Wilderness First Responder Recertification at Clair Tappaan Lodge in Norden, CA

Workshop Goals

This is a 24-hour Wilderness First Responder Recertification course for current Wilderness First Responders (WFR) who need to recertify and refresh their skills. This class will provide three full days of review and scenarios and will be taught by Bobbie Foster, of Foster Calm -First Aid and Leadership Trainings (contracted by the Sierra Club). While prior CPR certification is preferred, it is not required.

Any current WFR students (WFR or WFR recertification class within the last 4 years) may take this class for recertification regardless of whether their original certificate is from Foster Calm, WMI, WMA, SOLO or other providers.

Upon successful completion of this course you will receive a 3-year WFR certification from Foster Calm. This course DOES NOT include CPR.

Course Overview

This will be a long and full weekend with both lecture-style instruction and scenario-based hands-on learning. Class will run on Saturday through Monday, 8:30-5:30 (including night sessions Saturday and Sunday after dinner). Workshop attendees should stay on site both Saturday and Sunday evenings due to the evening sessions.

• For those who registered for the lodging/meals/instruction rate, meals start with dinner Friday night and end Monday with lunch (instruction ends at 5:30pm Monday). Meal times are as follows: bag lunch preparation at 7:30am, breakfast at 8:00, lunch around noon and dinner at 6pm. Note: If you live locally and would prefer to stay at home, contact Sascha Paris at outings.training@sierraclub.org to discuss this option.
• Foster Calm currently uses “NOLS Wilderness Medicine” by Tod Schimmelpfenig for her Wilderness First Responder courses. Previously, they used “The Wilderness First Responder” by Buck Tilton. If you do not already have either of these texts, it is recommended you acquire and review either prior to the course.
• Portions of the day will be outside, regardless of weather, so bring appropriate clothing for early May weather in the Sierra.
• Homework and Pre-Course Online Test: You will be sent a packet 3-4 weeks before the course. It is expected that you read, study and take and pass an on-line written test (prior to noon on Tuesday, May 4, 2017). You will have only two attempts at passing this test.
• Skills Testing: Patient Assessment, bandaging and splinting testing will happen on Sunday (Day 2). Information will be sent so that you can review and practice these skills.
• Upon successful completion of the pre-course written test, attendance the entire weekend and passing the practical testing, you will receive a 3-year certification from Foster Calm. This course DOES NOT include CPR.

Registration Information

• Sierra Club membership IS NOT required to register and participate in this training.

• Online registration uses the National Outings reservation system. Once registered, you are confirmed. On step seven, please disregard the pending participant approval and the cancellation policy.

Instruction-Only Rate 

If you live locally and would prefer to stay at home and provide your own meals, you can register and pay the instruction/materials-only rate of $250 by calling 415-977-5522.

Cancellation Policy:

• Cancellations 60 or more days prior to training start date result in the following cancellation fee: Amount of deposit
• Cancellations 14-59 days prior to training start date  result in the following cancellation fee: 50% of training fee
• Cancellations 0-13 days prior to training start date result in the following cancellation fee: Entire training fee
• "No-shows" at the starting point (or you leave during a training) result in the following cancellation fee: Entire training fee

Getting There

Clair Tappaan is located at 19940 Donner Pass Rd, 7000 feet in California's Sierra Nevada. It's 45 minutes west of Reno and one and a half hours drive east of Sacramento just off of Interstate 80. From eastbound I-80, take the exit for Soda Springs/Norden and go 2.4 miles east on Donner Pass road. Look for our sign slightly up the hill on your left and the wide footpath leading up to the Lodge. Parking is available on either side of the road.

• Clair Tappaan directions from their web page.
• You should check road conditions for I-80 online at the CAL-TRANS website.

Accommodations and Food

Clair Tappaan Lodge is a rustic mountain lodge nestled in the Sierra Nevada of California at the top of Donner Pass. Built by Sierra Club volunteers in the 1930s, the lodge is an excellent home base for year-round recreation. The friendly, casual atmosphere and affordable nightly rates (including family-style meals) make the Lodge the perfect rustic getaway to the Tahoe/Donner area.

All accommodations are in bunk beds equipped with mattresses (bring your own sleeping bag or bedding) in a variety of bunk-rooms in the lodge. Restroom and shower facilities are shared, with two men's and two women's bathrooms.

• Guests are asked to choose a house chore to do each day they eat at the lodge.
• Phone messages for guests are posted periodically in the lobby area.
• No pets of any species (except seeing-eye dogs) are allowed to stay at the Lodge.
• Reservations for extended stays before or after the course can be made by calling the lodge directly at 530-426-3632 or reservations@clairtappaanlodge.com
• A hearty breakfast and dinner are prepared each day and are served in the lodge's large, communal dining room. Brown bag lunch pro-visions are available for guests to take with them each day.
• A vegetarian meal option is always available, and participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated, provided that their trip leader is informed in advance.
• Because the lodge is an old building, constructed of wood and shingles, no smoking is allowed, either in the building or on the surrounding trails.

Emergency Contact

During the trip, you can be reached at the lodge: 530-426-3632. The answering machine is checked daily, and messages are posted on a board outside the lodge office.

Equipment and Clothing

Foster Calm will be providing a majority of the materials for the scenarios such as bandaging, splinting and padding materials, tents, sleeping bags and pads. To make the scenarios as relevant to the types of trips you lead, do consider bringing those items you would normally bring such as emergency blankets, ten-essentials, etc. Be prepared for evening temperatures in the low 30s and days in the mid to high 50s, as well as probable snow and/or sun glare. 

For those staying at the lodge:

• Personal toiletries, towel, shower shoes and earplugs (if a light sleeper)
• Watch or alarm clock for waking up and keeping to the schedule
• Bedding (sleeping bag or comparable linens) and bathing suit if they wish to use the hot tub
• Camp chair or lawn chair -- You'll be much more comfortable if you provide your own seating for the sessions. Otherwise expect to sit on standard "camp" chairs.
• Cup or insulated mug for hot drinks and a water bottle

Required Items:

• Your copy of your WFR book (from your WFR class).
• Your completed homework assignments.
• Small flashlight for checking pupils.
• Watch for taking vitals and pen for taking notes.
• Comfortable old clothes to wear that are durable (and not so nice). These may get dirty or stained. Bring clothes that are appropriate for outdoor sessions.
• Again, we will be running sessions outdoors rain or shine. You should be prepared for cold or heat, sun or rain or snow, etc.
• Sturdy shoes: hiking boots best.
• Backpack or daypack with the things you typically hike with. This will help you improvise with the tools you already carry with you. These can include: emergency blanket, tarps, splinting materials (ski poles, walking sticks, old tent poles), etc. No cotton for outdoor-wear as we will most likely be in snow situations. (We won't be backpacking.)
• Water bottle for drinking and irrigating/cleaning wounds.
• Flashlight or headlamp for night sessions.

For outside sessions:

• Ground pad to lay on, kneel on during skills practices.
• Notebook or paper for taking notes.
• Scissors to cut clothes - must be blunt paramedic shear type (only if you already have these).
• CPR resuscitation mask (only if you already have one).
• Stove and fuel for heating water, etc (only if you have one).
• Anything else that you think might be helpful for first aid - emergency blanket, tarps, splinting materials (ski poles, walking sticks, and old tent poles), etc.
• Old clothes that can get bloody and cut up (and then thrown out, again, only if you have these).

Cancellation Policy:

• Cancellations 60 or more days prior to training start date result in the following cancellation fee: Amount of deposit
• Cancellations 14-59 days prior to training start date  result in the following cancellation fee: 50% of training fee
• Cancellations 0-13 days prior to training start date result in the following cancellation fee: Entire training fee
• "No-shows" at the starting point (or you leave during a training) result in the following cancellation fee: Entire training fee