Landmark Learning

What Landmark Learning does

Landmark Learning is a private, for-profit outdoor professional training institution founded in 1989 by Justin and Mairi Padgett and headquartered on a 40+ acre property in Sylva and Cullowhee, North Carolina. The company operates two campuses — the Downstream Campus (built 2000-2001) and the Upstream Campus featuring the 8,000 sqft Cane Creek Lodge — in the Smoky Mountains alongside Cane Creek, with classroom space, bunkhouses, and camping facilities supporting multi-day residential programs. Its core products are certification courses for the outdoor workforce, delivered under authorized-provider arrangements with NOLS Wilderness Medicine (WFR, WFA, WEMT, Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals, recertification), the American Canoe Association (Levels 3-5 Swiftwater Rescue plus Instructor), Leave No Trace (Level 1 and Level 2 Instructor), Health & Safety Institute (CPR/AED), the American Red Cross (Lifeguard), and the North Carolina Office of EMS (EMT Intensive and Refresher).

The technology stack underlying these courses is primarily built around off-the-shelf third-party platforms: the CANVAS LMS for online and hybrid course delivery, and the ACTIVE Network registration platform for enrollment, payment processing, and student management. Course delivery is split between on-campus residential delivery at the Sylva campuses and mobile delivery at partner host sites across multiple Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic universities, including Lees-McRae, Appalachian State, UVA, James Madison, Davidson, UGA, Vanderbilt, USF, Emory & Henry, and Western Carolina. A dedicated "Landmark Scholars" program bundles multiple certifications (WEMT/WFR, Leave No Trace Master Educator, ACA Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness Lifeguard, and CPR) for career-track professionals, and the proprietary "Swiftwater Rescue – A Manual for Students and Instructors" authored by Executive Director Justin Padgett is sold direct.

The company's revenue model rests on four streams: (1) per-person course tuition ranging from $250 to $945 depending on length and certification type, with a $100 non-refundable deposit and balance due 30 days before course start; (2) optional on-campus lodging at $30-$225 per stay; (3) product sales of educational materials, apparel, and medical supplies via the Landmark Learning Shop; and (4) replacement certification card fees at $5 per card. Customer segments span outdoor recreation professionals, outdoor educators/instructors, recreational enthusiasts, EMS personnel, rising outdoor industry professionals (including college students and veterans), with 631 students trained annually. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the ACTIVE self-serve registration platform, supplemented by university-hosted course delivery and a HipCamp ancillary rental of the Downstream Campus during off-peak periods. No venture capital or private equity has been disclosed; ownership remains with the founding family.

Name

Landmark Learning

Legal name

Landmark Learning

Website

https://landmarklearning.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Landmark Learning is a private North Carolina–based outdoor professional training institution that delivers certified wilderness medicine, swiftwater rescue, Leave No Trace, lifeguard, and EMT courses via two on-campus facilities and hosted programs at partner universities across the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States, serving outdoor workers, educators, and EMS personnel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education and Certification Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult Skill-Building Expeditions & Courses (Leadership, Survival, Navigation) (THAAAOAC), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ), School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB)

Keywords

• Wilderness medicine training
• Swiftwater rescue certification
• Outdoor professional education
• Wilderness first responder
• Leave no trace instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Cullowhee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition: Primary revenue from course registration fees. Students pay tuition for wilderness medicine courses, swiftwater rescue courses, EMT training, and other outdoor certifications. Prices range from $250-$945 depending on course length and certification type.
2. On-campus Lodging: Optional overnight accommodations including camping ($30-$135) and bunkhouse lodging ($50-$225) during multi-day courses.
3. Product Sales: Sale of educational materials including Swiftwater Rescue manuals ($18), patient assessment notebooks ($10), apparel, and medical supplies.
4. Certification Processing: Fees for certification cards and replacement cards ($5 per card) for completed courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Landmark Learning is a private outdoor education institute that delivers nationally certified training in wilderness medicine, swiftwater rescue, Leave No Trace, EMT, and lifeguarding to outdoor professionals and enthusiasts. Courses are taught by certified faculty at its two Smoky Mountain campuses in North Carolina and through hosted sessions at partner universities across the Eastern U.S. Revenue is generated primarily through per-person course tuition ($250-$945), with supplementary income from on-campus lodging, retail merchandise, and certification card processing.

Product overview

Landmark Learning is an outdoor education and training institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of certification courses for the outdoor community. The core offering consists of wilderness medicine courses (NOLS Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT, Wilderness First Aid, and recertification options), swiftwater rescue certifications (ACA Levels 3-5), Leave No Trace instructor training, American Red Cross lifeguard certification, and specialized programs like Community Relief Medic and the Landmark Scholars multi-certificate program. Courses are delivered at two campuses in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina or at partner host sites across the Eastern United States. The company also operates a retail shop selling course materials, apparel, and medical supplies. The NOLS Hybrid format courses combine online learning via CANVAS platform with in-person skills training, while traditional courses run as intensive on-campus programs with optional lodging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NOLS Wilderness First Responder

Quantifiable outcome

• 631 students trained annually across multiple certification programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• NOLS Wilderness MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized provider of NOLS Wilderness Medicine curriculum including WFR, WFA, WEMT, WFR Recertification, and Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals courses. NOLS provides curriculum, certification, and instructor credentials.
• American Canoe Association (ACA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized provider of ACA swiftwater rescue courses at levels 3-5 plus instructor development and certification exams. ACA provides curriculum standards and certification credentials.
• Leave No TracecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized provider of Leave No Trace Level 1 and Level 2 Instructor courses. Landmark Learning holds Gold Standard Program status from Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
• Health & Safety Institute (HSI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of HSI CPR and AED certifications as add-on to wilderness medicine courses. HSI provides curriculum and certification for professional rescuers.
• North Carolina Office of EMS (NCOEMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed EMT training provider approved by NCOEMS for initial EMT certification and refresher courses. NCOEMS sets standards for NC state EMS certification.
• American Red CrosssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of American Red Cross Lifeguard certification courses meeting pool lifeguarding standards. ARC provides curriculum and certification credentials.
• ACTIVE NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationRegistration software platform used for course enrollment, payment processing, and student management. ACTIVE provides the infrastructure for online course registration.
• HipCampminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhen not hosting courses, Landmark rents its Downstream Campus on HipCamp under the name Cane Creek Holler. HipCamp provides booking platform for outdoor accommodations.
• University of UtahsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege credit provider for NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses taken through Landmark Learning. Students can earn university credits through University of Utah for course completion.
• Western Carolina UniversitysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerWCU students can use financial aid for qualifying Landmark courses that meet PRM program requirements. Partnership provides enrollment pathway for WCU outdoor recreation management students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NOLS Wilderness Medicine: NOLS is the parent curriculum developer and largest wilderness medicine course operator globally, with its own locations and dozens of authorized providers including Landmark. It is both Landmark's licensor and a competitor for WFR/WEMT students nationwide.
• Outward Bound USA: Outward Bound is a long-established outdoor education nonprofit delivering expedition-based wilderness courses for students and professionals, overlapping with Landmark on outdoor leadership training and Leave No Trace delivery.
• REI Co-op Outdoor School: REI Outdoor School offers outdoor skills and wilderness first aid classes nationwide as part of a broader retail membership ecosystem. While not a WFR-certification rival, it competes for the entry-level outdoor enthusiast training dollar with longer-running brand reach than Landmark.

Others

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: The national stewardship organization whose curriculum Landmark is authorized to teach and whose Gold Standard status Landmark holds. Acts as credential-grantor and marketing partner rather than competitor.
• AORE (Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education): The professional membership body that accredited Landmark in 2014. AORE is not a competitor but an industry association that channels university outdoor program leads and provides credentialing reference for outdoor educator hiring.

Regional players

• Nantahala Outdoor Center: A nearby Southeast US outdoor resort and outfitter offering swiftwater rescue and ACA-level courses on the Nantahala River, geographically overlapping with Landmark's Smoky Mountains student catchment in North Carolina.

Direct peers

• American Alpine Institute: AAI runs Avalanche, AIARE, wilderness medicine, and mountain rescue courses for outdoor professionals from a dedicated training facility, mirroring Landmark's model of bundling multiple certifications around a specialty activity.
• Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA): WMA is a global wilderness medicine training organization offering WFR, WEMT, and WAFA certifications through authorized providers, in direct competition with NOLS-based programs like Landmark's for outdoor professionals and trip leaders.
• SOLO Wilderness Medicine: SOLO Schools is one of the most established wilderness medicine training providers, offering WFR, WEMT, and WFA certifications directly competitive with Landmark's NOLS-delivered courses. Both serve outdoor professionals with multi-day on-site and hybrid formats seeking national certification.

Emerging players

• Center for Wilderness Safety: A smaller Mid-Atlantic wilderness medicine training provider offering WFR and WFA courses; competes for the same student demographic as Landmark in the Eastern US, particularly through hybrid and host-site delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LandmarkLearning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landmark-learning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Landmark Learning