About Us
Natural State Wild Med was born out of a deep love for Arkansas and a shared passion for helping people feel safe and confident in the outdoors. Whether you're a lifelong hunter, a weekend hiker, or a medical professional, we believe everyone should have access to life-saving skills in the wilderness.
After a decade as a military family living outside of Arkansas, we came home with fresh eyes and a full heart. We saw our state’s beauty—its forests, rivers, mountains, and trails—not just as recreation, but as opportunity. Opportunity to explore, to learn, and to be prepared.
We realized there was no local option in central Arkansas for people to learn wilderness medical skills specific to our region. So we created it. Natural State Wild Med offers hands-on, Arkansas-specific first aid and wilderness medical training to meet people where they are—from everyday outdoorsmen to elite professionals.
Our mission is to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to handle emergencies when you're far from help—because out here, that knowledge can save lives.
Why we started
Meet the Team
Dakotah Mitchell
Co-Founder & Lead instructor
Dak is a 10-year Army veteran with multiple combat deployments. His military career started as an infantry officer before he trained as a Physician Assistant through the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP). He also completed the Flight Surgeon’s Course, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Army Airborne School, Army Air Assault School, and is a certified Advanced Wilderness & Expedition Provider (AWEP).
Dak currently works as an occupational medical provider at an Arkansas-based clinic. He brings high-level medical expertise and real-world field experience to every class.
When he’s not teaching or working, Dak loves fishing on his lunch break, brewing beer, and being a hands-on dad.
Holly Mitchell
Kids Instructor & Business Manager
Holly brings years of teaching experience across every grade level—from kindergarteners to college students—and blends it with her background in health and wellness to create dynamic, accessible instruction for all ages.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Arts in Health and Wellness Counseling, and is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. Holly is passionate about making health education approachable and engaging. She leads curriculum development and manages Natural State Wild Med.
She is a busy mom of two daughters and a son. When she has free time, Holly can be found gardening, working out at CrossFit Greenbrier, or cheering on the Buffalo Bills.
Trey Brown
Vounteer Instructor
Trey Brown is an Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) in the U.S. Air Force, bringing a unique blend of military precision and civilian trauma care expertise to the classroom. Before his military career began in 2021, Trey worked as an Advanced EMT, tackling emergencies from vehicle collisions and gunshot wounds to severe burns and chainsaw injuries out in the field.
In the Air Force, Trey has refined his skills in remote and wilderness medicine and is ACLS qualified and a certified BLS instructor. He’s passionate about passing that knowledge on, helping people gain the confidence to manage medical crises far from the comforts of a hospital.
When he’s not on duty or teaching, Trey enjoys fishing and hunting on his family’s Alabama property, where he can relax, reconnect with nature, and spend time with his wife and their two German Shepherds.
Chris Coven
Instructor
Chris is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with a distinguished 30-year career as a registered nurse, bringing decades of clinical leadership and patient care experience to the team. Throughout his service, he played a key role in military medicine, mentoring healthcare professionals and supporting mission readiness in a variety of operational environments.
In addition to his nursing career, he is an American Heart Association–certified CPR instructor and is passionate about teaching lifesaving skills to others. His depth of experience, calm presence, and commitment to practical, real-world training make him an invaluable part of every course he supports.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing, and he’s a self-proclaimed coffee fiend who never passes up a good cup.
