Wilderness Medicine and Rescue

The Wilderness Medicine and Rescue major is designed for students interested in applying medical, emergency management, and rescue skills to a career in the outdoors. This program seeks to train students for practice in low-resource environments and prepares them for work in fields like backcountry guiding, search and rescue, ski/bike patrol, park ranger service, local and federal government, and more. It is one of the only majors in the country that combines elements of outdoor recreation management, emergency medical services, rescue, and firefighting.

What You'll Study

The interdisciplinary program combines courses in emergency medical services and Outdoor Recreation Management with an emphasis on risk management and wilderness medicine. Part of the program includes gaining technical skills in at least five outdoor sports, including hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, or kayaking. You will learn how to conduct rescue operations in low-resource environments likes mountains, forests, and rivers. 

There are a number of certifications you will receive as you go through the program:

• CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer | Health and Safety Institute
• Basic First Aid | Health and Safety Institute
• FFT2 Firefighter | National Wildfire Coordinating Group
• ICS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System | FEMA
• Incident Qualification Card/Red Card | National Wildfire Coordinating Group
• L-180 Human Factors on the Fireline | National Wildfire Coordinating Group
• Leave No Trace Trainer | Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
• Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) | National Ski Patrol
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) | National Outdoor Leadership School
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) | National Outdoor Leadership School
• National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | Landmark Learning
• Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) | Landmark Learning
• Wilderness Lifeguard | Starfish Aquatics International
• S-130 Firefighting Training | National Wildfire Coordinating Group
• S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior | National Wildfire Coordinating Group
• Search and Rescue Level 3 | SARTECH
• Swiftwater Rescue Level 4 | American Canoe Association 

The courses and certifications will prepare you to pursue an exciting career providing medical assistance to outdoor adventurers, or make the transition to paramedic training or medical school. 

Beyond the Classroom

The "classroom" for the Wilderness Medicine and Rescue major is actually the wilderness! From the certification courses to the technical skills classes, you'll spend most of your time in the field, learning how to take charge in intense situations. In addition, Lees-McRae has strong connections with local state parks, the North Carolina Forest Service, Beech Mountain Ski Resort, and various search and rescue operations. You will work closely with professionals in the field, including through in-depth internships with organizations like the Banner Elk Fire Department, Landmark Learning, Beech Mountain Ski Patrol, and Watauga Medical Services.

Partnerships

Meet the Faculty

Katie Wall, EdD
Program Coordinator of Wilderness Medicine and Rescue, Associate Professor

Richard Campbell
Instructor of Outdoor Recreation Management

AJ Czarnecki-Atwell
Outdoor Recreation Management Coordinator