Wyld Birch
Wyld Birch offers guided Adirondack adventures, wilderness education, and outdoor skills training designed to help people explore the backcountry with confidence, safety, and curiosity. Through hands-on instruction and immersive outdoor experiences, we connect people to the wild while building practical skills for adventure and self-reliance.
Classes
This registration option is reserved for active Search & Rescue (SAR) team members and other approved emergency service professionals. As a thank-you for your service and commitment to public safety, eligible participants receive a $65 discount on the Wilderness First Aid course. Registration is subject to verification of current affiliation. Please bring your active card to class.
Prepare to respond confidently when emergencies happen far from immediate medical care. This comprehensive Wilderness First Aid course provides hands-on training in patient assessment, injury management, environmental emergencies, and decision-making in remote settings. Through realistic scenarios and practical instruction, you'll develop the knowledge and skills needed to care for yourself and others in the backcountry until professional help is available.
This course is ideal for hikers, backpackers, trail runners, paddlers, hunters, outdoor leaders, and anyone who spends time in remote environments. Whether you're exploring the Adirondacks or venturing into the backcountry elsewhere, Wilderness First Aid is an essential skill that can make all the difference when it matters most.
Learn essential wilderness navigation skills with this hands-on Map & Compass Class. Perfect for beginners and outdoor enthusiasts, this course teaches map reading, compass use, route planning, terrain recognition, and backcountry navigation without GPS. Build confidence exploring the outdoors safely.
Our Team
Kim Fisher
Founder/InstructorKim Fisher is the founder of Wyld Birch and the Wilcox Wild Ultra, a 50K trail race that showcases the rugged beauty of New York’s Wilcox Lake Wild Forest.
With more than 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Kim has dedicated her career to caring for others through education, leadership, and emergency and wilderness medicine. She brings that same commitment to the outdoors as a New York State Licensed Guide, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), New York State Certified Search and Rescue Crew Boss, and active member of Lower Adirondack Search and Rescue.
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Kim is an Adirondack 46er and is currently working toward becoming an Adirondack 111er. She has completed the Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) and is an avid trail runner who believes the outdoors offers endless opportunities for challenge, growth, and discovery.
Through Wyld Birch, Kim teaches wilderness first aid, navigation, and outdoor skills to help people build confidence, make sound decisions, and safely explore the outdoors. Whether you’re stepping onto a trail for the first time or looking to expand your backcountry experience, her mission is to inspire self-reliance, responsible stewardship, and a lifelong connection to the natural world.
Matt Sirni
InstructorMatt Sirni has over 30 years of experience as an Emergency Medical Technician and has been teaching wilderness skills and wilderness first aid for more than 15 years. He is a New York State Certified Search and Rescue Crew Boss and has been an active member of Lower Adirondack Search and Rescue for 16 years, participating in numerous wilderness search, rescue, and emergency response operations throughout the region.
In addition to his search and rescue work, Matt serves as President of Hurley Ambulance Service, Inc., where he helps oversee emergency medical services for the community. He is also a member of the Safety and Security Team at Crosspoint Fellowship, where he provides trainign in emergency preparedness and response. Matt regularly teaches map and compass navigation, wilderness survival, and backcountry emergency care, combining decades of real-world experience with practical instruction. His goal is to provide students with the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to safely enjoy and respond to emergencies in the outdoors.