Our Instructors

Gary Bracken, Sr., Founder, Senior Instructor, Training Center Director

Gary Bracken has been taking youth into the outdoors since 1998. He has been providing First Aid instruction since 2002. He started as an Instructor in First Aid programs offered with the American Red Cross (ARC). In 2003 he brought the first ARC Wilderness First Aid programs to the San Francisco Bay Area. Recognizing deficiencies in the materials for Sierra Nevada use, he joined with his co-founder to revise and restructure the materials. This process ultimately led to the founding of Paratus Institute. He has also been trained in, and become an instructor for, Boy Scouts of America courses in Climbing, Snow Camping, and Outdoor Leadership. He is currently a certified instructor with the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) and with the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI). He also recruits, trains and certifies instructors for Paratus Institute.

David Frydenlund, Founder, Senior Instructor, Course Architect

David Frydenlund has an extensive background in the outdoors, in both professional and recreational settings. A lifelong outdoorsman, he has extensive experience as a water rat and a mountaineer. He has taught First Aid, Expedition Planning, Field Craft, Pioneering, Mountaineering, Orienteering, Wilderness Survival (both summer and winter courses), XC skiing, Swimming, Lifesaving, Canoing, Sailing, Marine Navigation, Emergency Communications and Marksmanship. A graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and of the National Search and Rescue School, he spent over 20 years in the Coast Guard and was involved in over 100 Search and Rescue cases. His field experience includes scientific expeditions to the Antarctic, Greenland, and the north slope of Alaska. He has been a leader on recreational expeditions in Iceland, Alaska, the Yukon, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. He is currently a certified instructor with both the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) and the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI).

Gary Bracken Jr., Instructor

Gary has extensive training through Remote Medical International which led to certifications as a Washington State Registered EMT-B, a Wilderness EMT, and a US Coast Guard Medical Person in Charge. He is also certified in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED) by the American Heart Association. Through the International Sports Science Association he is also a Certified Fitness Trainer (and currently working on certification in Sports Conditioning). In Scouting he earned Eagle Scout and the Venturing Leadership Award. He is National Camp School trained for COPE and Cub Scout Day Camp Program Director, a Summer Camp Medic, and was a National Jamboree Troop ASM (2005). Gary started teaching First Aid (AED/CPR) in 2003. He has held American Red Cross, ECSI and ASHI certifications in Wilderness First Aid and as a First Responder. He started teaching Wilderness First Aid as an Assistant Instructor in 2004.

Erik Frydenlund, Instructor

Erik has been going to the back country his entire life and has considerable skills in Cross Country Skiing, Wilderness Survival (Summer and Winter), Canoeing, Water Rescue, Camping and Backpacking. He has been on recreational back country expeditions to Iceland, Australia, British Columbia, and the San Juan Islands in Washington. He is a graduate of UCLA. In Scouting he has earned Venturing Ranger, Silver and Leadership Awards and Eagle Scout. He has served as an Assistant Camp Director, Assistant Water Front Director and as a Camp Counselor. He has held American Red Cross, ECSI and ASHI certifications in Wilderness First Aid and in CPR/AED. First certified in Wilderness First Aid in 2002, he started teaching Wilderness First Aid as an Assistant Instructor in 2004.