A new program in Wilderness Therapy at Southwestern Community College caters to a rapidly-expanding sector in the outdoors job field.

“In the past 10 years wilderness therapy has became a growing field in this area, and that opens up opportunities for employment,” said Paul Wolf , director of the SCC Outdoor Leadership program.

Those who take the program will be equipped to work as a field instructor as a part of a professional outdoors therapeutic team. Coursework leading to the certificate and degree include Introduction to Wilderness Therapy, Wilderness Therapeutic Models, Field Techniques and Primitive Living Skills.  

Wolf said students can also earn national certification as a Wilderness First Responder through SOLO Wilderness Medicine and select a technical specialty in climbing, challenge course,  paddling or expedition skills.

Classes this fall are Introduction to Wilderness Therapy on Mondays from 8 to 11:50 a.m. and Primitive Living Skills on Wednesdays from noon till 4:50 p.m.

Registration runs until Friday, Aug. 13. For more about the course, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 828.488.6413. The admissions office is at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..