Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Training in Bellevue, Washington
The Center for Adventure Leadership offers complete Wilderness First Aid training at Bellevue Fire Station 9 in Bellevue, Washington, serving the greater Puget Sound area. This 16-hour course is a complete Wilderness First Aid training, open to everyone. It meets the WFA requirements for BSA group leaders and is equally appropriate for other group leaders and for individual adventurers who want more advanced first aid training for backcountry travel. Course cost is $195 and includes lunch and a compact first aid field guide. CAL is an ECSI Authorized Education Center.
Upcoming WFA classes in Bellevue
All classes run 8 AM to 5 PM at Fire Station #9, 12412 Newcastle Way, Bellevue, WA 98006.
November 21–22, 2026 — Standard (2-day) — $195 — Register — Details
February 20–21, 2027 — Standard (2-day) — $195 — Register — Details
March 20, 2027 — Hybrid (online + 1 skills day) — $195 — Register — Details
April 24–25, 2027 — Standard (2-day) — $195 — Register — Details
May 15, 2027 — Hybrid (online + 1 skills day) — $195 — Register — Details
June 12–13, 2027 — Standard (2-day) — $195 — Register — Details
Two ways to take WFA
Standard course (2 days, in person): Day one provides classroom instruction and hands-on practice of first aid skills. Day two takes place mostly outside, rain or shine, with a focus on practice scenarios of situations a trip leader or backcountry traveler is likely to face.
Hybrid course (online + 1 day): Complete self-paced online learning and pass the online quiz/assessment at home, then attend one in-person skills day in Bellevue (8 AM to 5 PM). Print your online completion certificate and bring it with you. The hybrid course covers the same WFA requirements as the standard course.
What’s included
16 hours of instruction (standard) or online learning plus a full skills day (hybrid)
Compact Wilderness First Aid field guide
Lunch provided on in-person days
WFA course completion card (issued once you show evidence of current CPR certification)
Youth discount: youth under 18 (minimum age 14) registered with a full-paying adult enroll for $100 — note it in the registration comments and the discount is credited back after successful completion
Please read the CAL Cancellation Policy before registering
What you will learn
Patient assessment and management of injuries in the wilderness
Treatment of common injuries: fractures, burns, wounds, and sprains
Splints, bandages, and improvised care with limited resources
Environmental emergencies: heatstroke, hypothermia, and altitude sickness
Scenario-based practice and team-based patient assessment and evacuation
Frequently asked questions
Is this course only for scout leaders?
No. The course meets the WFA requirements for BSA group leaders, and it is equally appropriate for other group leaders — guides, camp and program staff, trip organizers — and for individual adventurers who want more advanced first aid training for backcountry travel.
Do I need CPR certification?
Yes — before your course completion card is issued, you must show evidence that your CPR training certification is current.
Where is the course held?
In-person days are held at Fire Station #9, 12412 Newcastle Way, Bellevue, WA 98006.
What should I bring?
Dress for inclement weather and bring a small backpack with the basic 10 essentials you would carry on a longer day hike, a water bottle, and personal snacks. Lunch is provided. Hybrid students must also bring their printed online completion certificate.
Questions about a class?
Email Dale Rae at dale@adventureleader.org.
When an emergency occurs in the wild, the goal must be to provide the greatest good for the greatest number in the shortest time, and do no harm in the process.
Wilderness first aid, or “WFA”, is a generic term that commonly refers to any training course that focuses on prevention, assessment, and treatment for an ill or injured person in a remote environment where definitive care by a physician and/or rapid transport is not readily available. This is defined as being an hour or more away from advanced care. WFA courses are intended for anyone planning a remote high adventure, from lay responders to medical professionals.
Why is WFA important?
WFA prepares participants to identify and address medical issues that can arise in the backcountry.
Generally, WFA courses contain substantial medical information and teach skills to respond to medical emergencies in the wild. It is important to remember that many providers offer “wilderness first aid” courses, but the courses vary in content, duration, accreditation, and other factors.
WFA courses will help you to provide assessment and treatment, miles from advanced care. Treatment skills are important, but so is educating leaders to recognize illnesses early and minimize the potential for injury. The skills learned in the WFA course can save lives.
WFA is not just for the backcountry. It is just as relevant in urban areas during hurricanes, floods, fires, or mass casualty events when emergency services might be strained. WFA knowledge can be lifesaving.
