Wilderness First Responder
All course participants must be up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations, due to the hands-on nature of this course. (This is a Lewis & Clark College requirement.) We may be able to allow some exemptions; call us (503 768-7117) if you believe you have a special situation.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training is the hands-on medical course that is the industry standard for backcountry rangers, river guides, outdoor guides, as well as NOLS and Outward Bound instructors. The course includes engaging classroom sessions and outdoor scenarios taught by medical professionals from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
All College Outdoors Trip Leaders and Assistant Leaders are required to be WFR certified in order to lead off-campus trips. College Outdoors at Lewis & Clark College has sponsoring Wilderness First Responder courses for LC students and the broader community since 1996.
Learn more at the NOLS website.
Courses Sponsored by Lewis & Clark College
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
We typically offer an 80-hour Wilderness First Responder course at Lewis & Clark College each each January immediately prior to Spring Semester and each May immediately following the end of Spring Semester.
FLORIDA WFR: We also offer a WFR course in (register and get more details by clicking this following orange link ) Florida each January, immediately prior to Spring Semester.
Wilderness First Responder Hybrid Recertification
We typically offer recertification for WFR on a weekend in both November and April. We offer the hybrid format recertification, which includes roughly 4 hours of online pre-work followed by 2 days of in-person instruction and scenario practice. If you are a Lewis and Clark student and you are interested in completing the recertification course, please contact our College Outdoors office by emailing outdoors@lclark.edu.
Upcoming Events
Register for any Portland (on campus) WFR by calling 503-768-7124; leave a message with your email and phone if no answer. Please speak slowly and clearly.
For the Florida WFR (Jan 4-13, 2023) text 503 880-5387, and someone will usually text you back in a few minutes during business hours, Pacific Time. For information or to register for the Florida WFR, you can also email yuska@lclark.edu. Lewis & Clark students can register in-person at our office on the Lewis & Clark College campus.
On-campus (Portland, OR) WFR:
- Location: Lewis & Clark College campus
- Dates: Thursday, January 5th - Saturday, January 14th, 2023.
- L&C Student Price: $695 (course price), housing and food is not included in price, but students living on campus in Spring 2023 can stay on campus for an additional cost of $25/day.
- General Public Price: $850
Florida WFR: (11/22/22: still room in this Wilderness First Responder course, and no charge for housing.)
- Location: Wekiwa Springs State Park, Orlando, FL. Housing free (in cabins), meal plan optional.
- Dates: Wed. January 4th through Friday, January 13th, 2023
- L&C Student Price: $695 (course price)
- General Public Price: $850. Click here for more information about the course and pricing options.
College Outdoors Events
DON’T WAIT TOO LONG TO REGISTER!
These courses are very popular and often fill up early.
To participate in one of these courses, you will be asked to sign the Lewis & Clark College Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks and Agreements of Release and Indemnity, as well as the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Student Agreement.