Winter Adventure Medicine Course

Bygdeträsk, Northern Sweden

Course Date

13 March 2026 13:00 - 20 March 2026 10:00

Price range: GBP £3,295.00 through GBP £3,680.00

Room Type

Clear

Deposit Option GBP £500.00 per item

Pay Deposit Full Amount

Payment plans available! Contact us to find out more.

It’s where performance meets preparation, and where the wild teaches lessons the classroom never could.

Set in the remote forests of Northern Sweden, Winter Adventure Medicine is more than your typical cold-weather medicine course, it’s a playground to test your leadership, resilience and adaptability, built for those who thrive in challenge.

In partnership with PoletoPole, you’ll spend a week immersed in one of the harshest environments on Earth, leading teams, making decisions under pressure, and learning how to support others when conditions turn tough.

You’ll navigate by starlight, pitch tents in deep snow, and work hands-on with sled dogs to journey across frozen terrain. Expect ice-breaking drills, cold-water immersion, and field scenarios that push you to the edge, physically, mentally and clinically.

This isn’t Polar Medicine – and that’s the point. It’s a course for those who want to go further, lead better, and perform when it matters most.

What You'll Experience

Every day in Northern Sweden brings new terrain, physically, mentally, and clinically.

This is a practical, high-intensity week designed to take you out of the classroom and into the field, where decision-making is tested under snow-covered skies and leadership is shaped by the elements.

You’ll:

Harness and run a sled dog team across Arctic landscapes
Break ice for cold-water immersion drills and shock management
Build snow shelters and pitch tents in freezing conditions
Respond to real-time trauma scenarios in low-visibility environments
Navigate on skis and snowshoes during a multi-day expedition
Train in field evacuation, hypothermia care and risk planning
Refine your layering, nutrition and survival strategies for cold climates
Join evening talks on expedition medicine, navigation and Sami culture

Everything you learn will be applied in-field.

You’ll walk away stronger, more capable, and ready to lead when it counts.

Why Non-Technical Skills Matter

In remote environments, clinical skill alone isn’t enough.

Your decisions, your mindset, and your ability to communicate under pressure can define the outcome of a situation.

Throughout the course, you’ll develop the non-technical skills that elevate safety, leadership, and performance:

- Communication: Speak clearly, listen actively, and keep the team aligned under pressure
- Situational Awareness: Read your environment, your teammates, and the early warning signs of risk
- Decision-Making: Prioritise quickly, solve problems under pressure, and adapt when plans change
- Teamwork: Understand roles, manage conflict, and support others in challenging conditions
- Leadership: Provide direction, delegate effectively, and maintain morale through fatigue
- Stress Management: Recognise stress responses (in yourself and others) and stay effective when the stakes are high
You’ll leave with sharper instincts, stronger self-awareness, and the confidence to operate when conditions are at their most demanding.

Is This Course for You?

Ready for a challenge?

This course is designed for those who want to build confidence in tough conditions, push their personal limits, and grow their leadership in unpredictable environments.

It’s a great fit for:

Medical professionals and students: including pre-hospital, expedition, or hospital-based roles
Outdoor instructors, expedition leaders, and team managers
Anyone with a solid baseline of fitness and a drive to explore Arctic terrain through a medical lens

CPD: We have applied for CPD for this course, hours awarded will be confirmed once approved.

What you’ll need:

The ability to trek for 2-4 hours a day while carrying expedition gear
A can-do mindset, willingness to work in teams, and openness to cold exposure
No prior winter or expedition experience required, we’ll meet you where you’re at

Not sure if it’s right for you?
Contact us if you have any questions, we’ll help you figure it out.

Course Content

Each day is built around real-world application, using the Arctic environment as both your classroom and testing ground.

Topics include:

Cold weather illness, cold water shock and hypothermia recognition & management
Field safety, dynamic risk assessments, and route planning for winter activities
Evacuation strategy and medical kit planning in remote environments
Leadership and performance psychology in extreme conditions
Communication, group dynamics and managing conflict in the field
Snowpack analysis, ice navigation, and expedition route-finding under pressure

Expect a mix of practical scenarios, evening debriefs, and group discussions, all designed to stretch your skillset and decision-making in high-consequence settings.

What’s Included

You’ll be looked after – but make no mistake, this course is about stepping up, not switching off.

✔ Tuition and activities across 7 days

✔ Accommodation in shared bunk rooms (single rooms available +£55pppn)

✔All meals provided (including expedition rations during the mini-expedition)

✔ Airport transfers (Group pickup from Skellefteå Airport)

✔ Group expedition kit, snow gear, and dog sledding equipment

✔ Evening lectures and fireside chats with field experts

What’s Not Included

You’ll need to sort your own:

✘ Flights to/from Sweden

✘ Travel insurance

✘ Personal kit (detailed kit list will be provided upon booking)

Your Safety & Kit List Preparation

This course is designed to push you, physically, mentally, and clinically. But your safety remains our top priority.

We take every precaution to keep participants safe by:

Rigorous gear checks before all expedition days
Mandatory evacuation insurance policies
Close coordination with local emergency responders

Kit List

You’ll be outside for long periods in sub-zero temperatures.

Unpredictable weather is common, meaning poor kit preparation can be dangerous and could preclude you from activities.

✔ You’ll need high-quality base layers, insulated boots, thermal gloves, and full waterproofs
✔ All participants must bring their own personal kit.
✔ Inadequate kit may limit your ability to take part in some activities

You will be outside for at least 4 hours each day, so please make sure to review our Winter Adventure Course Kit List before arriving (this will be provided to you at the time of booking).

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Travel

We highly recommend arriving the day before the course. When making travel plans, we find Rome2Rio a super helpful site. Here you can discover various door-to-door travel options both internationally and from the UK.

Talk To Our Team

If you wish to learn more or have any additional questions, we invite you to book a 30-minute discovery call with our team.

→ Click here to book a discovery call.

The call will be with the team who organise our courses and work closely with our medical teaching faculty. They’re best placed to explain what our attendees really get out of attending a course with us.

You can choose between a video or voice call — whatever suits you best.

Prefer email? Then feel free to contact us.

FAQs

How is this different from the Polar or Winter Medicine Course?
This course blends polar medicine training with an emphasis on team performance, leadership under pressure, and the more practical components of polar skills such as dog sledding and bushcraft. It’s designed to complement, not compete with, WEM’s Polar offerings.

Do I need prior expedition experience?
Not necessarily. You’ll just need a can-do attitude, solid fitness, and appropriate gear.

Will experienced participants still benefit?
Absolutely. We’ll tailor the experience so you can focus on coaching, leadership or deeper clinical decision-making depending on your level.

Can my employer part-fund this?
Yes. We offer invoicing options. Contact the team to arrange.

What if I want to stay longer in Sweden?
You’ll need to find separate accommodation before or after the course, but our team can advise on local options.