A Wilderness First Aid Certification Course for Trail Runners
An Aspire Skills Course
Are you a runner looking to build or refresh your wilderness first aid skills? Look no further than this weekend skills retreat to Sucia Island.
Get the detailed itinerary, maps, .gpx files, class descriptions & more in the course packet:
TRIP DATES
MAY 23RD-25TH, 2025
This trip was so much fun, I felt tired at the end of the weekend but restored. I met great people and the Aspire team is so thoughtful of our needs. I can’t believe the amount of food we were served! This was like sleep-away camp for adults.
-ALY FROM BELLINGHAM, WA
We collaborate with Backcountry Medical Guides to provide you with sport specific medical training.
Aspire coordinates all camping reservations, backcountry permits, shuttles and meals to guarantee you an immersive trail running experience. Come ready to learn from an experiential curriculum in an incredible environment!
Skills - Wilderness First Aid: As runners are traveling deeper and more frequently into wild spaces there is a growing need for us to understand the fundamentals of backcountry medicine and how to treat injuries common to our sport. We're teaming up with Backcountry Medical Guides to provide a 3-day, retreat style, Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification course on Sucia Island. Through a blend of lecture and scenario training we'll prepare runners with a foundation in backcountry medicine on one of the northwest's most pristine islands
Accommodations: Our Sucia Island basecamp will be staged out of the Shallow Bay group campground and group shelter. Aspire will provide a lively camp amenities for a remote but comfortable “glamp” style experience.
Meals: We get it! Nutritious food fuels your adventure. We put care and whole foods into all our meals. Aspire bookends each day with celebratory breakfasts & dinners and provides nutritious options for fuel on trail as well. We're happy to accomadate your dietary needs!
Transportation: No public ferries service Sucia Island. Aspire has chartered a private water taxi that will transport runners and equipment between Island Express Charters in Anacortes, WA and Sucia Island.
Guide/Instructor Team: The Aspire team is comprised of welcoming expert guides that provide a safety net, energizing camaraderie, area information, logistical support and meals. Backcountry Medical Guides' talented team of wilderness medicine instructors are uniquely qualified to provide instruction that will prepare you for situations you may come upon while trail running.
Certification Details
Our partners, Backcountry Medical Guides, is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization specializing in designing and implementing wilderness medical training and equipment solutions. They thrive upon serving their clients through the lens of sports-specific injury prevention, recognition, science-based treatments, and evacuation. Their team of Paramedics, Physicians, RN’s, and EMT’s are all rescue professionals, dedicated outdoor enthusiasts, and environmental stewards alike.
Learn more about their work at www.backcountrymedicalguides.org.
The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is for outdoor professionals and enthusiasts ages 14+. This class consists of 18 hours of instruction and is both active and practical. Approximately 70% of the course will focus on fundamental wilderness medicine and prevention. The remaining 30% of the instruction will be dedicated to injuries and incidents common to trail runners and endurance athletes. As a whole the course will teach practical skills and principles for decision making when responding to outdoor emergencies.
View all the ways we support your adventure.
Get the course packet:
Cost
Early Bird Registration: $1200
Ends January 31st
Regular Registration: $1300
Ends April 30th
Late Registration: $1400
Closes May 7th
*Payment plans are available for every trip. View the Payment Plan Policy.