Welcome!
Founded in 2026, Wilderness Vein Academy, LLC (WVA) is a small business that serves South Central Pennsylvania, dedicated to providing quality training at affordable prices! WVA was founded by Nathaniel Stoner and co-founded by his wife, Ashleigh, who assists with operations. Together, the Stoners have served their community for over a decade in the fields of emergency management, healthcare, rescue, wilderness survival, instructing, and disaster preparedness.
The Stoners believe strongly in giving back to their community by providing continuing education to professional emergency responders, and raising community readiness and resilience through the WVA training programs. After all... Preparedness Prevents Panic!
Logo & branding designed by Mangle Creations
"Gloria Deo"
CREDENTIALS
- Associate's Degree in Science of Nursing
- National Registry / PA DOH Paramedic
- NAEMSE EMS Instructor
- HSI Instructor - Level 4
- ECSI Instructor
- ACS Stop the Bleed Instructor
- VFIS Instructor
- CERT Instructor
- CERT Chief
- EMS Chief
- Field Training Officer
- Emergency Management Coordinator
- EMS Pandemic Preparedness Specialist
- Eagle Scout
Nathaniel Stoner - FoundER
Growing up, Nathaniel was raised in a family that focused heavily on disaster preparedness, and he became very interested in a specialty of wilderness survival. Nathaniel enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, land navigation, and practicing survival skills. Nathaniel experienced his first taste of pre-hospital medicine when he learned basic first aid and CPR while on his journey to earn his Eagle Scout. He never let his certifications lapse since first earning them at age 14. It was at this time that Nathaniel desired to become a paramedic, a dream that he was able to fulfill. After years in his career, Nathaniel has been able to combine many of his interests together. While building a wealth of knowledge and experience in pre-hospital and hospital-based medicine, Nathaniel has gone on to become heavily involved in search and rescue, community emergency response, emergency management, incident command, emergency drone piloting, rescue medicine, and extensive knowledge in wilderness medicine focusing on improvised treatment for long-term patient care in austere environments.
While gathering this experience, there was another passion of equal importance that became a focus of his career - training and leading others. Nathaniel has gone on to earn multiple instructor certifications, and enjoys teaching others as much as he enjoys performing the skills himself. Whether it's in the classroom or out in the field with real victims, Nathaniel ensures his students are well prepared to handle scenarios while maintaining compassion, safety, and professionalism.
"It is an important responsibility to pass on your knowledge to better prepare your community, and to train the next generation." -- Nathaniel Stoner
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CREDENTIALS
- National Registry / PA DOH AEMT
- NAEMSE EMS Instructor
- HSI Instructor - Level 3
- ACS Stop the Bleed Instructor
- CERT Instructor
- Field Training Officer
- Park Security Officer
- Community Service Officer
- Semi-fluent in American Sign Language
Ashleigh Stoner - Co-FOUNDER
Ashleigh grew up similarly to Nathaniel, where she enjoyed camping, hiking, and the wilderness. She got her first tastes of disaster preparedness when she took various classes in wilderness survival skills, active shooter, CPR, first aid, etc. This passion grew into a professional career in pre-hospital medicine as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). Ashleigh broadened her experience by getting involved with her local police department as a park security officer and community service officer.
When she met Nathaniel, she had the opportunity to combine many new and old passions by also getting heavily involved in search and rescue, emergency management, community emergency response, medicine, emergency drone piloting, and other skills.
Ashleigh shares the same goal - giving her knowledge back to her community and the next generation of first responders. Ashleigh continues to grow as an instructor who can provide unique experiences to her students, such as creating an American Sign Language class with relevant communication techniques for search and rescue personnel.