SPONSOR FAQs

What does SOLO do?

Since 1975, SOLO (Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities) has taught wilderness/extended care emergency medical courses, from basic to very advanced. We teach all over the United States and overseas, and are widely known and respected as both a pioneer and leader in the industry.

What does wilderness medicine mean?

The terms “wilderness medicine” or extended care” refer to any setting where definitive care (e.g., ambulance, hospital) is more than one hour away or more than one mile from a road. While we often think of the wilderness as being someplace wild and scenic and far from home, the medical concept of wilderness can apply virtually anywhere, including rural towns far from professional rescue, or even an urban environment where something bad has happened (e.g., an earthquake) that hinders or delays getting a patient to definitive care or overwhelms the Emergency Medical System. 

Which SOLO courses can I host?

1. Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

• A foundational 16-hour course that exceeds the American Red Cross standard for wilderness first aid.

2. Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA)

• Builds on WFA with advanced skills and scenarios.

• Includes AWFA Part 2, an additional module for deeper training.

3. Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

• A comprehensive 72+ hour course, considered the gold standard for outdoor professionals such as guides, ski patrol members, and camp counselors. 

• Certification is valid for three years.

4. Wilderness Module

• Designed to upgrade the skills of urban EMTs and First Responders, bringing their capabilities to the wilderness level.

5. Urban First Aid

• A one-day course focusing on standard first aid topics without a wilderness component.

• Participants receive a SOLO First Aid Certification.

6. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

• Integrated into many SOLO courses, can be added to others, or offered as a stand-alone program. Ideal for fulfilling workplace or general CPR certification needs.

What are the benefits of sponsoring a class?

When you become a sponsor and host a SOLO course, you gain access to the following benefits:

1. Expert Instruction

• Courses are taught by highly skilled instructors with extensive experience.

2. Comprehensive Medical Equipment

• We provide any necessary medical equipment you may not have on hand.

3. Complete Teaching Materials

• All materials, including handouts and textbooks, are supplied for the course.

4. SOLO Certification

• Participants will receive official SOLO certification upon completion.

5. Customizable Scheduling

• You choose the date and location that best suit your needs.

6. Cost Efficiency

• Hosting a course is more cost-effective than sending your team to a SOLO training facility.

7. Community Engagement

• Invite members of your community to participate, boosting recognition and potentially increasing your profit margin.

8. Life-Saving Skills for Participants

• Your students, employees, co-workers, or community members will gain vital first aid and CPR skills.

9. Positive Impact

• By hosting a course, you contribute to building a safer, more prepared community—and help make the world a better place.

How would you describe the training?

• We believe that people learn best through direct experience, so we create a relaxed environment in our courses that fosters a comfortable, safe, “open learning” atmosphere where students feel at ease asking questions and learning from each other. We are decidedly hands-on, using mock emergencies (called scenarios), to create realistic, believable, learning opportunities. Along with the scenarios, we use demonstrations and practice sessions, as well as traditional talks, lectures, and perhaps multimedia presentations. Regardless of the course level, the emphasis is always on safety, awareness, prevention, and the environment.

Can you customize a course for me?

• Yes, While we provide a wide range of standard courses, we can customize any course to meet your specific needs. Each course has a minimum number of required hours; you can add topics under the understanding that this will be above and beyond the requirement. Courses cannot be shortened in length (hours), but we are flexible around scheduling and training delivery sessions to accommodate your scheduling needs.

What kind of skills are taught?

Our courses focus on equipping participants with essential life-saving skills and knowledge. While the depth of material varies depending on the course length and medical scope, all courses emphasize the following core principles:

1. Understanding Anatomy and Physiology

• Basic knowledge of body systems and functions to aid in patient assessment and care.

2. Patient Evaluation

• Techniques for assessing a patient’s condition, identifying life-threatening issues, and prioritizing treatment.

3. Problem Identification

• Recognizing and diagnosing common injuries, illnesses, and environmental conditions that require first aid intervention.

4. Treatment Skills

• Administering care tailored to the level of training, such as wound management, bleeding control, splinting fractures, managing burns, and stabilizing patients with medical conditions like diabetes or asthma.

5. Evacuation Procedures

• Planning and executing safe and effective evacuation strategies in remote or hazardous environments.

6. Trauma Care

• Addressing injuries such as fractures, dislocations, sprains, cuts, and concussions.

7. Medical Emergencies

• Managing conditions like heart attacks, strokes, seizures, allergic reactions, and diabetic crises.

8. Environmental Emergencies

• Responding to hypothermia, heat exhaustion, altitude sickness, and other outdoor-specific issues.

9. Improvisation

• Utilizing available resources to provide care when standard medical equipment is unavailable.

10. Long-Term Care

• Managing patient needs over extended periods in remote settings.

11. Safety

• Ensuring the well-being of both the patient and all members of the group, especially in challenging or isolated environments.

What onsite responsibilities do I have as a sponsor?

As a sponsor, you are responsible for providing the following:

1. Classroom Space

• A suitable and comfortable indoor area large enough to accommodate students and instructors, with additional space for demonstrations.

2. Classroom Equipment

• Basic items such as blackboards or whiteboards, folding tables, and a projector (if available).

3. Course Equipment

• Items like mannequins, blankets, and foam pads, when possible, to help reduce shipping costs.

4. Outdoor Teaching Area

• Much of SOLO’s training takes place outside. An outdoor space for teaching and scenarios is essential. This can range from a simple courtyard or campus quad to more extensive wild areas, such as the 300-acre forested hilltop available at the SOLO campus.

What sponsor fees am I responsible for? 

1. Tuition

• Specific pricing will be discussed with you directly. The cost of materials, including books, handouts, and medical supplies, is built into the tuition.

2. Instructor Travel

• Sponsors are responsible for covering instructor travel expenses, such as airfare or mileage and, if necessary, rental car costs. To minimize expenses, we strive to assign instructors who live closest to the venue and arrange travel as cost-efficiently as possible.

3. Lodging

• Instructors require acceptable private living quarters with a separate bathroom, away from course participants. If such accommodations are not available, a hotel or other will need to be provided.

4. Meals

• A fixed per-day meal fee per instructor applies. If the sponsoring organization provides acceptable on-site meals, this fee will be waived.

How can I set-up a course to become a sponsor?

Please submit the Contact Us form for sponsor information.