Wilderness Retreats

For our 2023 Wilderness Medicine Retreat, our residents returned to Camp Tannadoonah on Birch Lake, a summer camp located an hour east of St. Joseph. The 2022 retreat was such a hit, we couldn’t help but return and are hoping to make this a tradition. This is truly the perfect place for residents to bond and learn in a relaxed environment. Per tradition, residents and auditioning medical students camped the night before, enjoying each other's company around a fire with music and a midnight swim. This year significant others were invited as well, as they are also part of the Lakeland family.

We started off the morning with breakfast burritos prepared in the lodge by the Wilderness Medicine Track team and an overview of the day. Then, each class revealed their group costumes, and the attendees voted on their favorite. Our PGY3s won this year with their cosplay of famous rock stars! After this, we broke off into three groups of evenly distributed classes and students, and we rotated through three, one-hour long stations that were designed and taught by Wilderness Track residents. This year the team covered austere splinting, prehospital and hospital resuscitation of drowned patients, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, altitude sickness, hypothermia, and water rescue techniques. Once complete, we had lunch at the main lodge with a great high-yield talk by one of our chiefs, Bijan Arab, to review all things poisonous and toxic found in the wilderness. In the afternoon, the entire group participated in two mass casualty simulations, one near the water from a boating accident and the other an avalanche. For this, certain residents were assigned injuries/illnesses that the others needed to work together with limited resources to triage, stabilize if able, and get patients to a designated area of safety where they could be shipped for definitive care. The day ended with a spaghetti dinner before heading back home. Overall, another great retreat for the books with many laughs shared and lessons in emergency medicine learned.

Southwest Michigan is full of hidden gems, one of them being Birch Lake, a small inland lake an hour east of St Joseph. Nestled into the trees along the lakeshore is Camp Tannadoonah, a kids' camp during the summer, and a perfect place for residents to gather, relax and learn. The night before was spent paddling, swimming, and unwinding around the campfire. In the morning residents rotated around small groups covering topics including seasickness, diving, drowning, water rescues, communication in the wild, water purification and waterborne illnesses, envenomation, and toxidromes. After lunch, we re-capped the content and board pearls with cornhole trivia and then transitioned to the mini MedWAR competition which involved cervical spine injuries in the water and removing fishhooks from extremities. The following morning residents met at the local St Joseph Coast Guard station to learn about search and rescue on Lake Michigan and then took a speedy boat ride along the coast. The Wilderness Track members worked hard to apply the curriculum and hands-on skills in a fun, rejuvenating day on the water. Lake Michigan is a beautiful place to live but it's important that everyone understand the importance of water safety and how to respond in the case of an emergency.

Torrential downpours and lightning didn't dissuade residents from camping the night before the 2021 Wilderness Medicine Retreat. We took shelter in Dr. Nydza's woodshop and spent the evening playing cards, making a bonfire, and listening to music. The skies cleared by morning and we started our day learning about hazardous chemicals and exposures from Dr Beyer and the Berrien County HAZMAT team. Residents tried on the impregnable neon suits and learned how to proceed through a decontamination line. Afterward,s we covered the basics of search and rescue and the approach to the patient in the wild before splitting into small groups. Our theme was "Environmental Exposures" which included topics such as: burns, hypothermia, hyperthermia, avalanche rescue, lower extremity splints, and wilderness kits. At the end, residents applied their newfound skills during our annual MedWar race that involved axe throwing, burrito wrapping, splint making, and mountain lion attacks. At the end of a hot day, we took relief in the pond with our floaties and paddleboards. Wilderness medicine is important training for all residents who enjoy spending time outdoors. As a physician people assume that you'll know how to respond to any event and there's no better way to learn than by practicing skills and discussing what you do in austere environments.

The 2020 Wilderness Medicine Retreat marked the first year of our new Wilderness curriculum. Per tradition, we camped the night before complete with s'mores, bonfire, and music. In the morning we split into groups to learn about tick and mosquito-borne diseases, high altitude illness, edible plants, upper extremity splints, and Wilderness MacGyver tips. Afterward, we came together for a high-stakes trivia and costume competition. In the afternoon, the groups moved on to the annual MedWar which combined Wilderness skills and ingenuity to solve tough tox cases, treat altered patients, stabilize open fractures, and create litters to do long evacuations. Wilderness day is a unique opportunity during the year where all residents come together to practice hands-on skills, enjoy the outdoors, and recharge for a new academic year.

The 2019 Wilderness Medicine Retreat started with a surprise...the campsite was not mowed and had natural grasses that were four feet tall! Thanks to our residents and a few mowers, we were able to clear the site and start getting set up. Residents camped the night before and entertained themselves around a bonfire. The official retreat began the next morning with breakfast and discussions about local invasive species, poisonous plants/animals, and how to treat hyper/hypothermic patients led by faculty members. Then residents participated in a water safety and drowning management drill along the local river bed. Mass casualty scenarios and small group sessions about knot tying, fire starting, water purification, and signaling followed. MEDWARS took place in the afternoon and included speed, skill, and creativity battles between PGY levels.

The grand finale competition concluded with axe throwing. Camping was encouraged the second night to celebrate a long, fun-filled day of activities, and the next morning. Wilderness Retreat 2019 came to a close. Everyone felt it was a great success, and the weather definitely provided a great environment for fellowship and education.

Every year Lakeland Emergency Medicine Residents look forward to the Wilderness Medicine Retreat and this year was no exception. While thunderstorms required flexibility in the schedule, Dr. Long and the seniors delivered on an epic day of learning, wilderness, and resident bonding. The day started with small group stations discussing and practicing water purification, splinting, carries, triage, and fire starting. The group then went on a tour of the Saint Joseph Coast Guard station and learned about the protocols and logistics involved in water rescues. Residents explored two separate Coast Guard boats and even got to go out on Lake Michigan which was exceptionally rough that day.

Unfortunately due to the storms, resident Med Wars was cancelled this year but residents were still able to participate in the first annual Resident Olympics. Teams were formed by the medical students and each class of residents to battle for the envied gold speculum trophy. Events included a relay race, water balloon toss, and stethoscope shot put. The Olympics ended in a tug of war between 2nd years and 4th years with the 4th years ultimately winning and taking home the gold. After this, residents retreated to the campsite for yard games, smores, and campfire shenanigans