Courses

MITOC organizes various courses throughout the year. We recommend joining mitoc-announce mailing list and the appropriate activity mailing list to stay informed.

• WFA
• WAFA
• Self Rescue

WFA - Wilderness First Aid

The best and most comprehensive course of its kind to offer relevant and realistic first-aid training for seasonal outdoor activities or short term wilderness endeavors and pursuits.

Wilderness First Aid is a two-day introduction to general medical concepts and basic life support skills. It is targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures. The course is taught by professional instructors with significant patient care and backcountry experience.

Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that is oriented toward urban environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment. Unlike some programs, this is not teaching urban first aid in the outdoors.

See Wilderness Medicine Courses website for more details.

When

1 whole weekend (9am-6pm) in November. Interested trip leaders may take the course elsewhere and receive the same reimbursment.

Where

Class will be held on the main MIT campus.

Who

All Winter School leaders are required to have valid WFA or WAFA certification. Certification is recommended for 3 season hiking leaders and climbing leaders. Priority is given to prospective Winter School leaders, followed by climbing/3 season hiking leaders, remaining spots are open to other MITOC members first come first serve.

Costs

If you become a MITOC Leader (WS, 3 season, climbing), MITOC will subsidize your WFA training cost. In order to obtain the subsidy, you MUST lead at least TWO trips. Last year, the costs were $177 (Subsidized cost $67) for WFA. Expect that this year's costs will be similar.

WAFA - Wilderness Advanced First Aid

An entry-level course designed for professionals working in significantly remote settings for days or weeks.

Wilderness Advanced First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into and challenging remote environments. Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that are oriented toward urban environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.

See Wilderness Medicine Courses website for more details.

When

2 whole weekends (9am-6pm) in November. Interested trip leaders may take the course elsewhere and receive the same reimbursment.

Where

Class will be held on the main MIT campus.

Who

All Winter School leaders are required to have valid WFA or WAFA certification. Certification is recommended for 3 season hiking leaders and climbing leaders. Priority is given to prospective Winter School leaders, followed by climbing/3 season hiking leaders, remaining spots are open to other MITOC members first come first serve.

Costs

If you become a MITOC Leader (WS, 3 season, climbing), MITOC will subsidize your WAFA training cost. In order to obtain the subsidy, you MUST lead at least TWO trips. Last year, the costs were $285 (Subsidized $85) for WAFA. Expect that this year's costs will be similar.

Self Rescue

If your partner was hit by rockfall and hanging unconscious on the rope below, would you know how to escape the belay and rappel down to them to administer first aid? Could you do it quickly? Every climber should know how to deal with an emergency in the vertical realm, but the truth is that most don’t. Do you?

When

1 whole weekend. Trip will be annonced on the climbers@mit.edu mailing. Interested trip leaders may take the course elsewhere and receive the same reimbursment.

Where

Class will be held at Cathedral or White Horse Ledge in North Conway, NH.

Who

Self rescue is strongly recommended for climbing leaders. Priority is given to prospective climbing leaders, remaining spots are open to other MITOC members first come first serve.

Costs

If you become a MITOC Climbing Leader, MITOC will subsidize your self rescue course. In order to obtain the subsidy, you MUST lead at least TWO trips. Last year, the costs were $100 (Subsidized $50). Expect that this year's costs will be similar.