WILD SKILLS Rx
Be Ready, Not Lucky
Wilderness First Aid for Kayakers, Outdoor Leaders, Scouts & Adventurers
You can carry the biggest first aid kit in the world and still be unprepared.
Skills save lives.
When a paddler dislocates a shoulder miles from the launch, when heat exhaustion strikes on a summer crossing, when a Scout suffers a serious cut deep in the backcountry, luck is not a plan.
Wild Skills Rx was created to help ordinary people become capable outdoor leaders. Through practical, hands on training, participants learn how to recognize problems early, make sound decisions under pressure, and respond effectively when emergencies happen far from immediate help.
Whether you paddle rivers, guide youth, camp with your family, serve as a Scout leader, or simply enjoy the outdoors, these courses are designed to help you become the person others can depend on when things go wrong.
Be Ready, Not Lucky
Why Wild Skills Rx?
Most first aid classes take place in a comfortable classroom.
Outdoor emergencies do not.
At Wild Skills Rx, training is built around real world situations faced by paddlers, campers, hikers, Scout leaders, anglers, and outdoor families.
You will learn:
- Wilderness first aid fundamentals
- Patient assessment
- Heat illness prevention and treatment
- Hypothermia management
- Lightning safety
- Wound care and bleeding control
- Sprains, strains, and fractures
- Shoulder injuries common to paddlers
- Marine and wildlife injuries
- Emergency communication techniques
- Risk management and prevention
- Decision making under pressure
Every course focuses on practical application rather than memorization.
Who Should Attend?
Kayakers & Canoeists
Learn the skills needed to manage emergencies on rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and expedition paddling trips.
Scout Leaders
Prepare yourself to safely lead Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scout youth in the outdoors.
Outdoor Families
Build confidence to protect the people who matter most.
Outdoor Professionals
Ideal for guides, camp staff, church youth leaders, environmental educators, and adventure program leaders.
Everyday Adventurers
No previous medical experience required.
The Wild Skills Rx Training Ladder
From Prepared Paddler to Expedition Leader
Every outdoor leader begins somewhere.
The purpose of the Wild Skills Rx Training Ladder is to help participants build skills progressively, moving from basic preparedness to advanced expedition leadership. Each level builds upon the knowledge and experience gained in the previous course, creating confident outdoor leaders capable of managing real world emergencies in remote environments.
Whether your goal is safer family adventures, leading a Scout troop, organizing paddling trips, or becoming an expedition leader, the journey begins with preparation.
Level 1
Wilderness First Aid for Kayakers
Be Ready, Not Lucky
Investment: $75 to $125
Format: Half Day Workshop
This practical introduction to wilderness medicine is designed specifically for paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts. Participants learn how to recognize, prevent, and respond to common emergencies encountered on rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and backcountry adventures.
Topics Covered
- Kayak specific injuries
- Oyster cuts and shell lacerations
- Shoulder injuries and overuse conditions
- Heat illness prevention and treatment
- Lightning awareness and emergency response
- Marine stings and aquatic hazards
- Float plans and emergency preparedness
- Emergency communication systems
Ideal For
- Recreational paddlers
- New kayak owners
- Scout leaders
- Outdoor families
- Campers and hikers
This course serves as the gateway into the Wild Skills Rx program and provides the foundation upon which all future training is built. Ideal Enrollment: 12 Students
Level 2
Kayak Safety & Rescue Weekend
Building Confidence Through Real World Practice
Investment: $199 to $299
Format: Weekend Intensive
Rescue skills and medical skills work together.
This hands on weekend combines practical rescue techniques with wilderness first aid applications, helping paddlers develop the confidence and competence required to manage incidents on the water.
Participants work through realistic scenarios designed to simulate the conditions encountered during actual emergencies. Ideal Enrollment: 8 Students
Skills Covered
- Self rescue techniques
- Assisted rescue procedures
- Towing systems and strategies
- Risk management principles
- Wilderness first aid scenarios
Why This Course Matters
The rescue community has long understood the value of scenario based learning. Emergencies rarely occur under ideal conditions. Wind, waves, fatigue, weather, and group dynamics all influence decision making.
Students learn how to apply first aid skills while managing real paddling challenges, creating a deeper understanding of both rescue and patient care.
Ideal For
- Intermediate paddlers
- Trip leaders
- Scout and Sea Scout adults
- Outdoor educators
- ACA students seeking advanced skills
Level 3
Expedition Leadership Certification
Leading With Confidence
Investment: $399 to $699
Format: Advanced Leadership Program
The highest level of the Wild Skills Rx Training Ladder prepares participants to safely lead groups in remote environments and challenging outdoor conditions.
This comprehensive program combines leadership, wilderness medicine, risk management, and expedition planning into a practical leadership curriculum.
Designed For
- Scout leaders
- Sea Scout adults
- Church youth leaders
- Outdoor club leaders
- Florida paddling groups
- Adventure program staff
- Expedition organizers
Leadership Skills Covered
- Navigation and route planning
- Risk assessment and hazard management
- Group management techniques
- Wilderness medicine decision making
- Incident leadership
- Trip planning and logistics
The Goal
Graduates leave with the skills and confidence to plan, organize, and lead safe outdoor adventures while managing the unexpected challenges that accompany wilderness travel.
Participants learn not only how to respond during emergencies, but how to prevent many emergencies from occurring in the first place. Ideal Enrollment: 6 Students
Your Journey Starts Here
Level 1
Learn the Skills
↓
Level 2
Practice the Skills
↓
Level 3
Lead With the Skills
The wilderness does not demand perfection.
It demands preparation.
Join the Wild Skills Rx Training Ladder and become the person others trust when conditions become difficult, decisions matter, and leadership is needed most.
Additional Training Programs
Wild Skills Rx Field Day
Be Ready, Not Lucky
Investment: $149 to $249
Format: Full Day Outdoor Skills Workshop, immersion into practical outdoor preparedness.
This immersive field based experience combines wilderness medicine, outdoor preparedness, survival skills, and practical leadership training into a single day of hands on instruction. Designed for paddlers, campers, Scout leaders, outdoor families, and adventure seekers, the course focuses on developing the confidence and competence needed to handle unexpected situations in the outdoors.
Participants learn through realistic scenarios, practical exercises, and field demonstrations that emphasize prevention, preparedness, and sound decision making under pressure.
Topics Covered
- Wilderness medicine fundamentals
- Patient assessment in remote environments
- Emergency priorities and survival mindset
- Firecraft and emergency fire building
- Water purification and field sanitation
- Shelter building and weather protection
- Navigation and route finding
- Emergency communications
- Risk management and hazard recognition
- Wilderness emergency scenarios
- Outdoor leadership and decision making
- Preparedness planning and essential gear
Ideal For
- Outdoor enthusiasts
- Kayakers and canoeists
- Scout leaders and Sea Scout adults
- Venturing Advisors
- Campers and backpackers
- Church youth leaders
- Outdoor educators
- Families who enjoy outdoor adventures
- Anyone seeking practical preparedness skills
This course bridges the gap between basic first aid training and advanced expedition leadership. It provides participants with a broad foundation of wilderness skills while introducing the practical mindset that defines the Wild Skills Rx program.
For many students, Wild Skills Rx Field Day serves as the next step after Wilderness First Aid for Kayakers and prepares them for more advanced training such as Kayak Safety & Rescue Weekend and Expedition Leadership Certification.
Learn the Skills. Practice the Skills. Be Ready, Not Lucky.
Meet Your Instructor
Jeff Fabiszewski
Outdoor educator, expedition paddler, Wilderness First Responder, American Canoe Association Instructor, Leave No Trace Trainer, Scout leader, and founder of Liquid Rhythm Kayaking.
Raised in the hills of Pennsylvania and shaped by decades of wilderness travel, Jeff has spent a lifetime teaching people how to travel safely and confidently through the outdoors.
For decades he has guided paddlers, trained outdoor leaders, instructed Scouts, taught wilderness medicine, and led expeditions throughout Florida and beyond.
His philosophy is simple:
Skills build confidence.
Confidence builds leaders.
Leaders make the outdoors safer for everyone.
What Participants Say
“I learned more practical outdoor safety skills in one day than I did in years of casual paddling.”
“The scenarios felt real and helped me understand how I would react under pressure.”
“This is the class every Scout leader should take before leading youth into the backcountry.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need medical experience?
No. Courses are designed for beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Do I need my own first aid kit?
No. Training equipment is provided during class.
Are these courses only for kayakers?
No. While many examples come from paddling environments, the skills apply equally to hiking, camping, Scouting, fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation.
What should I bring?
Comfortable outdoor clothing, water, notebook, lunch, and a willingness to learn.
Upcoming Courses
Check our calendar regularly as new classes are added throughout the year.
Class sizes are intentionally limited to maximize hands on learning and individualized instruction.
Early registration is recommended.
Ready to Become the Person Others Count On?
The wilderness rewards preparation.
The river rewards skill.
The trail rewards good judgment.
The people around you deserve a leader who is prepared.
Join Wild Skills Rx and learn the skills that matter when it matters most.
BE READY, NOT LUCKY.
Register Today
[REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING COURSE]
Contact Us
Liquid Rhythm Kayaking
Website: liquidrhythmkayaking.com
Email: jeff@liquidrhythmkayaking.com; info@liquidrhythmkayaking.com
Serving Florida paddlers, Scout leaders, outdoor families, outdoor educators, church groups, and adventurers throughout the Sunshine State.
