The American Red Cross also teaches a 2-day WFA, though they are a new entrant so I'm not sure of the quality from course to course (disclosure: I volunteer for ARC, but have always taken WFA from NOLS WMI). Our local NOLS instructors have been pretty good the past couple years. But maybe curriculum is curriculum.

One good thing about the BSA requirement for WFA for adventure activities, we trained up our Scoutmaster last year and he 'got it' - we now have regular first aid training and drills at Troop meetings where the Scouts learn something new about caring for each other in the wilderness, just in case. Last summer this Scoutmaster led the boys through Philmont, carried a PLB, and for the first time a truly adequate first aid kit. Nowadays when we head out on overnights, if I go that makes two of us WFA certified. The past few years we've also offered a scholarship for any Scout that wants to take WFA for free, although none have taken us up on that so far - at some point though we'll find a taker, possibly some budding young EMT. I think we'll get someone when we re-cert this year, our Scoutmaster should be able to talk one of the boys into it.


Edited by Lono (10/27/11 01:22 PM)