Why is BMG a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?
Because we believe in a world where life-saving knowledge is accessible, people support and uplift each other, and community is the most important thing to invest in. We have been operating in this mindset since our inception, growing steadily with intention throughout the past 10 years. We prioritize low student-to-teacher ratios, highly qualified and engaging instructors, and hands-on, scenario-based learning methods to give our students the most impactful experience possible. All this factors into our costs, however, we keep our course prices as low as we possibly can to maintain affordability for our students. Being a nonprofit allows us to do all this, award scholarships on a regular basis, and keep our operations true to our community values.
Where We Teach
What We Teach
In 2023, we granted $9,732 in scholarships.
Community Partnerships
Backcountry Medical Guides has been partnering with Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, our local trail advocacy group, to ensure their volunteers and ride leaders have adequate first aid skills. We host several First Aid for Mountain Bikers programs each spring for WMBC volunteers, and work with the organization to help spread awareness for our WFA for Mountain Bikers program, the next step in mountain bike-specific wilderness medicine.
In 2024, we partnered with Shifting Gears, a fellow Bellingham-based nonprofit, to create a two-day Wilderness First Aid (WFA) program that was led by women, for women. The goal was to maximize experiential learning through an active and practical curriculum while creating an inclusive space for women to learn, grow, and build their confidence with emergency medicine.
“I just really appreciate the opportunity and I feel so much more confident in my abilities after the course than before I started; that's all I was hoping for! I am super inspired by these ladies and really loved this all-women atmosphere!!”—Shifting Gears WFA Participant
The Mountaineers is “a 15,000+ member community of people exploring, learning, and conserving the Pacific Northwest together by finding confidence and belonging in the outdoors.” We could not think of a better organization to partner with for bringing wilderness medicine to outdoor adventurers of all disciplines and abilities. We have been working with The Mountaineers’ Bellingham Branch to offer a Wilderness First Aid program for their members for three years running now.
Northwest Tune-Up is Bellingham’s summertime festival dedicated to music, mountain biking, and craft beer. The event puts our hometown on display for visitors from all over the country, showcasing the region’s best trails, taps, and music artists in a celebration of Northwest culture. As the event’s safety partner, Backcountry Medical Guides coordinates a volunteer crew of medics and first responders for on-site first aid needs at the waterfront venue. We love showcasing all that Bellingham has to offer, and are proud to help ensure visitors get a full, safe experience.
North Cascades Institute is a conservation organization focused on “transformative learning experiences in nature,” including place-based environmental education, outdoor recreation, health and wellness, conservation, environmental justice and community engagement. In early 2025, we worked with NCI to certify some of their staff as WFRs, and opened up a few remaining course spots to the public for a unique, residential experience at the organization’s beautiful Environmental Learning Center on the shore or Lake Diablo.