Robinson graduated recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources and a minor in Forestry from the College of Natural Resources. In the spring of 2026, she also completed her Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification course. Below, she reflects on that experience.

Completing my Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification course was a very challenging, yet rewarding experience. The course consisted of 80 hours of training focused on wilderness medicine and emergency response. Forty of those hours involved coursework covering the foundations of wilderness medicine, including lessons on common diseases and injuries found in backcountry environments, treatment procedures, and best practices for caring for patients while waiting for rescue. The other forty hours were hands-on and scenario-based, allowing us to repeatedly practice emergencies in a classroom setting. These scenarios included treating heat stroke, broken bones, spinal injuries, diabetic emergencies, heart attacks, falls, fevers, and other potentially life-threatening situations. Throughout the course, we were constantly challenged to think critically, assess priorities, and respond quickly under pressure. By the end of the certification, I gained the ability to conduct thorough physical exams, obtain patient histories, assess vital signs, provide emergency care in wilderness settings, and make important evacuation decisions. 

One of the biggest factors that shaped my overall experience was the intensity of the training itself. The instructors emphasized that wilderness medicine is different from traditional emergency medicine because help is often hours or even days away. Because of this, we had to learn how to stay calm, improvise with limited resources, and carefully monitor patients for long periods of time. The repeated practice scenarios forced me to become more confident in my decision-making skills. We worked through emergencies step-by-step until the responses became second nature. The instructors and other students also played a huge role in making the experience meaningful. Everyone in the course shared a common goal of learning how to help others in difficult situations, which created a supportive and motivating environment. I chose to complete this certification because I know the information will be extremely valuable for my future career. As a Natural Resources major, I will spend a significant amount of time doing field work in remote environments. Knowing how to care for myself and my coworkers in emergencies is a skill that could potentially save lives. I also wanted to gain more knowledge about surviving and working safely in wilderness settings for long periods of time. This certification will also directly benefit me in my upcoming position with AmeriCorps NCCC, where I will lead teams completing environmental projects such as trail maintenance, wildfire mitigation, and other conservation work. These projects often involve chainsaws, forestry equipment, and physically demanding labor in isolated areas, meaning accidents and injuries are always possible. Because of this, I wanted to feel prepared to respond effectively if something goes wrong. 

Going into the course, I had several personal goals for learning and development. My first goal was simply to pass the course and earn the certification. My main goal, though, was to improve my ability to handle intense and high-stress situations. This goal was especially meaningful to me because in field work and emergency management careers, anything can happen at any time. I want to be someone who can stay calm, think clearly, and be relied upon in emergencies. I am also interested in pursuing a career related to emergency management, including work involving FEMA, wildfire response, and disaster relief. This field requires quick thinking, leadership, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. 

Overall, I consider this experience to have been extremely successful. I learned an incredible amount of practical knowledge, built meaningful connections with instructors and classmates, and earned a certification that will strengthen both my leadership abilities and professional qualifications. One of the greatest accomplishments was proving to myself that I can do hard things. Although the workload was difficult, it taught me valuable lessons about discipline, time management, and perseverance.