For the first time, the Arizona State Parks is offering scholarships for Wilderness First Responder training programs. These courses teach CPR, injury treatment and other wilderness medical skills.
Arizona State Parks Grant Program Leader Mickey Rogers said the scholarships cover all 15 spots in each class and have a value of $450.
“We administer a program called the Recreational Trails Program and there’s a safety and education component of that," he said. "And the Arizona State Committee on Trails, who helps us administer the program, had this suggestion to use some safety and education money to put on this first responder course.”
WFR training and certification is for outdoor professionals like camp counselors and backcountry guides, or for anyone who wants to learn advanced wilderness emergency skills.
July 30 is the deadline to apply for the remaining course, which is in Flagstaff on Aug. 24. Information on the course and scholarships can be found at azstateparks.com.