The CMU Outdoor Program currently offer Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, and Wilderness First Responder recertification courses through Desert Mountain Medicine. These courses are available to anyone, in or outside of the campus community.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is a 2-day, 16-hour course that trains students on basic life support (CPR infant/child/adult & AED), Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training (WAT) and covers injuries and illnesses common when traveling or working in the backcountry.
Desert Mountain Medicine's WFA course is designed for the outdoor enthusiast, trip leader, raft guide, or land agency field staff who want more than what an urban first aid course provides. It is a great introduction to wilderness medicine and basic life support skills. This training focuses on prevention, assessment, and treatment of environmental illnesses, recognizing and stabilizing life threats caused by trauma, and calling for a rescue in the event of a wilderness emergency.
Prices: $300 for CMU students, $325 for public
The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the industry-standard medical training for outdoor professionals and adventurers who work, travel, and recreate in remote and austere environments. Course participants will build the confidence to respond to an emergency and manage patients requiring prolonged field care. Desert Mountain Medicine's students report that their WFR training is hands-down the most rewarding and confidence-building course. You’ll leave this course better prepared for what adventure brings you.
The Wilderness First Responder course offered through CMU and Desert Mountain Medicine is a hybrid course. The course material includes 30 hours of self-paced, online, pre-course work, followed by 5 days of in-person class.
If you are an Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies major, you are required to take this course. CMU Outdoor Program trip leaders are also required to have their WFR certification to lead trips in order to make our backcountry experiences as safe as possible for our participants.
Prices: $725 for CMU students, $850 for public
Desert Mountain Medicine’s hybrid Wilderness First Responder Recertification Course (WRC) refreshes the basics, delivers the latest peer-reviewed best practices and industry updates, reviews industry case studies, all while providing a contextual scenario-based learning experience. Course participants will build the confidence to respond to an emergency and manage patients requiring prolonged field care.
The WRC course offered at CMU is hybrid, with 8 hours of self-paced, online, pre-course work, followed by 2 days of in-person learning.
Students must have a current WFR certification from DMM or another provider who follows the certification guidelines set forth by the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative (WMEC). Click here for more information on recertification and whether your certification is eligible for a DMM WRC.
Upon completion, this course will effectively recertify your WFR for 3 years following the recertification date, and recertify your CPR, AED, and Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training certifications for 2 years following the recertification date.
Prices: $325 for CMU students, $350 for public
Wilderness Medicine Courses 2026/2027
The following is a list of the wilderness medicine courses being offered on CMU's campus in conjunction with Desert Mountain Medicine for the 2026/2027 school year.-
November 20-24, 2026Wilderness First Responder Email [email protected] by October 20 if interested. 30 hours of online work must be completed prior to November 20.
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January 9-10, 2027Wilderness First Aid Email [email protected] by December 15 if interested.
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January 15-19, 2027Wilderness First Responder Email [email protected] by December 10 if interested. 30 hours of online work must be completed prior to January 15.
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March 27-28, 2027Wilderness First Responder Recertification Email [email protected] by December 20 if interested. 8 hours of online work must be completed prior to January 27.