
About Florida Outdoor Academy
Florida Outdoor Academy (FOA) is a group of educators, emergency medical professionals and avid outdoor adventurers sharing their passion for helping create a safer community through remote and disaster medical courses.
Our team is made up climbers, paddlers, cross country cyclist, hikers, and expedition leaders who are dedicated to their passion for emergency medicine as EMTs and Paramedics certified through SOLO Wilderness Medical School, the longest continually running wilderness medical school in the world. SOLO is the industry leader in wilderness medical classes such as: Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT, and the Geo Medic Series. We are based in Jacksonville, Florida yet we travel and offer courses throughout the state of Florida and the Southeast including Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Need a course for your team or want to host a class at your location? We offer private classes specific to your industry or open enrollment courses for individuals students. Click Here to Host a Course
Don’t Take Our Word For It…
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Upcoming Classes
SOLO Wilderness Medical Courses
Ready to get started? Check out course schedule and availability!
Our Team

Rachel Austin
Owner / Wilderness EMT / SOLO Instructor

Scott Weinsein
Lead SOLO Instructor / WEMT / Search & Rescue Ropes Expert

Garrett Cooper
Owner / WEMT / Lead SOLO Instructor / Chief Expedition Officer

Catherine Jean
Lead SOLO Instructor / WEMT
Recent News
Life Skills
If you're like most Florida residents you could swim before you could walk, you knew the difference between an alligator and a crocodile at the age of 7, and you knew that Pub Subs are a way of life and not just a sandwich; but have you ever learned how to help...
I’m all shook up…
I had just returned to town after spending a long weekend in the mountains, when I went to pick up my fur baby, Pudge. When he first saw me walk through the door, he came running to me at full speed, acting like a complete lunatic, as Boston Terriers always do. He...
Lions, Tigers, Bears, Oh my!
When hiking through the wilderness you're likely to stumble upon some furry friends, but the scenarios you can plan and be prepared for most are those of injuries upon yourself or your fellow hikers. We can only do so much for natures creatures, but we can be well...