Where Will This Season Take You?

Spring is just around the corner! Bringing new opportunities for wilderness adventures, made even more enjoyable when you’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond when things don’t go according to plan.

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Course Highlight

Hybrid Wilderness First Responder

The Hybrid WFR is such a great format because it gives students flexibility without sacrificing depth. By completing the foundational coursework online ahead of time, students can move at their own pace, absorb the material thoughtfully, and arrive prepared for hands-on learning. While the in-person portion provides immersive scenarios, skill practice, critical thinking, and dynamic discussions guided by experienced instructors.

For busy professionals, students balancing school schedules, and outdoor leaders preparing for the season ahead, the Hybrid WFR offers the best of both worlds—structured online learning paired with high-impact, face-to-face field training. Explore the upcoming courses below and find the location and dates that fit your next adventure.

 • April 26 – 30, 2026 | Huntsville, Ontario | Facilitated by: MHO Adventures

 • April 27 – May 1, 2026 | Green River, Utah | Facilitated by: First Aid Outdoors

 • April 27 – May 1, 2026 | Durango, Colorado | Facilitated by: Wilderness Medic

 • April 29 – May 3, 2026 | Ontario | Facilitated by: Boreal River Rescue

 • April 29 – May 3, 2026 | Poncha Springs, Colorado | Facilitated by: Foxfire Wilderness

 • April 29 – May 3, 2026 | Bishop, California | Facilitated by: Gut-Z Journey

Click Here to Learn More!

Instructor Spotlight

Owens Strawinski

Owens Strawinski’s (she/they) adventurous outdoor spirit sparked on solo hikes in the hills of North Georgia as a teenager and has since grown into a deep commitment to outdoor leadership, medicine, and human-centered rescue work. Taking her first WFR with WMA in 2014, later earning her W-EMT and then becoming a lead WMA Instructor in 2021.

During and after earning her B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology at Colby College in Maine, she immersed herself in climbing and expedition work, often pausing school to travel to places like Canada, Alaska, Northern Mexico, Patagonia, and Baja California. She went on to work all over the world in outdoor education programs, commercial guiding, wilderness therapy and more, spending over 1000 days working in the field over the past decade.

Today, based in Colorado, Owens brings a rare blend of technical experience, compassion, and insight into her role as a WMA Instructor and owner of the Licensed Training Company, Foxfire Wilderness. She specializes in teaching technical skills such as rock climbing, mountaineering, sea kayaking, backcountry skiing, avalanche education, and wilderness medicine all with a human-centered, inclusive approach.

Interested in taking a course with Owens? Join her in Poncha Springs, CO this Spring!

Women’s Affinity Courses:

These courses are designed to create a welcoming space for women and AFAB folks. The goal of creating this space is to provide a rare affinity-based learning environment that allows students to feel safely challenged.

• Hybrid WFR Recertification | April 4 – 5, 2026

• WFA | April 25 – 26, 2026

SAR Benefit Courses:

These courses are open to anyone; however, a number of spaces will be held open for local volunteer search and rescue members who will receive a discounted rate. Public enrollment in this course will benefit our local teams from getting more medical training. SAR members need a current identification card to receive special pricing.

• Hybrid WFR | April 29 – May 3, 2026

• Hybrid WFR Recertification | May 2 – 3, 2026

Click Here to Read More About Owens!