bandannas, safety pins, et cetera, and anything that applies your setting)

*** What you do not have available, we can provide, but doing so may affect transportation costs. ***

Filling your seats:

You should inform and advertise for your program at least three months in advance. We will assist you in this if you advise us of the need well before the course. We will assemble a handout that you can use to ensure your students are prepared and well informed for their course. Experience has taught us that you must get deposits well in advance to ensure that participants are committed.