Class Info:

***NOTE: I will be out on an expedition until May 28, 2023. If you have specific questions about the course or accommodations, please contact Greg Sarnacki of Forage River Outfitters at forageriver@gmail.com. He will be able to help you out while I am gone. Thanks.***

• When: 23-30 June 2023 
• Age Requirement: Minimum age is 18
• Enrollment: Max of 10 Students
• Where: Maine Outdoor Learning Center (MOLC) Mattawamkeag, Maine
• Cost: $1499.00.  All-Inclusive with Meals and Lodging / Residential / 7 Nights / 8 Days / Professional and Certified Instructors / SOLO WFR Book / SOLO WFR Pamphlet / SOLO certification cards.
• Three-year SOLO certification

About the Class: Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO) is the oldest continuously operating school of wilderness medicine in the world. SOLO’s Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the recognized industry standard for those who work as backcountry trip leaders, camp counselors, registered guides, ski patrollers, and anyone who spends extended time in the outdoors recreating. Learn how to manage an emergency in the backcountry from a SOLO certified instructor. The WFR class is 72+ hours long (8 days) and is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills of dealing with: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies and Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies. Additional topics, such as CPR, are also included. Lectures and demonstrations are combined with realistic scenarios where mock patients will challenge you to integrate your learning. At the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations and receive a three-year SOLO WFR certification. 

About the Training Area: The Maine Outdoor Learning Center has been successfully training Maine Guides since 1997. It is located on the beautiful Mattawamkeag River and is family owned and operated by Capt. John Rogers, Tami Rogers, and Greg Sarnacki. They’ve been guiding professionally for over 30 years and teaching the Maine Guide Program for over 20 years. 

Click here to see our scheduled courses and to register. If you would like to host a private class at your location, please contact us to discuss options. Group discounts are available.

Gear List: Pack as if you’re going on a camping trip. This class will be conducted in the outdoors, please dress appropriately for the season.

• Sleeping Bag and Pillow
• 4–6-inch non-folding sheath knife 
• Reusable, preferably steel water bottle for hot / cold
• Flashlight and headlamp with extra batteries
• Notebook and writing tools
• Sunglasses
• Bandana
• Hat
• Non-toxic, biodegradable toiletries
• Insect repellent, long sleeves and long pants for insect protection
• Wet weather clothing (including waterproof boots)
• Cold Weather Clothing; Dress in Layers
• Extra footwear
• Day pack and equipment that you might typically carry

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Travel Information: Drift back 5 miles into the wilderness along the scenic Mattawamkeag River where you enter into a lifestyle beyond the grid, slowing down and treasuring each moment. Maine’s Outdoor Learning Center’s 12 acre off-grid in the woods and on the waters field site is nestled in the quiet town of Mattawamkeag, on the Mattawamkeag River, in Northern Maine. It is located 16 miles from Lincoln, ME.

5.5 hours from Boston, MA

3 hours from Portland, ME

1.5 hours from Bangor, ME 

Arrival and Departure: Each day will begin at 8:00 am and end at approximately 5:00 pm.

Accommodations: CABINS on the bluffs, overlooking the woods and waters

 – Main Cabin

 – Student Cabins

 – Classroom Gathering Space

 – Shower House

 – Privies

Meals: “When it comes to food, we cater to everyone. Local, Organic, and Wholesome. If you have food sensitivities – not a problem. However, we cannot accommodate food allergies (Seafood is manageable though) . Please do let us know ahead of time if you have any sensitivities, and we’ll do our very best to fill your needs. Preparing meals is what we love to do. You will never go hungry while staying with us. We love to eat and so will you.”

Registration Policy: Your spot in a class is not secured until we receive the registration AND full payment. If a class is already full, we can either issue a 100% refund or credit for a future class.

Cancellation and Refund Policies: With cancellations more than 30 days in advance of the class, the cost, less any credit card processing fee’s, will be refunded. With cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start of the class all monies are non-refundable and non-transferable. These policies reflect the fact that we do not overbook, and cancelled spaces are very difficult to fill at the last minute. If we have to cancel a class, we can either issue a 100% refund or credit for a future class.

Liability Release Policy: Before the start of the class, all participants are required to have signed a Liability Release form, Acknowledgement of Risk form, and Photo Release form. Forms will be provided on-site of Day 1.

Gear Loaning Policy: We have very little equipment that can be lent out. Please read the Gear List to ensure you have the right stuff.

Tobacco Policy: We will be working and living the field, so smoking is permitted only in the specified smoking areas. All cigarette butts are to be disposed of properly in the trash.

Training Area Info: MOLC offers a lifestyle beyond the grid where you can slow down and treasure each moment of “In the woods” training. Their off-grid nature retreat with cabins, and hot showers is an amazing place to learn, grow, and connect in a new way. Surrounded by 100’s of wilderness acres where explorers of the mid-1800’s, such as young Teddy Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau, and Percival Baxter came in search of solitude, a glimpse the wilds of Maine and ultimately, themselves. Their off-grid field site is powered by Nature (Solar) and by Technology (Generator)

– Generator runs in the morning and the afternoon. We have a charging station for phones. (Please Note: due to being in Nature we don’t allow others to bring their own generator.) 

Also, We have limited space in the propane refrigerator. If you need to keep things cool. Please bring a cooler with you. 

Parking Info: There is a designated parking area at the training site. Details will be sent along with directions after you register.

We reserve the right to pause or stop training at any time due to factors that make the training unsafe such as inclement weather. If you have questions about the course, don’t hesitate to contact us.