Back40 Wilderness First Aid Training

02/26/2026

I wish my kids were younger again. When they didn't grumble about going outside with me. When every trip, short or long, was an adventure to them. I even miss their teenage grumblings when they put up a fight but really were better people once we were out there. They were always better outdoors. I was gifting them fresh air, freedom, imagination, and exploration. Now.....they hardly manage a loop around the dog park with me without complaining.

Those adventures were mine to plan. Mine to prepare. And mine to pack for. (But my kids ALWAYS had their own backpacks unlike this photo!). I felt confident in my preparedness. I was excited to share with them. And I felt alive!

I LOVED the simplicity of filtering water with them. Teaching them to start a fire. Confidently going on hikes knowing we had enough stuff between all of us to manage. Teaching them a little first aid. Putting up hammocks. Trying to impose trail safety lessons on them. And just playing and practicing myself.

But I wasn't always confident. I was new to all this at one time in my life too. I had to start somewhere and taught myself most of what I feel confident in now.

This is why my Trip Wise & Trail Ready really came to be. Because SO MANY people (mostly women) told me they didn't feel confident.

My time is so limited but the April-May Trip Wise & Trail Ready is a program designed by me, reminiscent of the old me, who just wants to invite you to learn, connect, and build that confidence I so easily could have given up on.

Start where you are. And join a group of like minded women, mom's, friends, and fellow dreamers who just want to be self-sufficient, a little more confident, and slightly more prepared than you were when you joined.

Summer is just around the corner!

02/19/2026

Last weekend 4 Trip Wise Alumni got together for an impromptu Galentines winter campout. They met in a Trip Wise session. They started out as strangers, became friends through a shared experience, and now are friends for life. I am so proud watching these ladies take on adventures well after our session is over, knowing they are thriving on their confidence, skill, and shared good sense, and so damn happy for their joyful time together outdoors!

Trip Wise & Trail Ready - a pre-summer opportunity to build confidence in your preparedness for solo and group backcountry adventures. But more importantly, it is a group of people who are your future new friends and adventure partners!

Are you joining us?!?

Day Trippers are generally the LEAST prepared for a backcountry mishap. Most are not prepared to spend more time than originally planned, deal with a drastic change in weather, manage an injury or emergency, and potentially spend an unplanned night out. Especially under stress. This event is an earl...

02/13/2026

I hear it all the time….:
- “my friends don’t like doing outdoorsy things”.
- “I don’t have anyone to go with.”
- “Now that my kids are older I don’t know what to do with my time.”
- “I don’t feel confident enough to go on my own.”

Trip Wise & Trail Ready Spring 2026 is for all those who want to find their people and prepare for summer adventures with confidence in themselves!

But it’s also for all of you who might be out there already but probably need to brush up on essential skills and habits - because no one PLANS to get lost/hurt/delayed!

Get Trail Ready with us this spring!

02/11/2026

Tell me again how cushy classroom courses really prepare your crew for their workplace risks….?

Staying in a freezing puddle of slushy water sure won’t help their problems.

Train where it’s real. Train like it’s real.

There is not a single indoor course that will genuinely prepare your crew to be confident in their first aid in these conditions. Yet they work day in and day out in real environments a classroom could never replicate. Glazing over theory does not foster confidence in skill, decision making, and problem solving. SCENARIOS they can relate to, in environments that they work in is where the real empowerment comes from!

There is zero boredom on days like today. Your crew WANTS the challenge. They are tired of “death by PowerPoint”. They know your generic, safe, unrelatable textbook answers don’t seem to fit the narrative in their emergencies. They want to train. They thrive in scenarios where they can relate to the complexities and messiness that is their every day work life.

This is like recess for adults and it is the highlight of my day to take them out to play!

Their training matters.

02/01/2026

Proud to be a part of this team!

If there is any one group of people who I have had the privilege of training (and training within!) - this team is the absolute most dedicated to training like it’s real. A lot of who I have become as an Instructor has been influenced by the people on this team. They have zero limitations when it comes to training scenarios! Weather - the worse the better. Patient profiles - there is nothing off limits or taboo. “I’d do it if it was real” is NOT in their vocabulary. And every single one of them thrive in being the patient so they can gain insight.

While our call volume is low being on an urban / prairie team…..this team is ready 24/7/365. And training is non-stop - in all things and all ways. Because our readiness matters!

Another great representation of this team - thank you Rogers TV.

For members of Saskatoon Search and Rescue (SSAR), teamwork is at the heart of the volunteer organization where all members share a common desire to support ...

01/30/2026

SPRING 2026 - TRIP WISE & TRAIL READY

-- Are you dreaming of summer adventures?
-- Are you craving connection with other adults who enjoy being outdoors?
-- Are you honestly confident in your preparedness for outdoor mishaps and unexpected delays?
-- Do you want to learn new skills and build on your current experiences?

Trip Wise & Trail Ready is the HEART of what I always wanted Back40 to be.
💚 A space for people who want to learn, practice skills, and inspire each other to get outdoors with confidence in their skills and independence.
💚 A learning space to allow experimentation, play, and critical thinking in basic outdoor skills that matter.
💚 A place where having a critical conversation around backcountry mishaps inspire us all to prepare more for the "what-if".
💚 A place where women can gather together, learn without judgement, practice skills with intent and silliness, and joyfully enjoy their time together!

We will explore the natural spaces in/near Saskatoon each night - showing people that adventure can be found in our own backyard too!

Highlight of the Series: 🐻 Bear Spray Training! (inert spray)

GO PREPARED. GO With CONFIDENCE!

Day Trippers are generally the LEAST prepared for a backcountry mishap. Most are not prepared to spend more time than originally planned, deal with a drastic change in weather, manage an injury or emergency, and potentially spend an unplanned night out. Especially under stress. This event is an earl...

01/30/2026

If you work outside - why do you train inside?

Standard First Aid is merely a check box for anyone who is working outside in remote places. HOW you train matters! When the stressors of remote places increase - your basic first aid is extremely lacking on the realities of environmental exposure, longer term care, decision making, self exiting, and problem solving in a low resource environment. 911 is not always an option, satellite communication is a struggle, day light fades quickly, and YOU are your own responder.

REMOTE First Aid includes CPR/AED, is valid (exceeds!) Saskatchewan workplace requirements for first aid training, and is a more relevant, applicable, and valuable training experience. Most bring their own field gear, vehicles, ATVs and other work related gear. Train with what you have in scenarios that are relatable to your realities.

Remote First Aid is an exceptional team building experience! This whole experience challenges participants, inspires them to navigate risks differently, and identify gaps for improvement. Most importantly it is entertaining and valued by all our students. No one falls asleep due to boredom!!!

The training experience you provide yourself or your employees matters MORE than the certificate they hold.

Weekday options coming up - local to Saskatoon area.

01/30/2026

Kristin and her crew at Sage Creek Prairie School knows how to get kids outdoors! I 100% encourage you to get your kids out to their camps!

We’re unveiling a new, high energy action-packed survival camp this season…just for the older kids!
We’re going to combine the thrill of being in a wild place with learning useful outdoor skills, developing grit and resilience, and learning how to deal with first aid emergencies. Individuals will learn some knife work, fire lighting, basic shelter building, and potentially become certified in Red Cross standard first aid.
This isn’t your average classroom, nor should it be.
You want kids off their phones? Give them something to get excited about. Click the link! https://forms.gle/Y3GKMbNACNGyrJjz9

01/29/2026

Always great info from My Life Outdoors!

Get 30% off onX: https://geni.us/zzvBCold weather isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s one of nature’s most dangerous predators. In this video, we break down the f...

01/27/2026

Just getting started on our Wilderness First Responder with Saskatoon Search and Rescue. These volunteers are giving 60-80hrs of their time to refresh their skills and bring on new WFRs. While we may start in the classroom ….you know we won’t be in here long! ;)

01/22/2026

I’d say a few of you should probably sit in on this…