Aerie’s 72 hour Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is designed for outdoor professionals and outdoor enthusiasts, preparing them to care for injuries and illness in remote, challenging environments. The course is fast-paced, challenging, hands-on and fun. Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses can be taken for 2 Montana University System credits (additional fee applies). This program is in participation with the Atlas Cultural Foundation and Association Amezray SMNID.

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WHAT TO EXPECT
Zawiya Ahansal is a remote and mountainous region located between 5,000 and 12,000 feet in Morocco’s Central High Atlas Mountains. It is a high desert region with temperature extremes in June and July ranging between 32 and 110 F.  Regional equivalents are the City of Rocks in Idaho and southern Utah.  Students should be prepared and comfortable with working and studying in all weather, including rain, wind, and heat.  They should be physically fit and able to hike in mountainous terrain. In addition, all students will need to be physically able to work, study and hike at 6000 feet above sea level for an extended time. Students will be living with the sheikh of Zawiya Ahansal and his family and should therefore be comfortable with and respectful of Muslim culture.  Meals are prepared by your host family and are traditional Berber Moroccan cuisine.  Sleeping rooms will be shared amongst students and are gender separated.

IN THE FIELD TRAINING
Three days of the training will be spent on an overnight camping excursion into the high grazing grounds of Morocco’s largest nomadic tribe, the Ait Atta. Participants will see centuries’ old remote living at its most basic and see the nomads on their annual migration from the Sahara Desert into the High Atlas Mountains in search of  water for their camels, goats and sheep.  The Ait Atta live a life without medical care in some of the harshest conditions in North Africa. The rest of the training will take place in the village of Amezray at the the headquarters of Association Amezray SMNID.

SERVICE PROJECT
Participants will spend one day of the program working with the Atlas Cultural Foundation and the local association Amezray SMNID on a community service project.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Live with the sheikh, tribal leader, of Zawiya Ahansal and his family.
• See the Ait Atta nomads on their annual migration to high pasture.
• In depth lessons on snakes and scorpions.
• Visit the weekly market in the village of Aguddim.
• 3-day Trek up to 12,000 feet

THIS COURSE IS PERFECT FOR:

• Students interested in learning about backcountry, expeditionary, and travel medicine.
• Outdoor professionals or enthusiasts who want to travel or work in remote and dynamic environments.
• Students looking to gain experience in patient care in the developing world, where medical care is limited.
• Explorers looking to discover vibrant and culturally rich Morocco.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Application Deadline: April 14, 2013

University Credit Documents: 

UM Credit – HHP 249 Wilderness First Responder

Credit and Financial Aid Transfer

Course Cost:

Included in Cost:

• Airport transfer on arrival and departure
• Private 4×4 transportation to and from Marrakesh to mountains
• Hotel in Marrakesh on arrival and departure (2 nights total).
• Food and Lodging in Zawiya Ahansal
• 11 nights, 10 days. Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, shared sleeping rooms (gender separated), and shared shower and bathroom facilities, and treated drinking water.
• 3-day Atlas Mountain Trek
• Includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, two-person tents (gender separated) and treated drinking water.

Not included:

• Food and water in Marrakesh
• Airfare
• Personal Items
• Communications

Course Details:

• The course is for English speakers, there will not be a translator.
• 2 Montana University Credits are available to participants.
• Financial aid can be used for the course.
• 15 nights, 16 days.
• 8 days of class time.
• 1 community service day with the Atlas Cultural Foundation and the Association Amezray SMNID.
• 3-day Atlas Mountain Trek.

Course Schedule: June 14 to June 29

June 14, arrive Marrakesh

June 15, travel to Zawiya Ahansal

June 16-19, WFR class

June 20, community service day with local association

June 21-24, WFR class

June 25-27, Trekking in Atlas Mountains (with scenarios)

June 29, return to Marrakesh

June 30, fly home

CONTACT

Josh Olsen, Program Instructor
josh@aeriemed.com  

Cloe Medina Erickson
medinamorocco@gmail.com