Lead Instructor
Randy Manuel is a Wilderness EMT, Lead Instructor, and Instructor Trainer for SOLO Schools and an ACA level IV Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. He is the Training Officer and a Field Team Leader with Cherokee County Search and Rescue {NC}. Randy fills other roles within EMS as well, but his main focus is teaching. He has been an instructor for over a decade, teaching hundreds of Wilderness Medicine and Survival Courses. Attend just one of his classes and you'll see he is knowledgeable, passionate about the topics, and his enthusiasm is contagious. "It's extraordinary to me, the realization of knowing that I'm passing the torch to the next generation of outdoor leaders. I'm honored and humbled to have the privilege to do so." When not at work you might find Randy, his wife Jae, and their dog Jefe hiking, boating, or simply near a body of water on this big, beautiful, blue marble we call home.

Coordinator & Hype Man

Sara Basse is the founder and lead “Emergency Skills” instructor for Wild Forces. She is a Wilderness EMT, Technical Rescue Tech, and instructor specializing in subjects such as survival/bushcraft, wilderness medicine, and orienteering. She is a volunteer member and Deputy Public Information Officer of the Henderson County Rescue Squad. Sara has spent the past several years training under FEMA to instruct operations and response to chemical, biological, and radiological medical incidents. She works full time as an education and communications coordinator at the American College of Medical Toxicology. In her free time, Sara can be found wondering the woods identifying plants or having a Hulu marathon with her dogs.