We look forward to having you join us at the Voyageur Outward Bound School basecamp in Texas soon! If you have questions about the WAFA enrollment process, submitting forms, or anything else, you may contact your VOBS WAFA representative, Tessa Olson, directly at: (218)-491-6789, tessa.olson@vobs.org.
Fall 2019 Dates: 11/6/19 - 11/9/19
Start Time and Location: 8:00 AM, Big Bend Ranch State Park Bunkhouse - Signs will direct you where to go. *We recommend arriving the night before in order to get settled and be ready bright and early on course-start day.
End Time and Location: Late afternoon, Big Bend Ranch State Park Bunkhouse
Cost: $400 or $450 with meal-plan. 2019/2020 VOBS and Big Bend Ranch State Park employees pay a discounted price of $350 or $400 with meal-plan.
Other Information:
- Must be 21 years old to participate.
In Texas the temperatures vary between 35-95 degrees during the fall. Typically there will be little to no rainfall during the desert portion of your course, though an occasional storm will happen.
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 remote and challenging 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. Skills and information generally covered in the course include:
Mornings are generally devoted to lectures and exams with afternoons devoted to practical hands-on sessions and rescue simulations. Expect many rescue simulations with made-up victims and stage blood that will be videotaped for enhanced learning. Evenings are reserved for study and assignments. Successful completion of this course involves full participation in the field simulations and written exams. Students will receive WAFA and Adult CPR certification cards upon completion of the course.
**If you are using this course to recertify a WMA WEMT it is your responsibility to let the sponsor know when registering and to inform the instructor on the first day of class.**
Day 0: For participants who will be staying at the Bunkhouse in the State Park, we encourage you to arrive the evening before the course-start to get familiar with the area, the shower facilities, and food instead of dealing with it in the rush of the first morning. Plan to arrive by about 8:00 PM before it gets dark.
Day 1: Continental breakfast available for those who are opting to include Outward Bound provided meals. Be in the main building, finished with breakfast, and ready to hand in forms and final payments by 7:45 am. The class will start after these final details are wrapped-up and we've made a few general announcements/introductions.
Days 1-4: WAFA class from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day. Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided each day for those who have elected this option. Actual start/end times may vary depending on WAFA instructor preferences.
Day 4: Finish the WAFA class and depart. Plan to stay until the evening.
Daily flow: Participants help themselves to breakfast before the course start time each morning. Lunch is at noon. About a half-hour of clean-up chores follows lunch each day, and then it’s back to class until about 5pm or so. Dinner is at 6:00 PM and evening chores are done at 6:30 PM. There may be evening activities or study groups. The WMA instructors set the course schedule and topics and any variations or absences must be discussed with them at your first convenience.
These are intense courses and 100% attendance throughout is required. The schedule is set by WMA instructor discretion and most days will be full, possibly continuing into the evening. The WMA instructors will outline the course schedule during the first day. There is no advance preparation needed for the WAFA. The required texts are released about 30 days prior to the course.
Lodging is available onsite at the Bunkhouse with an indoor restroom and shower facility for an additional $150 fee. If you are planning to stay at the Bunkhouse, all bedding is provided, however, please remember to bring your own toiletries and shower supplies. Please also see the packing list for complete details on what to bring.
Daily commuters will have access to a kitchen for food storage and meal preparation. Refrigerators, stoves, cooking utensils, etc. are all available. If you are opting in for the Outward Bound provided food, a continental breakfast is available and lunch and dinner will be prepared for you throughout the course.
Maintenance of the community space, chores, and meal clean-up are completed by everyone using the facilities. Please expect to take part in these activities along with the other community members. Do inform us of any special requests beyond what’s on your medical form, such as mobility restrictions, medication refrigeration, or dietary concerns.
There are often evening study groups and optional practice sessions. We will plan to have all participants at dinner to accommodate group study time.
After registering for the WAFA course you will receive an invoice and an email with some enrollment paperwork to complete. In order to continue holding your spot on the course you must complete and return the required paperwork and make your full payment by the posted due-dates. Your payment, minus a non-refundable $100 processing fee, is refundable if you cancel at least 2-weeks before the course-start. Refunds are not available for cancellations less than 2-weeks before the course-start.
After you've completed your paperwork, please email or fax it to: tessa.olson@vobs.org or (F) 866-908-4303
Please also pre-read the WMA Student Participation Standards and Functional Position Description documents included below in preparation for the course.
If you haven't yet registered for the course, you can do so here.
This packing list is only meant to guide you. These are suggestions/guidelines only. In general, bring a variety of clothing layers that allow you to accommodate unpredictable and changing weather and activity levels. Clothes will likely get dirty.
Head and Hands
Upper Body
Lower Body
Feet
Personal Gear
Toiletries & Other Personal Items
Travel
You are responsible for getting yourself to/from the Big Bend Ranch State Park Bunkhouse on the first and last days of your course.
Address: F29V+J5 Redford, Texas 79846
The park fee will be waived for anyone associated with the WAFA course. You just need to check-in at the Bunkhouse when you arrive.
The course begins early in the morning on the first day. You are welcome to arrive the night before the course starts if this is more convenient for you.
Plenty of parking is available onsite. Upon arrival you'll be asked to sign-in at a welcome table.
Cell phone reception in the park is limited at best. If your family/friends need to reach you, they can call the Outward Bound office at 432-652-6003. We will relay any messages and/or help you connect via a landline.
Dietary restrictions or other needs: We can accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, allergies, and other needs. Please note these needs on your enrollment paperwork before returning it. If you neglected to include this information in your enrollment paperwork and/or need to update your information, please contact the VOBS office directly at 218-491-6789 or tessa.olson@vobs.org
Tick-borne disease is a risk in the areas where VOBS runs the majority of their courses. Fortunately, there are prevention steps that are very effective, and in the case of infection, treatment is relatively simple and recovery complete, so long as the diagnosis is made early. Students and their families should educate themselves on the risks, prevention measures, and signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases by reading the information provided below.
Risks
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, but is not the only risk. Some of the other common tick-borne diseases reported include Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Powassan (POW) virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, and Anaplasmosis. There are treatments available for these diseases, but prevention is by far the best and first step!
*Lyme Disease Incidence Rates by State 2010- 2019 http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/chartstables/incidencebystate.html
Prevention
You should include this with your child if it is on the course packing list. Insect repellent containing DEET will also be supplied on all courses where there is a significant chance of vector-borne illness transmission.
Signs and Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with tick-borne diseases. Infected people may not have all of these symptoms and many of these symptoms can occur with other diseases as well. Some common symptoms of infection with tick-borne diseases include body/muscle aches, fever, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, rash, stiff neck, and facial paralysis. Seek medical attention if signs and symptoms of a tick-borne illness appear. Tick-borne diseases are diagnosed based on symptoms and the possibility that the person has been exposed to infected ticks. Most cases can be successfully treated with specific types of antibiotics.
Additional information
There are other vectors in addition to ticks that inhabit the areas VOBS travels in, mainly mosquitos. Some vectors may be capable of transmitting West Nile Virus, LaCrosse Encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon Virus, Lyme’s disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Powassan Virus, Tularemia, and Swimmer’s Itch.
Additional information on vectors, vector-borne diseases, and their prevention can be found on the CDC, WHO, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas state department of health websites.