22WRMC: Full Schedule

2023 Here we come! Plan to attend the 2023 WRMC in Portland, Oregon. Celebrate 30 years of Facing Challenges Together.
Save the Date: October 18-20, 2023; Pre-Conference October 16-18, 2023.

Location: Holiday Inn Portland - Columbia Riverfront, 909 North Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR 97217

Presentations: Presentation slides that are available will be uploaded to Sched in the next few days.
Video Recordings: You might have noticed that some sessions were recorded. WRMC is experimenting with video recordings and has not yet decided how those will be utilized. If the recordings are able to turn into high-quality learning, they will be made available to conference attendees at no additional cost through the conference app Sched. Sign up to receive WRMC updates to be notified if recordings become available.

The core objective of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) is to offer an outstanding educational experience to help you mitigate the risks inherent in exploring, working, teaching, and recreating in wild places. The WRMC is a collaboration between NOLS, Outward Bound USA, and the Student Conservation Association, in partnership with the WRMC Steering Committee. See the guiding purpose and tenets.

8:00am EDT

Pre-Conference - Waitlist Only WFR Recertification

Pre-Conference Full - Waitlist Only Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Recertification
Additional cost $345.
Review, practice, and stay on top of your skills with NOLS Wilderness Medicine's Wilderness First Responder Recertification Course! This scenario-based approach to recertification provides you the opportunity to test your skills against realistic situations.
You'll practice and relearn wilderness medicine protocols, review evacuation and decision making guidelines, and receive the latest updates in wilderness medicine over the course of two days.
Check out the online resources ahead of time, because you'll start the course with a written exam! You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!
Please carefully review the COVID Vaccination Policy for this program.

Speakers

Gates Richards

WM Education Director, NOLS WMI

Gates Richards has been involved in outdoor education and EMS since the early '90s. Over the years he's worked outdoor programming throughout the Rockies, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. He's worked urban EMS in DC, WA, CO, and WY. Gates began teaching for NOLS Wilderness Medicine... Read More →

Tod Schimelpfenig

Faculty, NOLS

Tuesday October 18, 2022 8:00am - Wednesday October 19, 2022 5:00pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

8:00am EDT

Pre-Conference Risk Management Training for Administrators (NOLS)

Pre-Conference Session - Additional Cost $800
Whether your program is small or large, wilderness based, or study abroad, you have the responsibility to your staff and participants to invest in risk management planning. Building a comprehensive risk management plan can feel daunting. Our goal is to provide you a structured approach and tools to build a risk management plan appropriate for your organization. We've spent more than 50 years managing risk in wilderness environments around the world, and we're always learning. Join us to connect and share your valuable experience with peer programs, and let us share our experience and lessons learned with you.

Tuesday October 18, 2022 8:00am - Wednesday October 19, 2022 5:00pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Pre-Conference

8:00am EDT

Pre-Conference WEMSMDC

Pre-Conference - Additional cost $600.
Pre-Conference Wilderness Emergency Medical System Medical Directors Course (WEMSMDC)
Registration for WRMC is not required in order to attend the WEMSMDC.
The first Wilderness EMS Medical Director training endorsed by both the National Association of EMS Physicians® and the Wilderness Medical Society™. The premier training program for healthcare providers involved in Wilderness EMS medical direction and oversight. As interest in outdoor sports grows, so do expectations for rescue services and the volume of EMS calls in wilderness (also known as austere or resource-deficient) areas. However, until now there has been no professional society-recognized training for physicians to provide this type of EMS oversight. Many physicians have extensive EMS training, but little wilderness medical experience. Similarly, many physicians have deep wilderness or wilderness medical training, but little exposure to the EMS operational environment or EMS oversight. To address this issue, the Wilderness EMS Medical Director Course was developed to support physicians and other healthcare providers tasked with providing medical oversight to EMS systems operating in a variety of wilderness environments. The Wilderness EMS Medical Director course operates under the dual support of the National Association of EMS Physicians® and the Wilderness Medical Society™. This course will particularly appeal to physicians responsible for medical oversight of search and rescue teams, technical rescue teams, ski patrols, disaster teams, and EMS systems responding to remote or wilderness areas. However, a central tenet of the Course is that all operational areas may have characteristics of austere medical care at some time, and that medical directors need to be as flexible as field caregivers in addressing those situations.

Speakers

Benjamin Abo

Director, EM/EMS Physician & Toxinologist, WEMSMDC & Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Dept. of Emergency Medicine

Dr. Abo is an EMS and emergency physician and toxinologist currently practicing in Naples, Florida and is an assistant professor for Florida State University School of Medicine. He currently is medical director for Gainesville Fire Rescue, Sanibel Fire Rescue, Captiva Fire Rescue... Read More →

Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins

Medical Advisor, North Carolina Outward Bound School, SCA, REI

Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins, a physician board certified in both emergency medicine and EMS and a Master Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, is a frequent WRMC lecturer. He is REI, SCA, and NC Outward Bound School’s medical advisor and Wilderness Medicine Magazine’s executive... Read More →

Tuesday October 18, 2022 8:00am - Wednesday October 19, 2022 5:00pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

3:00pm EDT

Link to view recording - Adventure Risk Research Symposium (4th annual)

The 4th Annual Adventure Risk Research Symposium, Chaired by Dr. Jeff Jackson and Dr. Clare Dallat, connects researchers and shares findings from those working on adventure and wilderness risk & safety research.

Link to view the recording.
Passcode: p3.%@.x7

Speakers

Dr. Jeff Jackson

Professor, Coordinator, Algonquin College

Jeff Jackson, Ph.D., is an award-winning educator and longtime contributor to the WRMC, introducing concepts such as sensemaking and systems planning. Jeff is a professor and coordinator of Algonquin College's Outdoor Adventure guide training diploma, where he oversees 10,000 student... Read More →

Dr. Clare Dallat

Founder and Director, Risk Resolve

Dr. Clare Dallat is the founder and director of Risk Resolve, a service that provides educational and risk management services for schools, organisations, and government agencies across Australia, the United States, Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Clare has a Ph.D. in Engineering Psychology... Read More →

Tuesday October 18, 2022 3:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Online link in Event Description

Pre-Conference

8:00am EDT

Full Pre-Conference Contemporary Incident Analysis Method Training - Learning Accimap

This pre-conference workshop is full. Please do not add to your schedule.

Accidents in outdoor and adventure programs are caused by multiple interacting, and contributory factors. This workshop will provide you with the capability, principles and tools to perform system-wide analyses in your own organisation. The Accimap method (Rasmussen, 1997) has been used to analyse accidents in multiple domains including aviation, patient safety, outdoor education, terrorism, and marine safety. You’ll leave with a detailed understanding of how to plan, conduct and communicate your findings to a range of organisational audiences.

Speakers

Dr. Clare Dallat

Founder and Director, Risk Resolve

Professor Paul Salmon

Professor, Human Factors, University Of Sunshine coast

Paul M. Salmon is a professor in Human Factors and is the director of the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Paul has over 21 years’ experience of applied safety research in areas such as transport, defence, sport and outdoor... Read More →

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Stuart serves as the Senior Director of Risk and Safety at the Student Conservation Association, where he also represents the SCA on the WRMC steering committee. Prior to serving with the SCA, Stuart directed Chadwick International School’s Outdoor Education Program in South Korea... Read More →

Wednesday October 19, 2022 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Emerald I

Pre-Conference

8:00am EDT

FULL Pre-Conference Understanding White Dominant Culture in Outdoor Organizations

THIS SESSION IS FULL - PLEASE DO NOT ADD TO YOUR SCHEDULE

Pre-Conference - Additional cost $50
Go beyond a baseline understanding of white privilege and begin to understand the subtle ways white culture informs your organization’s approach to risk management. This work allows us to study our internal landscapes, engage in community dialogue, and reflect on our workplaces. By grappling with difficult and sometimes uncomfortable ideas, we will grow as inclusive risk managers. We’ll bring new awareness and specific action ideas back to our organizations, in service of more just communities.

Speakers

Lindsay Babbitt

Catlin Gabel School

I reside and work on the present and ancestral lands of the Chinook, Cowlitz, Tualatin Kalapuya, Kathlamet, Atfalati, and Clackamas people.Lindsay Babbitt is annually reenergized by the community of people at the WRMC. She has led youth outdoor programming and conservation crews all... Read More →

Wednesday October 19, 2022 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

8:00am EDT

Pre-Conference Foundations of Stress Injury and Awareness

Pre-Conference - Additional cost $160
The landscape of stress impact and injury in the outdoor industry continues to evolve in the face of climate, political, technology and global stressors. This course offers an overview of 4 tools utilized in the outdoor industry to name, normalize and mitigate depletion and traumatic stress as it occurs. This course will review new innovations and established tools for organizations to identify organizational stress, impact, empower staff to support individual recognition and mitigation of stress, and equip staff and leadership to respond to major incident and internal stressors frequently occuring in the outdoor industry. This course contains an overview of tools for newcomers to the stress injury conversation in the outdoors, or those looking to deepen their understanding or apply the tools to their own organizations or staff trainings.

Speakers

Amber Barnett

Director of Program and Safety, Colorado Outward Bound

Amber is the Program and Safety Director at the Colorado Outward Bound School and has been working for national and international OB schools since 2006, including a long stint with Outward Bound Australia as an Instructor, Trainer, and Training Manager. For the last eight years she... Read More →

Wednesday October 19, 2022 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Valcour Room Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

1:00pm EDT

Full RMIS: A Deep Dive

This course is Full - please do not add to your schedule.

Full Pre-Conference Building a Risk Management Information System (RMIS): A Deep Dive into analyzing Contributing Factors and Mitigating Factors through Incident Database Tracking and Business Analytics Tools

Implementing a Systems Thinking risk management approach requires a comprehensive incident data collection methodology. Good data provides trend analysis to identify the contributing factors and mitigating factors that lead to actionable insights for prevention. Learn to integrate Safety I and Safety II methodologies through case study analyses and hands-on practice with on-line incident data. Learn how to use business analytics tools to build interactive accident analyses charts and graphs and graphical accident causation models.

Speakers

Rick Curtis

Founder and CEO, IncidentAnalytix.com & OutdoorEd.com

Rick Curtis has served as Director of the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University for the past 40 years. He is the author of The Backpacker's Field Manual, the founder of OutdoorEd.com, one of the premiere web resources for outdoor educators, and the principal architect of... Read More →

Wednesday October 19, 2022 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Shelburne Room Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

1:00pm EDT

Pre-Conference "And the Winner Is...(?) Hot Issues, Hot Cases""

Pre-Conference - Additional cost $175
In this interactive session, Cathy and Reb will ask attendees to consider several 2021-22 court opinions addressing significant industry legal issues. Participants will consider - and attack or defend - conflicting arguments pertaining to, for example: the legal duty of care owed to participants, including minors, and factors that can create, change or eliminate that duty; inherent risks and assumption of risks; contracts, including releases; the impact of standards, practices or laws, and other issues.

Speakers

Catherine (Cathy) Hansen-Stamp

Attorney (Of Counsel), Crestpoint

ABOUTCatherine Hansen-Stamp is an attorney in Golden, Colorado, recently affiliating to serve Of Counsel with CrestPoint Law. Cathy just completed two terms serving as a member of the WRMC Steering Committee, stepping down in 2021. She advises recreation and adventure providers on... Read More →

Reb Gregg

Attorney, Reb Gregg Attorney at Law

Reb Gregg is a practicing attorney in Houston, Texas, specializing in managing the risks of legal liability in recreation and adventure programs. He is a frequent speaker and author in the field. He serves on the risk management committees of a number of organizations, and as attorney... Read More →

Wednesday October 19, 2022 1:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Carleton Boardroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

4:00pm EDT

New Attendee and Affinity Space Orientation - No pre-registration required - Free

It's been a while since we've been in person, so a little orientation will help us all make the most of the networking and learning available at the conference. Feeling overwhelmed by the “ Sched” or unsure how to interpret workshop descriptions? Curious about how to make the most of your time at the conference, or leaning about our affinity group spaces? You’re not alone! Want to meet a few folks who can help show you around and be a friendly face?

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this helpful session.

Join members of the WRMC Steering Committee for an orientation. We'll break into small groups, go over the schedule and event options, offer tips, help you identify workshops that will help you meet your goals, and answer any other questions. You'll also have the chance to meet other attendees and make connections before the opening reception. We hope to see you there!

Conference Assist

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Frances Mock is an attorney specializing in risk management and claims management for wilderness and experiential education programs. She is counsel to NOLS, Outward Bound, SCA, LL Bean’s Outdoor Discovery School, and other clients providing advice about enrollment materials, medical... Read More →

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Mike Pigg

OBUSA Director of Risk and Safety, (WRMC Steering Committee Chair) Outward Bound USA

Mike Pigg has been involved in the experiential education industry for over 20 years as an educator, trainer, and administrator. He has a long history with Outward Bound Australia where he served for several years as the Safety Director and then General Manager. In addition, his experience... Read More →

Rafael Rosa

Chief Program Officer, American Conservation Experience

Rafael Rosa joined ACE in 2020 as Chief Program Officer. Previously he spent six years with the Student Conservation Association as a Regional Vice President for Partnerships (RVP) and Senior VP of Program. As an RVP his team was responsible for all SCA partnerships in a 16 state... Read More →

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Wednesday October 19, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall - Ground Floor Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Pre-Conference

5:00pm EDT

Poster Session #1 All Posters

Participant Survey

Posters are on display for the duration of the conference. Presenters will have sessions for interacting with attendees. This is session #1
Poster Topics:
Poster #1: Cultivating a Strong Safety Culture in Your Organization With a Culture Safe Survey Cultivating a good workplace safety and health (WSH) culture goes beyond general safety infrastructure, competencies, and legal requirements. How can you gain insight on your organization and employees’ mindsets towards safety and evaluate your safety beliefs, values, and practices? Findings from a safety culture survey will allow organizations to leverage on strengths and close safety gaps by implementing intervention strategies to transform safety mindsets and behaviors, and improve compliance and safety performance. Presenters - Ms. Elaida Gacad, Mr. Khee Meng Loh

Poster #2: Developing safety competence among arctic guides in Iceland, Svalbard and Greenland- With limited research on tourist safety in the Arctic, the research contributes to the field of safety, tourism, and education by giving an overview on safety education among guides in Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland. The studies reveal features of arctic guiding program curriculums, yet, give a unique insight into program facilitations across the Arctic region. The purpose of the study is to critically evaluate programs content and teaching methods in developing safety competence among future adventure guides working in the Arctic. Presenter - Barbara Olga Horyn

Poster #3: The impact of social affiliations post-accident: relationships that help and hinder - This presentation will report the findings from a study that explored how individuals injured in a wilderness accident, on scene or part of the rescue/response, or impacted by the misfortune of a friend or family members' involvement in an accident coped. Multiple social memberships and affiliations either become a source of support or hinder the recovery process in light of a tragedy. This presentation will explore these realities, identify themes, and present recommendations. Presenter - Kelli McMahan

Poster #4: Medical Screening for Wilderness Courses - Being in the wilderness has inherent risks. While striving for maximum participation for a national outdoor program, there is a fine balance between what is acceptable and unacceptable risk thresholds. This will share how Outward Bound Singapore screens thousands of its annual participants for its outdoor adventure education program. Presenters - Jaffar Ali, Allen Goh

Poster #5: “Level Up” Your Incident Review Process -An Incident Review process is a core element of any organization’s risk management plan. At it’s best, Incident Review is a powerful tool for improving safety and learning from past experiences; at its worst, Incident Review is a tedious task that yields few new insights. In this presentation, we’ll examine best practices for incorporating in-depth case studies of select incidents into your existing Incident Review process, with an eye towards generating tangible, meaningful improvements.
Risk Management: Using Reflection as an Emotional Check-In Presenters - Nate Greason, Annie Duryea

Poster #6: ISO 21101 Adventure Tourism Safety and You - What is ISO 21101, the international standard for Adventure Tourism Safety Management Systems? And why should I care? This standard is being rapidly adopted around the world as a best practice. From New Zealand to India and Switzerland, governments are considering requiring certain outdoor and wilderness programs to conform. We’ll examine the standard, its strengths and potential weaknesses. Participants will understand how the standard can benefit their wilderness or adventure program. Presenters - Jeff Baierlein

Poster #7: Risk Management: Using Reflection as an Emotional Check-In
This presentation focuses on the use of written reflection early in an outdoor adventure/wilderness trip as a risk assessment tool to assess three important emotional issues (fears, feelings, fun) among participants. Review of reflections can provide a vehicle for leaders to address emotions, reduce/resolve fears, and build cohesion using active listening and open-ended questions. These tools reduce the likelihood that leaders will be blindsided by unexpected safety and behavioral concerns, while enhancing safety and rapport. Presenters - Alexander Rhue

Speakers

Jaffar Ali Mohamed Ismail

Outdoor Nurse Practitioner, Outward Bound Singapore

Jaffar is a Registered Nurse in Singapore with experience in Anaesthesia (Major OT), Intensive Care Unit, Aero-Medical and Land Evacuations and Outdoor Sports. He is currently working as an Outdoor Nurse Practitioner in OBS and has a keen interest in Sports Medicine

Barbara Olga Horyn

PHD Student, University of Iceland

Enhancing tourist safety Ph.D. student from the University of Iceland. With the experience of working as an outdoor education in the USA, Asia and Europe, and guiding groups of guests both on land and water in Iceland, Svalbard, Greenland and Antarctica, I started my phd to explore... Read More →

Khee Meng Loh

Assistant Director(Operations Management), Outward Bound Singapore (National Youth Council, Singapore)

Khee Meng is a Master Instructor and Assistant Director in the OBS Operations Management team. In his 15 years with OBS, he has been a Team Manager, taking care of a team of Instructors in the quality and safety of their program conduct, and Training Consultant, designing programs... Read More →

Annie Duryea

Director of Trip Planning, Overland

Annie is a member of the Logistics Team, as well as the Risk Management Team, at Overland. Part of this work includes is being responsible for designing safe, fun, and worthwhile experiences for students of all ages. The Risk Management Team is thrilled to be attending and presenting... Read More →

Luke Costley

Assistant Director of Admissions, Overland Summers

Luke Costleyhe/himLuke is a member of the year-round team at Overland Summers. As a college student, he led trips for Overland during their summer seasons, leading hiking trips in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone region, and then leading bike tours, from Seattle to San Francisco, and... Read More →

Elaida Gacad (she/her)

Manager (Safety and Quality Audit), Outward Bound Singapore

Elaida Gacad has been an occupational health and safety professional for 5 years and is working with Outward Bound Singapore (OBS). She works with a team that researches, plans, strategizes, develops, and recommends safety management policies, procedures and practices in a governance... Read More →

Kelli McMahan

Associate Clinical Professor, Baylor University

Kelli McMahan is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation at Baylor University. She teaches concentration classes in outdoor recreation and coordinates the outdoor leadership emphasis area. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. McMahan... Read More →

Allen Goh

Senior Manager (Partnership Management), Outward Bound Singapore

A Senior Manager with Outward Bound Singapore, Allen currently manages the enrollment process that is part of the Singapore’s national initiative to enroll some 40,000 youths annually into the OBS program. He drives the process review from physical registration management to integrate... Read More →

Nate Greason

Assistant Director of Trip Planning and Risk Management, Overland Summers

Nate has led outdoor programs for students in the Canadian Rockies, Montana, and across Europe. Now, as a member of Overland's year round staff, and co-leader of Overland's Risk Management team, Nate works to design safe an effective programs, and to continuously improve Overland's... Read More →

Jeff Baierlein

Director, Viristar

Jeff Baierlein has been leading outdoor program risk management trainings since 1997. He served as Executive Director of the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center and the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education, and has led multiple wilderness expeditions. Jeff is an AEE... Read More →

Conference Assist

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Wednesday October 19, 2022 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall - Ground Floor Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Poster Session

6:30pm EDT

Opening Session - Welcome and Presentation of the Reb Gregg Award

Steering Committee Member Chair Mike Pigg opening remarks to WRMC! Presentation of this years winner, Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Esq. will receive the Charles (Reb) Gregg Wilderness Risk Management Award for significant contributions to the field of risk management in outdoor education and adventure professions.

Speakers

Mike Pigg

OBUSA Director of Risk and Safety, (WRMC Steering Committee Chair) Outward Bound USA

Reb Gregg

Attorney, Reb Gregg Attorney at Law

Conference Assist

Sadie Norton (she/her)

Field Instructor & Logistics Assistant, Cottonwood Institute

NOLS, WRMC Volunteer Coordinator - Childrens Hospital of Colorado Emergency Department, EMT, Aurora, CO - Cottonwood Institute, Field Instructor and Logistics Assistant, JEDI Committee and Risk Management Committee Member, Denver, CO - Emergency Medical Solutions Unlimited, Field... Read More →

Wednesday October 19, 2022 6:30pm - 7:30pm EDT
Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall - Ground Floor Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

8:30am EDT

CORE - Crisis Management: A Preplan in Action

Participant Survey

Responding to a crisis, such as a participant fatality, presents a complex situation that demands a thoughtful and reasoned response. This workshop will provide attendees with an overview of the five elements of successful crisis management, begin to delve into the complexities of responding to crisis situations through the presenter's personal and professional experience while providing a forum for exchanging ideas and sharing experiences of the audience. Additionally this workshop will provide a starting point for creating a crisis management plan.

Speakers

Drew Leemon

Risk Management Director, NOLS

Drew Leemon, director of risk management at NOLS, began his career in outdoor education in 1979 and has held his current position since 1996. He is a past chair of the Wilderness Risk Managers Committee and is on the Steering Committee for the Wilderness Risk Management Conference... Read More →

Katie Baum Mettenbrink

Associate Operations Director, NOLS

Katie has worked in outdoor education since 1999. Today she is the associate operations director at NOLS, supporting teams at NOLS campus locations around the world. Before landing in her current role, she led NOLS Risk Services, chaired the WRMC Steering Committee, oversaw staffing... Read More →

Conference Assist

Bond Lammey

Student, NC State University PRTSM

I'm currently in my first year of a two year graduate school program at NC State in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Management. I completed my WFR through NOLS in summer 2022. I work as a fundraising consultant, but am hoping to transition into a career in the outdoor industry... Read More →

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Thursday October 20, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response, CORE

8:30am EDT

A Systemic Approach to Heat Injury Management

Participant Survey

Heat injury can occur any time in any outdoor activity. If left unchecked, heat injuries can escalate quickly and result in emergencies. How can we be prepared to prevent and respond to them? Look at how one organisation learnt from a heat injury near miss and adopted a systemic approach to heat injury management.

Speakers

James Quah

Assistant Director, Medical Services & Training, Outward Bound Singapore NYC

James is a Registered Nurse in Singapore, with experience in critical care, emergency, neurology, military, flight and motor sports medicine. He is currently the Chairperson of the Critical Care Nurses Chapter in Singapore and has a keen interest in Austere Medicine.

Lydia Tang

Senior Manager, Operational Safety Management, Outward Bound Singapore

Lydia has been a staff of Outward Bound Singapore for 6 years. Progressing from an instructor to the position of a Senior Manager in the Operational Safety Management Unit, she has a fair share of experience in conducting outdoor adventure learning programs as well as managing policies... Read More →

Conference Assist

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Megan Carter (she/her)

Mountain Recreation

I am the Outdoor Recreation Programs Supervisor for Mountain Recreation, the municipal recreation district for Western Eagle County, CO and we partner with the non-profit SOS Outreach to offer a variety of programs and services to our community. I oversee our Outdoor Programs Department... Read More →

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Thursday October 20, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Field Practices

8:30am EDT

How to Care Less

Participant Survey

This workshop looks at impermanence and how it relates to being an educator or administrator for a school or outdoor program. Experiential and outdoor educators are passionate, loving, and caring people. That includes YOU. Your caring provides incredible programming and builds lasting connections, AND... sometimes caring too much can negatively effective you and your group. Sometimes you need to care less. This workshop give you some tools to do just that.

Speakers

Paul Dreyer

CEO, Avid4 Adventure

Paul Dreyer, a self-proclaimed "mercenary educator," has had the opportunity to work with numerous organizations, including NOLS, Where There Be Dragons, High Mountain Institute, and the Watershed School. Paul has worked throughout the world as a facilitator, curriculum designer... Read More →

Conference Assist

Mari Houck

Yellowstone Recruitment Coordinator, Ecology Project International

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Moleek is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. A jack of all trades and master of some, he started his career in trail work with the California Conservation Corps. After college and some music projects in Chico, California, Moleek moved back to the SF Bay Area where he got... Read More →

Thursday October 20, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Mental/Social/Emotional Health

8:30am EDT

CORE - Progress not Perfection: Integrating DEI into your Risk Management Plan

Participant Survey

Taylor Feldman of Experiential Consulting, and Wendell Britt, “Mastering the Game of Allyship”, will help you to WAKE UP to the emergent issues at the intersection of Outdoor Risk Management and Diversity and Inclusion, CLEAN UP the cultural shadows getting in the way of being effective in these domains, provide a framework of relevant values and skills to GROW UP in effectiveness so you can SHOW UP effectively to your users.

Speakers

Taylor Feldman

Associate Consultant, Experiential Consulting

Taylor Feldman is an Associate Consultant with Experiential Consulting who is passionate about risk-aware adventuring, mountaineering, foraging, dancing, fermenting, and forest-bathing. Based in Portland, OR, she has a decade-long career as a wilderness instructor and has led teams... Read More →

Wendell Britt

Founder, Integral Emergence

Wendell Britt Jr. is a life coach, dungeon master, writer and storyteller and game designer with a passion for mixing the best of psychological technologies, developmental psychology and roleplaying games to help people break through patterns of stuckness and create a life they want... Read More →

Conference Assist

Abbie Siecinski

Young Adult Program Coordinator, Venture Outdoors

Greg Poulton

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator, Catlin Gabel School

Outdoor Education, Wilderness Therapy and Environmental Restoration have been the 3 prongs of my career. I strive to help others enjoy nature while improving their health and the health of our natural ecosystems. In addition to backpacking, boating and snowboarding, I am a strong... Read More →

Rafael Rosa

Chief Program Officer, American Conservation Experience

Thursday October 20, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Program Administration, CORE

8:30am EDT

Managing Risk with Productive Learning Environments: What We Can Learn from Marketing Executives and Classroom Teachers

Participant Survey

When you only have a few days in the field with students, it’s crucial to establish an inclusive learning environment to deliver material and manage risk effectively. This presentation will cover best practices for creating effective, inclusive lesson plans that meet learners’ needs and contribute to better risk management throughout a program. Participants will finish the session with a template and concrete strategies for building productive learning environments in the classroom and the field.

Speakers

Liz Riggs Meder

Director - Recreation Programs, AIARE

Liz is based in Seattle and is responsible for the development and delivery of AIARE’s Recreational Education programs, which includes curriculum development, managing the instructor training program, and overall program delivery and evaluation. Liz is an AIARE Instructor, occasionally... Read More →

Emma Walker

Curriculum Manager, AIARE

Emma Walker brings a decade of outdoor education experience to her AIARE Curriculum Manager role and holds a master’s degree in outdoor and environmental education from Alaska Pacific University, where she completed her thesis research on decision-making dynamics among Denali guides... Read More →

Conference Assist

Brandolyn Thran

Associate Director and Science Advisor, Nevada Outdoor School

Brandolyn grew up in Alaska, and moved to Nevada to attend University of Nevada, Reno. She loves to laugh and take the back roads in her 2002 GMC renovated Mini-School bus named Hank the Hope Bus. Brandolyn entered outdoor education as an AmeriCorps Naturalist at Nevada Outdoor... Read More →

Julia Rogers

President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Julia Rogers is a business owner, experiential education expert, writer and speaker from Stowe, Vermont. As the founder of EnRoute Consulting, Julia oversees a social enterprise dedicated to fueling the gap year movement and developing a generation of compassionate, driven and resourceful... Read More →

Mike Pigg

OBUSA Director of Risk and Safety, (WRMC Steering Committee Chair) Outward Bound USA

Thursday October 20, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Emerald I

Staff Training & Decision Making

10:30am EDT

A Case Study in Child Protection & Aftermath Lessons of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Participant Survey

Come learn from a case study involving a sexual misconduct allegation and how a series of events can rapidly put your organization in a critical situation. The lessons learned from this case study will help prepare your own organization for conscientious cross gender interactions, creating respectful relationships with minors and what to do if those boundaries are broken, minors are made to feel uncomfortable, and allegations are filed.

Speakers

Peter Mayfield

Executive Director, Gateway Mountain Center

Peter Mayfield - Founder and Executive Director of Gateway Mountain Center, a youth development organization. For over 40 years, he has traversed a trajectory from world-class climber to Chief Guide of the Yosemite Mountaineering School to founder of CityRock – the first full service... Read More →

Cali Fraser

Program Director, Gateway Mountain Center

Cali Fraser has spent years practicing wilderness medicine in the Sierra Nevada and abroad as a Wilderness EMT. She is passionate about training people to engage in thoughtful decision making with a safety minded approach to wilderness adventure.Cali is the Chief Guide at Gateway... Read More →

Conference Assist

Bond Lammey

Student, NC State University PRTSM

Katie Baum Mettenbrink

Associate Operations Director, NOLS

Mari Houck

Yellowstone Recruitment Coordinator, Ecology Project International

Thursday October 20, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Emerald I

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response

10:30am EDT

Trauma-sensitive care in the field

Participant Survey

The primary focus of this experiential, skills-based workshop is to discuss and notice our nervous system and to practice ways to protect and restore it’s natural balance.
Using trauma-informed and resiliency-focused methods, we will discuss the everyday impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system, how resiliency can be restored or increased, and how this impacts risk management in the field for both facilitators and guides, as well as participants.

Speakers

Misty Blakesley

Emergence and Therapeutic Adventure Program Manager, The Mountain Center

Misty Blakesley works at the Mountain Center in Tewa Territories with Native American communities, survivors of violence, folks in recovery, people in the juvenile justice system and others. She encourages healing and growth through connection with the natural world. She is a mentor... Read More →

Christian Sommer

Therapeutic Adventure Program Manager, The Mountain Center

Christian is from Santa Fe, NM, and began working at the Mountain Center in 2013, after a several year stint living in Brooklyn wondering why people live in cities. He has a lifelong background in wandering around in the desert and in the mountains, and enjoys producing music and... Read More →

Conference Assist

Andrea Kane

Founder and Lead Instructor, Train NEK

Andrea Kane has more than two decades of experience leading outdoor trips, teaching wilderness medicine, and volunteering on rural EMS and fire departments. She offers SOLO backcountry medicine courses through her business, Train NEK, and is always interested in hearing about advancements... Read More →

Mike Pigg

OBUSA Director of Risk and Safety, (WRMC Steering Committee Chair) Outward Bound USA

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Thursday October 20, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Field Practices

10:30am EDT

CORE - Legal Issues 101: The Basics You Need to Know

Participant Survey

You know a lot about operating your program. How much do you know about the legal issues? This presentation provides an overview of the basics: what to tell participants when collecting medical information, what you shouldn’t say in your marketing materials, what to do with releases after you collect them, the primary legal issues to address immediately after a serious incident, what indemnity is and why you should care, what discoverability is, and other topics.

Speakers

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Conference Assist

Adrienne Ross

Adventure-Based Mental Health Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project

Brandolyn Thran

Associate Director and Science Advisor, Nevada Outdoor School

Thursday October 20, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Legal and Insurance, CORE

10:30am EDT

CORE - Exclusive Spaces: Managing Inherent Risks of Racism in Outdoor Spaces

Participant Survey

With 20 years of experience traveling in predominantly white outdoor spaces as People of Color, City Kids continues to develop a holistic approach to reducing the risk of emotional or physical harm to participants and staff through program design, staff training, incident mitigation and response. This presentation aims to provide a framework and replicable tools for other organizations.

Speakers

Meena Fernald

Associate Director of Programs, City Kids Wilderness Project

Meena Fernald is the Associate Program Director for City Kids Wilderness Project, serving as a program leader in program management, staff training, risk management, and curriculum development. She has been with City Kids since 2016 in a variety of roles. Meena has been working with... Read More →

Colleen McHugh

Director of Programs, City Kids

Colleen McHugh is the Director of Programs for City Kids Wilderness Project, serving as an organizational leader in program management, staff training, risk management, and curriculum development. They have been with City Kids since 2009 in a variety of roles. Colleen began their... Read More →

Arii Sylvers

Program Associate, City Kids

Arii Sylvers is originally from Tucson, AZ and current serves as Program Associate for City Kids Wilderness Project in Washington, DC. While minoring in secondary education at Howard University, she identified a passion for youth development that lead her to connect with City Kids... Read More →

Conference Assist

Greg Poulton

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator, Catlin Gabel School

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Thursday October 20, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Mental/Social/Emotional Health, CORE

10:30am EDT

Applying lessons learned from Commonly Misunderstood or Unmet AEE Accreditation Standards to your Organization

Participant Survey

In this workshop participants will review commonly unmet or misunderstood AEE accreditation standards in the areas of program oversight/management of activities, human resources, transportation, equipment/nutrition/hygiene, and activity specific standards and use these trends to improve the organizations they work in.

Speakers

Dr. Dana Maureen (Maurie) Lung

CEO, Life Adventures Counseling & Consulting

D. Maurie Lung, PhD., LMHC, LMFT, integrates 30 years of experience in recreation, education, psychology, and evaluation. She is the CEO of Life Adventures Counseling and Director of Prescott College’s Adventure-based/Nature-based Counseling. Additionally, she has served on program... Read More →

Conference Assist

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Megan Carter (she/her)

Mountain Recreation

Thursday October 20, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Program Administration

12:00pm EDT

BIPOC Affinity Space

Overall Description
Affinity Spaces are offered for people with common backgrounds and experiences to come together to connect, learn, and support each other. Identity breakout groups create space for empowerment, affirmation, and a sharing of personal narrative that we all so desperately need. With the goal of creating community and connection for identities that have experienced historical disinvestment, our hope is to offer a meaningful shared experience that aims to amplify diverse voices and lived experiences and support sustainable and substantive change in service of striving for equity and justice.

Note - these spaces are designed for individuals who identify as members of the communities underneath these categorical umbrellas. They are not spaces intended for allies of these communities.

We recognize that many folks hold multiple identities / competing schedules. The three Affinity Space choices will include BIPOC, Queer/Trans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

BIPOC
Come join the BIPOC affinity space on Thursday and Friday during lunch time 12:00pm to 1:30pm. We are excited to connect WRMC BIPOC attendees for conversation and reflection! Bring your own food and come for as long as you’d like!
Lastly, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Friday, you are invited to meet one final time, and discuss and share your feedback with the WRMC as we look to improve and elevate for 2023.

Location: We will be in Emerald Promenade on all three occasions.

Conference Assist

Michael Davis

National Program Manager, YMCA Bold & Gold

Excited about getting all types of people outside in all types of activities.

Thursday October 20, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

12:00pm EDT

Individuals with Disabilities Affinity Space

Overall Description
Affinity Spaces are offered for people with common backgrounds and experiences to come together to connect, learn, and support each other. Identity breakout groups create space for empowerment, affirmation, and a sharing of personal narrative that we all so desperately need. With the goal of creating community and connection for identities that have experienced historical disinvestment, our hope is to offer a meaningful shared experience that aims to amplify diverse voices and lived experiences and support sustainable and substantive change in service of striving for equity and justice.

Note - these spaces are designed for individuals who identify as members of the communities underneath these categorical umbrellas. They are not spaces intended for allies of these communities.

We recognize that many folks hold multiple identities / competing schedules. The three Affinity Space choices will include BIPOC, Queer/Trans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
Individuals with Disabilities

Individuals with Disabilities
Come join Individuals with Disabilities affinity space on Thursday and Friday during lunch time 12:00pm to 1:30pm. We are excited to connect WRMC attendees with seen and unseen disabilities for conversation and reflection. Bring your own food and come for as long as you’d like!
Lastly, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Friday, you are invited to meet one final time, and discuss and share your feedback with the WRMC as we look to improve and elevate for 2023.

Location: We will be in room Carleton on all three occasions.

Conference Assist

Elyse Rylander

Manager Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Quality Bicycle Products

Thursday October 20, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Carleton Boardroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

12:00pm EDT

LGBTQIA+ Affinity Space

Overall Description
Affinity Spaces are offered for people with common backgrounds and experiences to come together to connect, learn, and support each other. Identity breakout groups create space for empowerment, affirmation, and a sharing of personal narrative that we all so desperately need. With the goal of creating community and connection for identities that have experienced historical disinvestment, our hope is to offer a meaningful shared experience that aims to amplify diverse voices and lived experiences and support sustainable and substantive change in service of striving for equity and justice.

Note - these spaces are designed for individuals who identify as members of the communities underneath these categorical umbrellas. They are not spaces intended for allies of these communities.

We recognize that many folks hold multiple identities / competing schedules. The three Affinity Space choices will include BIPOC, Queer/Trans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

LGBTQIA+
Come join the LGBTQIA+ affinity space on Thursday and Friday during lunch time 12:00pm to 1:30pm. This space is for connection and community building for LGBTQIA+, non-binary and trans WRMC community members. Bring your own food and come for as long as you’d like!
Lastly, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Friday, you are invited to meet one final time, and discuss and share your feedback with the WRMC as we look to improve and elevate for 2023.

Location: We will be in the Kingsland Room on all three occasions.

Conference Assist

Colleen McHugh

Director of Programs, City Kids

Thursday October 20, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Kingsland Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

1:30pm EDT

Crisis Management: Emotional Support for Participants, Staff, and Families

Participant Survey

Reflecting your organization's value and concern during a crisis and in the aftermath is a key to serving affected participants, staff, and their families, who are struggling to cope. Learn how to create a response that will directly aid affected staff and participants in and out of the field and work with families as they cope with uncertainty. This workshop will provide attendees with practical experience and guidelines to support staff in the field, train family liaisons, and how to define organizational norms that will support participants, staff, and families during and after an incident.

Speakers

Suellen Sack

Need Updated Bio

Conference Assist

Julia Rogers

President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Katie Baum Mettenbrink

Associate Operations Director, NOLS

Megan Carter (she/her)

Mountain Recreation

Thursday October 20, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Emerald I

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response

1:30pm EDT

Wilderness Medicine Update

Participant Survey

Like all evidence-driven disciplines, wilderness medicine continues to rapidly evolve. This fast-paced session will update participants on the most recent advances in field medical care, including a review of the new 2022 Wilderness Medical Society anaphylaxis guidelines; a review of the initiation of the first-ever US Forest Service EMS project and its implications for risk management; a discussion of ways medical anthropology and public health evolutions are influencing JEDI decision-making in wilderness medicine; and more.

Speakers

Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins

Medical Advisor, North Carolina Outward Bound School, SCA, REI

Conference Assist

Andrea Kane

Founder and Lead Instructor, Train NEK

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Drew Leemon

Risk Management Director, NOLS

Thursday October 20, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Field Practices

1:30pm EDT

Stress Injury Mitigation: How to Set Up A Peer Support Network

Participant Survey

We know that stress injuries don’t happen necessarily from a single traumatic event: it can be a cumulative injury leading to burnout. This session will look at two models of Peer Support Networks aimed at mitigating stress injury formation: Paramedic Critical Incident Stress Program / Ears to Peers: wilderness therapy network. This session will go in detail on how to set one up in your organization including how to train your volunteers and recruit participants.

Speakers

Rumi Kodama

Paramedic/Wilderness Therapy Guide, Unaffiliated

Rumi is a paramedic in Vancouver, BC with roots in the outdoor/wilderness therapy industry in numerous roles for over 20 years from YMCA to BC Conservation Corps to NOLS and Outward Bound Canada and Alaska Crossings. Risk is inherent in everything we do and the power of bringing practices... Read More →

Conference Assist

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Thursday October 20, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Mental/Social/Emotional Health

1:30pm EDT

Duty of Care: Re-evaluating Our Core Responsibilities and Creating Future Opportunities

Participant Survey

As a result of the pandemic, organizational Duty of Care has evolved and status-quo is no longer acceptable to stakeholders. In this session, we’ll highlight four opportunities that emerged from our industry’s shared challenges that can create growth opportunities and improve risk management systems throughout travel programs. This educational session aims to create dialogue and challenge traditional methodologies to improve staff training, client engagement, and industry collaboration.

Speakers

Dave Dennis

Executive Director | RM & EM Specialist, Cornerstone Safety Group

Dave is co-founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Safety Group, an all-inclusive risk management, medical, and mental health services company for the travel and experiential education industries. With a master’s degree in risk management and 27 years of experience in tour... Read More →

Doug Stevens

Attorney, Caplan & Earnest LLC

Doug Stevens is a Boulder, Colorado attorney who has provided legal services to outdoor recreation and adventure travel organizations for many years. He has defended serious and high-profile personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Doug frequently assists clients with all facets... Read More →

Conference Assist

Greg Poulton

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator, Catlin Gabel School

Molly Mosenthal

MS Mental Health Counseling & Adventure Based Therapy, Prescott College - Student

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Thursday October 20, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Program Administration

1:30pm EDT

CORE - Performing Under Pressure: Using Brain Science to Improve Performance

Participant Survey

This session explores the inner workings of the brain, specifically in regard to how the brain functions--or doesn't function--under highly pressurized situations. By using research and case studies from a variety of disciplines--such as aviation, medicine, military, and the outdoors--this workshop will help participants learn what often happens when people find themselves in the middle of a worst-case-scenario.

Research repeatedly has shown that the brain has limited capacity under duress, and because no brain multitasks well in an emergency, organizations should recognize that stressed employees often make myriad field errors. This workshop provides not only useful information to limit surprises in emergencies, but it offers ideas and techniques to help individuals who are in highly pressurized situations calm down. Further, this workshop offers ideas for improving staff trainings and organizational expectations so that employees will perform as well as possible if that worst-case day ever arrives.

Speakers

Deb Ajango

Owner/Director, SafetyEd

Deb Ajango has written two books on safety-related topics and has presented nationally and internationally on risk management, emergency action planning, and wilderness medicine. She received WRMC's Charles (Reb) Gregg Award in 2012, and in 2014, she was awarded the Paul K. Petzoldt... Read More →

Conference Assist

Abbie Siecinski

Young Adult Program Coordinator, Venture Outdoors

Adrienne Ross

Adventure-Based Mental Health Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project

Michael Davis

National Program Manager, YMCA Bold & Gold

Excited about getting all types of people outside in all types of activities.

Thursday October 20, 2022 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Staff Training & Decision Making, CORE

3:00pm EDT

CORE - How to communicate bad news without freaking out your lawyer

Participant Survey

Communicating after a bad event – with family members, your staff, your stakeholders and the general public – is essential. You need to assist those impacted and manage the story in conventional and social media. Done properly, you can get the bad news over with quickly. Done poorly, however, you’ll anger survivors, their families and the public – setting yourself up for costly litigation and poor reputation. This session will help you understand how to do things correctly.

Speakers

Skip King

President, Reputation Strategies, LLC

Skip King has 30 years of public relations, crisis management, media training and marketing communications experience. As a former chief communications officer for an NYSE-listed company, he created and executed external and internal communications supporting explosive growth and... Read More →

Leah Corrigan

Managing Attorney, Recreation Law Group

Leah Corrigan is the Managing Attorney of Recreation Law Group, a legal and riskmanagement firm that advises and defends a wide variety of outdoor recreation businesses.Leah is an experienced litigator who has represented outdoor industry clients in seriouspersonal injury matters... Read More →

Conference Assist

Bond Lammey

Student, NC State University PRTSM

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Thursday October 20, 2022 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Emerald I

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response, CORE

3:00pm EDT

Challenges in Managing and Defending Employment Discrimination Claims in the Time of Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Participant Survey

• Since the Civil Rights Act of 1963, employees have been able to recover damages for unlawful discrimination. Since the murder of George Floyd, employers have sharpened their work and efforts around strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work-place. This work, important and long overdue, has complicated discrimination claims against employers. This presentation will highlight these complexities and how they are impacting discrimination claims and the handling of those claim, both internally and externally.

Speakers

Lach Zemp

Risk Management Officer, Outward Bound USA

Lach (pronounced "Lash") Zemp serves as the Risk Management Officer at Outward Bound, overseeing a range of risk management issues and claims for the Outward Bound Schools. Prior to joining Outward Bound, Lach practiced law for 30 years defending clients, including summer camps and... Read More →

Joe Vossen

Senior Resolutions Council, United Educators

Joe Vossen is senior claims counsel at United Educators, a member-owned risk retention group and the preeminent provider of insurance and risk management to educational institutions. He attended Kansas State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming... Read More →

Conference Assist

Brandolyn Thran

Associate Director and Science Advisor, Nevada Outdoor School

Elyse Rylander

Manager Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Quality Bicycle Products

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Molly Mosenthal

MS Mental Health Counseling & Adventure Based Therapy, Prescott College - Student

Thursday October 20, 2022 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Legal and Insurance

3:00pm EDT

Poster Session #2 All Posters

Participant Survey

Posters are on display for the duration of the conference. Presenters will have sessions for interacting with attendees. This is session #2
Poster Topics:
Poster #1: Cultivating a Strong Safety Culture in Your Organization With a Culture Safe Survey Cultivating a good workplace safety and health (WSH) culture goes beyond general safety infrastructure, competencies, and legal requirements. How can you gain insight on your organization and employees’ mindsets towards safety and evaluate your safety beliefs, values, and practices? Findings from a safety culture survey will allow organizations to leverage on strengths and close safety gaps by implementing intervention strategies to transform safety mindsets and behaviors, and improve compliance and safety performance.
Poster #2: Developing safety competence among arctic guides in Iceland, Svalbard and Greenland- With limited research on tourist safety in the Arctic, the research contributes to the field of safety, tourism, and education by giving an overview on safety education among guides in Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland. The studies reveal features of arctic guiding program curriculums, yet, give a unique insight into program facilitations across the Arctic region. The purpose of the study is to critically evaluate programs content and teaching methods in developing safety competence among future adventure guides working in the Arctic.
Poster #3: The impact of social affiliations post-accident: relationships that help and hinder - This presentation will report the findings from a study that explored how individuals injured in a wilderness accident, on scene or part of the rescue/response, or impacted by the misfortune of a friend or family members' involvement in an accident coped. Multiple social memberships and affiliations either become a source of support or hinder the recovery process in light of a tragedy. This presentation will explore these realities, identify themes, and present recommendations.
Poster #4: Medical Screening for Wilderness Courses - Being in the wilderness has inherent risks. While striving for maximum participation for a national outdoor program, there is a fine balance between what is acceptable and unacceptable risk thresholds. This will share how Outward Bound Singapore screens thousands of its annual participants for its outdoor adventure education program.
Poster #5: “Level Up” Your Incident Review Process -An Incident Review process is a core element of any organization’s risk management plan. At it’s best, Incident Review is a powerful tool for improving safety and learning from past experiences; at its worst, Incident Review is a tedious task that yields few new insights. In this presentation, we’ll examine best practices for incorporating in-depth case studies of select incidents into your existing Incident Review process, with an eye towards generating tangible, meaningful improvements.
Risk Management: Using Reflection as an Emotional Check-In
Poster #6: ISO 21101 Adventure Tourism Safety and You - What is ISO 21101, the international standard for Adventure Tourism Safety Management Systems? And why should I care? This standard is being rapidly adopted around the world as a best practice. From New Zealand to India and Switzerland, governments are considering requiring certain outdoor and wilderness programs to conform. We’ll examine the standard, its strengths and potential weaknesses. Participants will understand how the standard can benefit their wilderness or adventure program.
Poster #7: Risk Management: Using Reflection as an Emotional Check-In
This presentation focuses on the use of written reflection early in an outdoor adventure/wilderness trip as a risk assessment tool to assess three important emotional issues (fears, feelings, fun) among participants. Review of reflections can provide a vehicle for leaders to address emotions, reduce/resolve fears, and build cohesion using active listening and open-ended questions. These tools reduce the likelihood that leaders will be blindsided by unexpected safety and behavioral concerns, while enhancing safety and rapport.

Speakers

Jaffar Ali Mohamed Ismail

Outdoor Nurse Practitioner, Outward Bound Singapore

Barbara Olga Horyn

PHD Student, University of Iceland

Khee Meng Loh

Assistant Director(Operations Management), Outward Bound Singapore (National Youth Council, Singapore)

Annie Duryea

Director of Trip Planning, Overland

Luke Costley

Assistant Director of Admissions, Overland Summers

Elaida Gacad (she/her)

Manager (Safety and Quality Audit), Outward Bound Singapore

Kelli McMahan

Associate Clinical Professor, Baylor University

Allen Goh

Senior Manager (Partnership Management), Outward Bound Singapore

Nate Greason

Assistant Director of Trip Planning and Risk Management, Overland Summers

Jeff Baierlein

Director, Viristar

Conference Assist

Adrienne Ross

Adventure-Based Mental Health Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project

Thursday October 20, 2022 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall - Ground Floor Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Poster Session

3:00pm EDT

Is Safety Really Your "Top Priority?" Clarifying Organizational Risk Tolerance

Participant Survey

It's easy for a program to say "Safety is Our Top Priority!" ... but safety means different things to different people. If you are not explicit about your program's actual risk tolerance, you can end up over-promising safety in ways that enlarge your liability, or create inconsistencies from one activity to the next. This interactive workshop will help you understand the benefits of crafting a risk statement for your organization, and learn from examples by other programs. Participants will leave with some clear action steps to bring the learning home to their organization.

Speakers

Steve Smith

Risk Management Consultant, Experiential Consulting, LLC

Steve Smith (he/him/his) is the founder of Experiential Consulting, LLC, specializing in risk management for outdoor programs and the lead author/editor of Beneficial Risks: The Evolution of Risk Management for Outdoor and Experiential Education Programs. After taking a NOLS course... Read More →

Conference Assist

Drew Leemon

Risk Management Director, NOLS

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Mari Houck

Yellowstone Recruitment Coordinator, Ecology Project International

Thursday October 20, 2022 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Program Administration

3:00pm EDT

Short Talk Series: 1. WM SOP, 2. Shared-Identity/LGBTQ+, 3.Psychotropic Meds, 4. Support vs. Coddling Push/Pull

Participant Survey

Includes four short 18-minute Ted-Talk style programs.

1. Wilderness Medicine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): This session will provide an introduction to the Wilderness Medicine Scope of Practice documents (SOPs) and the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative (WMEC). We will discuss the context for the existing SOPs, how they apply in the outdoor recreation and education realm, and what's on the agenda for the WMEC. Presenters - Richard Gates, Abby Rowe, Nadia Kimmel

2. By Us/For Us: Shared-Identity Spaces for LGBTQ+ Folks: Shared-identity spaces can be an effective and powerful tool for creating opportunities for folks from historically-marginalized backgrounds to connect with our mission, programs, and the outdoors. This workshop will focus on shared-identity spaces for LGBTQ+ folks, including: why we need shared-identity spaces, common barriers to participation in conservation and outdoor programs for LGBTQ+ folks, strategies for addressing these barriers, examples of successes and challenges, and an opportunity for workshop participants to plan next steps in creating more inclusive and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ people in their programs. Presenters - C. "rza" Allen

3. Psychotropic medications: Physiological concerns with environmental and outdoor recreation stressors:According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 18.5% of Americans are currently suffering from a mental health disorder and prescribed psychotropic medications. Unlike many of the traumatic injuries and acute illnesses your wilderness medical training has prepared you for, you WILL encounter participants who are taking psychotropic medications. Significant deleterious effects from some of these medications in the context of prolonged exertion, heat, hyponatremia, and/or dehydration are possible. Presenters - Kaen (kl) Lapides

4. Support Versus Coddling: When to Push and When to Pull Back When Trying to Grow Our Staff: Mental & emotional health has been on the forefront of all of our minds. During COVID, even more so. While camp is for the camper, our staff are the ones interacting & supporting them daily. What do we do when our staff cannot hold it together? What tools do we give them to be mentally & emotionally stable so they can support our campers’ wellbeing? How do we balance providing services for our staff, while also needing them to do their job? Come prepared to learn & share together. Presenters - Anne Izard, Stephen Mead, Jace Besold

Speakers

Kaen (kl) Lapides

Paramedic, WildMed Etrier LLC

Kaen (kl) Lapides is a paramedic living and working in Breckenridge, CO. She teaches wilderness medicine for several different organizations, including military and paramedic special contracts and for the Thomas Jefferson Medical School BreckWild wilderness medicine elective. She... Read More →

Jace Besold

Operations Director, Green River Preserve

Jace Besold serves as the Operations Director at Green River Preserve with his main role being to oversee the Expedition Program. He first came to GRP in 2013 to spend his summer as a camp counselor. As he learned all the GRP had to offer, he dedicated the following years to becoming... Read More →

Abby Rowe

President, Wilderness Medical Associates

Abby began her outdoor education career as an undergraduate instructor for Cornell Outdoor Education and has pursued that passion ever since. Abby has worked as a sea kayak instructor, course director, and United States Coast Guard licensed captain for Hurricane Island Outward Bound... Read More →

Nadia Kimmel

Executive Director, Desert Mountain Medicine

Nadia is the founder and Executive Director of Desert Mountain Medicine (DMM), established in Leadville, Colorado in 1998. She dedicates much of her time to the advancement of wilderness medicine education as a curriculum writer and instructor trainer for DMM. As a 12-year member... Read More →

Gates Richards

WM Education Director, NOLS WMI

Anne Izard

Executive Director, Green River Preserve

Anne is the Executive Director of Green River Preserve, an environmental co-ed camp in Western NC focusing on inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards through a joyful connection with nature. At the end of the day, her job is to take care of everyone- all staff and... Read More →

rza allen

Washington Trails Association

rza is a philosophical nature nerd working for liberation and multi-species kinship in the drippy northwest forests of the so-called United States. They are a community-builder and backcountry program manager with over 10 years of experience facilitating immersive learning spaces... Read More →

Conference Assist

Andrea Kane

Founder and Lead Instructor, Train NEK

Brendan Madden

Head of Program, Outward Bound Canada

Brendan Madden is the head of program and national safety officer at Outward Bound Canada. He has been active in the expedition-based adventure education field for over 30 years, mostly as a program director and senior instructor at both Outward Bound and NOLS. Brendan has also been... Read More →

Julia Rogers

President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Thursday October 20, 2022 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Short Talk Series

3:00pm EDT

Breaking the Halo: Empowering Students in Outdoor Education

Participant Survey

Breaking the Halo explores the deadly thinking errors that can occur outdoors and beyond, and offers a simple, universal approach to confronting complacency, assumptions, and communication breakdowns between subordinates and leaders. Breaking the Halo is inspired by previous works on heuristic traps by Edward Thorndike and Ian McCammon and speaks to a more global audience. This presentation was originally developed as a grassroots risk management tool for local mountaineers and has since become a highly requested and influential leadership program. Participants will learn to recognize halos, participate in small group discussion, and share empowerment tools for breaking future halos they encounter.

Speakers

Katjarina Hurt

Director, Wilderness Chaplains

Katjarina Hurt (she/her/hers) is a Senior Consultant in Learning & Development for Plante Moran and the Founder and Director of the non-profit organization, Wilderness Chaplains. She has over fifteen years experience as a ski patroller, primarily at Snoqualmie Pass, WA, with a focus... Read More →

Conference Assist

Abbie Siecinski

Young Adult Program Coordinator, Venture Outdoors

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Rafael Rosa

Chief Program Officer, American Conservation Experience

Thursday October 20, 2022 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Staff Training & Decision Making

4:45pm EDT

Structured Networking

Join your peers for some engaging and informal conversations and hear how like organizations manage similar challenges. We will provide topics and facilitate the formation of small discussion groups. The goal is to provide a venue for participants to connect with others who experience similar challenges and share ideas to help attendees improve their programs. Find a list of this year's topics at the registration table.

Conference Assist

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Thursday October 20, 2022 4:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall - Ground Floor Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Structured Networking

8:30am EDT

Are your leadership and Board prepared for a critical incident...or worse?

Participant Survey

The importance of establishing clarity and transparency surrounding your organization's planned response to critical incidents well before a crisis occurs, cannot be understated. Leadership and Boards, and the perspectives, beliefs and values they bring have a crucial role in effective critical incident planning and management. This often overlooked aspect of crisis planning can present problems and conflicts if not addressed well prior to the incident itself.

Speakers

Dr. Clare Dallat

Founder and Director, Risk Resolve

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Mike Pigg

OBUSA Director of Risk and Safety, (WRMC Steering Committee Chair) Outward Bound USA

Conference Assist

Brandolyn Thran

Associate Director and Science Advisor, Nevada Outdoor School

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Friday October 21, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response

8:30am EDT

Valuable Tips for Handling Sexual Misconduct Claims from a Legal and Operational Perspective

Participant Survey

Given the prevalence of sexual misconduct claims, it is imperative for organizations to understand the legal and operational challenges these incidents present. During this session, you’ll learn about proactive and reactive processes implemented from legal and program experts. Speakers will provide key tips for operators on employee screening and training, vendor vetting, insurance, company policy, mandatory reporting, and incident response. Note: this session examines a real-life case study to highlight key takeaways of presented material.

Speakers

Dave Dennis

Executive Director | RM & EM Specialist, Cornerstone Safety Group

Doug Stevens

Attorney, Caplan & Earnest LLC

Conference Assist

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Greg Poulton

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator, Catlin Gabel School

Megan Carter (she/her)

Mountain Recreation

Friday October 21, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response

8:30am EDT

Are We There Yet? Re-Viewing the Risks to Mental, Social, and Emotional Wellbeing Through the Lens of History

Participant Survey

"If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one goes to the unprotected — those who need the law's protection most — and listens to their testimony." Inspired by this truth from James Baldwin, ‘Are We There Yet’ explores how our American past has informed much of our current inequities in outdoor recreation. We'll examine legacies of oppression and the importance of reducing the risk of perpetuating harm – social, emotional, and otherwise.

Speakers

Kriste Peoples

Program Director, Women's Wilderness

As a leader in Colorado’s BIPOC outdoor community, Kriste explores ways to increase the representation of women and people of color in nature. She serves on the executive boards of Running Start, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women overcome obstacles to fitness, as well as the... Read More →

Conference Assist

Andrea Kane

Founder and Lead Instructor, Train NEK

Bond Lammey

Student, NC State University PRTSM

Brendan Madden

Head of Program, Outward Bound Canada

Friday October 21, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Mental/Social/Emotional Health

8:30am EDT

I Think You Should Leave: Managing Early Departures

Participant Survey

Sometimes the best outcome is for a participant to go home before the program is over. Setting your program and its participants up for success means preparing to support both attendance and early departure. This presentation will look at strategies and tools to reduce unnecessary departures as well as identify and ease necessary departures.

Speakers

Alex Schwartz

Safety and Training Director, North Carolina Outward Bound

Alex has been working with groups in the outdoors for 20 years, at summer camps, universities, and Outward Bound. As a life-long troublemaker Alex is unsure how he ended up in charge of avoiding trouble for a large and well-established outdoor organization. Alex doesn't sleep on... Read More →

Conference Assist

Julia Rogers

President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Mari Houck

Yellowstone Recruitment Coordinator, Ecology Project International

Michael Davis

National Program Manager, YMCA Bold & Gold

Excited about getting all types of people outside in all types of activities.

Friday October 21, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Emerald I

Program Administration

8:30am EDT

Identity-conscious leadership: It’s risk management

Participant Survey

This session will consider the ways that an awareness of social identities can inform your risk management practices. Using Montana Conservation Corps’ principles of Identity Conscious Leadership, we will provide a conceptual framework and specific tools to create a safer environment for participants. Come prepared to engage in scenario-based training, identity development models, and action planning. Near the end, we will focus on race and gender specifically and then outline identity-affirming strategies for programmatic integration.

Speakers

Olivia Klein

Olivia Klein (she/her) is currently the program manager for the Helena region of the Montana Conservation Corps. She is an enthusiastic learner and educator who received a Masters of Science in outdoor education from the University of Edinburgh. She is passionate about queer theory... Read More →

Stacey Williams

Vice President of Programs, Montana Conservation Corps

Stacey Williams (she/her) brings over a decade of experience in leadership education and experiential programming. With a background in college student development, her approach to identity includes both critical and developmental perspectives. Her prior work includes facilitating... Read More →

Conference Assist

Elyse Rylander

Manager Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Quality Bicycle Products

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Friday October 21, 2022 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Program Administration

10:30am EDT

Restorative Just Culture in Times of Crisis - From a Risk Management and Legal Perspective

Participant Survey

This interactive session, led by a risk manager and recreation law attorney, will connect the concept of organizational culture to the steps a program takes in reacting, responding, and communicating in the wake of a critical incident. How do we balance safety and accountability? How do we strive for a humane, compassionate response without enlarging our liability? This workshop will include an interactive session in which participants discuss their organization's response to hypothetical scenarios, and actively explore nuances and questions that arise.

Speakers

Steve Smith

Risk Management Consultant, Experiential Consulting, LLC

Leah Corrigan

Managing Attorney, Recreation Law Group

Conference Assist

Bond Lammey

Student, NC State University PRTSM

Julia Rogers

President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Friday October 21, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response

10:30am EDT

CORE - Have You Got It Covered? Insurance 101 with Exposure Scenarios that Could Lead to Catastrophic Organizational and Financial Loss

Participant Survey

Field Accidents; Sexual Misconduct; Vehicle Accidents; Medical Malpractice - what do these exposures have in common? If not managed properly, an incident involving any of these can quickly lead an organization into a deep financial and legal quagmire. Are you confident that your insurance policies will protect your organization's assets and reputation from these risks appropriately? Also, do you understand what is required of you, the insured, to trigger coverage? Attendees of this session will participate in a guided discussion where we will use possible risk scenarios like the ones outlined to explore the complexities of managing incident response. The outcome will allow you to walk away with an essential structure for a well-rounded insurance program.

Speakers

Sam Daume

Senior Vice President, Fred C. Church

Sam has been in the insurance industry since 1986 and has worked with educational institutions since 1989. He joined the Fred C. Church Education Team as a Client Executive in January of 2009 and provides risk management advice and insurance brokerage service to independent schools... Read More →

Lach Zemp

Risk Management Officer, Outward Bound USA

Paul Dreyer

CEO, Avid4 Adventure

Conference Assist

Abbie Siecinski

Young Adult Program Coordinator, Venture Outdoors

Molly Mosenthal

MS Mental Health Counseling & Adventure Based Therapy, Prescott College - Student

Friday October 21, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Legal and Insurance, CORE

10:30am EDT

Emotional Intelligence: Building A Culture of Risk Management Begins Within

Participant Survey

Whether we are highly experienced backcountry ski guides or middle-school teachers taking students on a field trip to the local swimming hole, the success of our programs - and even the lives of those entrusted to us - rests both on the intentional development of our emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of the role it plays in risk management. Learn to build a culture of risk management through the lenses of the four main facets of emotional intelligence.

Speakers

Rae Anglen

Risk Management Trainer and Developer, Xcursion Risk Services

As a professional outdoor educator and risk management trainer, Rae Anglen uses her time and experience in outdoor industry leadership positions to better understand emotional intelligence and its applications to risk management. With a professional history in studying how risk is... Read More →

Conference Assist

Adrienne Ross

Adventure-Based Mental Health Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project

Megan Carter (she/her)

Mountain Recreation

Rafael Rosa

Chief Program Officer, American Conservation Experience

Friday October 21, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Mental/Social/Emotional Health

10:30am EDT

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast

Participant Survey

What do we identify as the Strategy “high road”? Strategy is thoroughly considered and evaluated to promote the best outcomes and the fewest disruptions to health and wellbeing while furthering the goals of the expedition. Culture relies on previous experience, transference of knowledge from lead scientists and senior field staff to upcoming researchers, and may not take into account the perspective of Steve Smith’s “Safety Differently” bell curve. How do we shift the culture to encompass a wider perspective that includes human factors, DEI, and lessons learned? We don’t have all of the answers but we would love it if you joined the discussion.

Speakers

Kate Koons

Field Risk Manager, US Antarctic Program

Over the last 25 years, Kate has been working in the outdoor field in a variety of capacities: NOLS instructor, backcountry ski guide, avalanche educator, Antarctic camp manager and risk management consultant. Currently, she works for the US Antarctic Program as the Field Risk Manager... Read More →

John Stoddard

Field Risk Technician, Polar Field Services

John discovered the power of wilderness experiences as a participant in a YMCA camp that culminated in a 60 day canoe traverse of the Canadian boreal forest and tundra. He went on to work for the camp for 8 years and then as a NOLS field instructor between 1999-2016, gaining 240... Read More →

Conference Assist

Greg Poulton

Outdoor Education Program Coordinator, Catlin Gabel School

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Mike Pigg

OBUSA Director of Risk and Safety, (WRMC Steering Committee Chair) Outward Bound USA

Friday October 21, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Emerald I

Program Administration

10:30am EDT

From Chaos to Competency: Standardizing Your Training and Assessment

Participant Survey

Want to know for sure your staff’s skills and abilities? Changing student demographics, shrinking budgets, loss of senior staff, and increase in expectations forces us to evaluate how and what we train. This session explores standardized training systems using a competency-based model that benefits staff development and safety practices. Participants will engage and connect with others and develop tangible strategies to take to their training programs.

Speakers

Amber Barnett

Director of Program and Safety, Colorado Outward Bound

Julia Makowski

Consultant and Trainer, Training Direction

Julia worked with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School for over 15 years in the Sea Program and served as the school’s Safety Director and Associate Director of Education and Innovation. She now lives year-round in Colorado where she works as a Training Consultant, Ski Patroller... Read More →

Conference Assist

Colleen McHugh

Director of Programs, City Kids

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Friday October 21, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Staff Training & Decision Making

12:00pm EDT

BIPOC Affinity Space

Conference Assist

Michael Davis

National Program Manager, YMCA Bold & Gold

Excited about getting all types of people outside in all types of activities.

Friday October 21, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

12:00pm EDT

Individuals with Disabilities Affinity Space

Overall Description
Affinity Spaces are offered for people with common backgrounds and experiences to come together to connect, learn, and support each other. Identity breakout groups create space for empowerment, affirmation, and a sharing of personal narrative that we all so desperately need. With the goal of creating community and connection for identities that have experienced historical disinvestment, our hope is to offer a meaningful shared experience that aims to amplify diverse voices and lived experiences and support sustainable and substantive change in service of striving for equity and justice.

Note - these spaces are designed for individuals who identify as members of the communities underneath these categorical umbrellas. They are not spaces intended for allies of these communities.

We recognize that many folks hold multiple identities / competing schedules. The three Affinity Space choices will include BIPOC, Queer/Trans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
Individuals with Disabilities

Individuals with Disabilities
Come join Individuals with Disabilities affinity space on Thursday and Friday during lunch time 12:00pm to 1:30pm. We are excited to connect WRMC attendees with seen and unseen disabilities for conversation and reflection. Bring your own food and come for as long as you’d like!
Lastly, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Friday, you are invited to meet one final time, and discuss and share your feedback with the WRMC as we look to improve and elevate for 2023.

Location: We will be in room Carleton on all three occasions.

Conference Assist

Elyse Rylander

Manager Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Quality Bicycle Products

Friday October 21, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Carleton Boardroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

12:00pm EDT

LGBTQIA+ Affinity Space

Overall Description
Affinity Spaces are offered for people with common backgrounds and experiences to come together to connect, learn, and support each other. Identity breakout groups create space for empowerment, affirmation, and a sharing of personal narrative that we all so desperately need. With the goal of creating community and connection for identities that have experienced historical disinvestment, our hope is to offer a meaningful shared experience that aims to amplify diverse voices and lived experiences and support sustainable and substantive change in service of striving for equity and justice.

Note - these spaces are designed for individuals who identify as members of the communities underneath these categorical umbrellas. They are not spaces intended for allies of these communities.

We recognize that many folks hold multiple identities / competing schedules. The three Affinity Space choices will include BIPOC, Queer/Trans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

LGBTQIA+
Come join the LGBTQIA+ affinity space on Thursday and Friday during lunch time 12:00pm to 1:30pm. This space is for connection and community building for LGBTQIA+, non-binary and trans WRMC community members. Bring your own food and come for as long as you’d like!
Lastly, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm on Friday, you are invited to meet one final time, and discuss and share your feedback with the WRMC as we look to improve and elevate for 2023.

Location: We will be in the Kingsland Room on all three occasions.

Conference Assist

Colleen McHugh

Director of Programs, City Kids

Friday October 21, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Kingsland Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

1:30pm EDT

Grin and Bear It, what you need to know about sharing the wilderness with bears

Participant Survey

A number of outdoor enthusiasts as well as rurally based facilities are encountering bears at an increasing rate. Knowing how to respect these creatures in their habitat is essential for the safety of humans and bears.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the unique physical characteristics and behaviors of the most common bear species.
2. Describe interventions that can prevent negative human-bear interventions.
3. Identify factors relating to climate change that impact bear habitats and behaviors.

Speakers

Sarah Crockett

Professor of Emergency Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Sarah C. Crockett, MD is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, and the founder and director of the Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She is also the co-founder of the Women in Wilderness Medicine Committee of the WMS. Sarah has... Read More →

Will Galvin

Fellow, Dartmouth Wilderness and Austere Medicine

Conference Assist

Andrea Kane

Founder and Lead Instructor, Train NEK

Bond Lammey

Student, NC State University PRTSM

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Friday October 21, 2022 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Field Practices

1:30pm EDT

Employment Law Considerations for Outdoor Organizations

Participant Survey

Should we hire our workers as 1099 independent contractors or W2 employees? Does the Biden Administration's new minimum wage rule apply to us? What does the law say about incorporating JEDI considerations into our hiring practices? This presentation will discuss each of these questions by summarizing some of the main legal and practical points outdoor industry organizations can consider to both improve relations with their workers and reduce the risk of employment law issues.

Speakers

Kristen Burke

Attorney, CrestPoint Law PLLC

Kristen Burke is an attorney in Denver, Colorado. She provides risk-management counsel to camps, schools, outfitters, rental shops, and other outdoor recreation clients to help them manage their unique liability risks. She offers advice related to legal documents such as risk release... Read More →

Conference Assist

Adrienne Ross

Adventure-Based Mental Health Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project

Katie Baum Mettenbrink

Associate Operations Director, NOLS

Mari Houck

Yellowstone Recruitment Coordinator, Ecology Project International

Friday October 21, 2022 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Emerald I

Legal and Insurance

1:30pm EDT

CORE - Best Practices in Medical Screening 2022

Participant Survey

Medical screening is a ubiquitous yet poorly understood part of our industry. Legal recommendations range from not doing screening at all to managing every condition identified during screening. Medical clearance can include contracted medical advisors, existing policies, or enrollment of a prospective client’s medical team. The balance between these, as well as where to find medical standards, consensus guidelines, and best practices aren't always clear. This presentation addresses these issues with a solution-based approach.

Speakers

Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins

Medical Advisor, North Carolina Outward Bound School, SCA, REI

Dr. Justin Doroshenko

Director of Education, Hawk Ventures

Justin is an emergency medicine resident physician at UT Health San Antonio. He has been involved in outdoor leadership and wilderness medicine for 20 years and holds a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Education from Georgia College. He currently serves as the Director of Education for... Read More →

Conference Assist

Colleen McHugh

Director of Programs, City Kids

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Molly Mosenthal

MS Mental Health Counseling & Adventure Based Therapy, Prescott College - Student

Friday October 21, 2022 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Program Administration, CORE

1:30pm EDT

Turning the Great Resignation into the Great Opportunity by assessing culture

Participant Survey

We have much to learn from this unprecedented workforce migration. While employees seek new opportunities for growth and stability, supervisors are working to identify and close gaps – and to make valuable changes.

While HR and marketing are often tasked with developing long term solutions, managers are most acutely responsible for short-term solutions. In this presentation, we’ll share structures to identify areas where related risks show up – and some tools and tactics to mitigate those risks.

Speakers

AJ Wojtalik

Marketing Director, Outward Bound Services Group

AJ (she/her) joined Outward Bound in February of 2013 after 8-years in media, preceded by marketing in the outdoor recreation industry and roaming the Western Slope of Colorado on horseback. Approaching her work with a risk management lens, AJ got her start at the Colorado Outward... Read More →

Victoria Kerr

Head of HR & Risk Management, Open Sky Wilderness

After 20 years in Programs and Safety with Outward Bound, Vic (she/her) is currently serving as Head of Human Resources and Risk Management for Open Sky Wilderness Therapy. Her personal values reflect human-centered and inclusive workplaces and workplace cultures. Her approach is... Read More →

Conference Assist

Abbie Siecinski

Young Adult Program Coordinator, Venture Outdoors

Elyse Rylander

Manager Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Quality Bicycle Products

Lexi Golestani

U-EXPLORE GA / Instructor, University of Utah / NOLS

Friday October 21, 2022 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Program Administration

1:30pm EDT

How risk tolerance assessment can inform staff training and course design

Participant Survey

How do you and your organization assess the risk tolerance of your clients to create an inclusive and culturally welcoming experience that celebrates awareness and examination of peoples differences in risk, risk tolerance and awareness?
How do you manage risk based on a risk tolerance assessment?
Is your organization's risk tolerance aligned from the board/ leadership all the way to the field staff and students?
We will examine and discuss specific ways to assess you organization's risk tolerance as well as assessing your clients varying levels of risk tolerance to help design trainings and courses.

Speakers

Michael Armstrong

Disaster Program Manager / Consultant, American Red Cross / ARMSTRONG Adventure Consulting, LLC

Mike began his career as an outdoor educator in 1992. He has worked for Outward Bound and other schools around the world for the last 30 years. Mike recently spent 4 ½ years as the Head of Operations at Outward Bound Hong Kong and currently sits on the Risk Management Committees... Read More →

Conference Assist

Brandolyn Thran

Associate Director and Science Advisor, Nevada Outdoor School

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Stuart Slay

Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management, Student Conservation Association

Friday October 21, 2022 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Staff Training & Decision Making

3:30pm EDT

What adventure research tells us and how it applies to your programs: Best of the Adventure Risk Research Symposium

Participant Survey

Since 2019 the Adventure Risk Research Symposium (ARRS) has been held in conjunction with the WRMC, providing a forum for researchers to share and discuss their outdoor risk-specific findings. Topics are wide ranging, from injury data analysis to Covid impacts, organizational safety culture measures to participant engagement, and second victim effects to waiver form effectiveness. This session is the greatest hits from this emerging body of work, highlighting key findings and tying them to what this means to you, your field staff, and your programs. Practical application of research within your own organization will be examined as a means of quality control and managing risk and participant safety. Presented by the ARRS co-founder and co-chair.

Speakers

Dr. Jeff Jackson

Professor, Coordinator, Algonquin College

Conference Assist

Andrea Kane

Founder and Lead Instructor, Train NEK

Julia Rogers

President Emeritus, Gap Year Association

Rafael Rosa

Chief Program Officer, American Conservation Experience

Friday October 21, 2022 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Diamond Ballroom Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Emergency Planning and Crisis Response

3:30pm EDT

The Full View – Do You Have All the Pieces of the Puzzle to Run a Programmatic or Commercial Recreation Operation?

Participant Survey

This session is going to be VERY interactive! We are going to – literally – take the various pieces of running a good quality and defensible recreation program and put them together like a puzzle. We want to look at things like: structural issues (LLC or Inc?), insurance (do you know the various types you need?), staffing and the role of counsel (should you have a lawyer?), the various defenses that recreation providers rely on and how those defenses are put together in day-to-day entity practices so they can be expressed in trial or dispute resolution (do you know what assumption of the risk IS and how your entity can put it to use or rely on it?), how are you contracting with other entities that contribute to your product/activity (do you have a transport company, do you outsource food preparation and are these entities under contract and do you have a COI from them?), and we want to understand the nuances of your exact activity in the context of your geographic region (has your state or federal district spoken about releases or are there industry standards that you should be conforming to in your activity or area?). We want to go deeper than the primer sessions and take a look at overall health of a recreation organization/entity and give attendees a good overview that will spark them to look at best management practices at several levels of their organization and how it all coordinates into a quality and defensible program. Participants need to be aware of – and comfortable with - the fact that there is no list or cookbook that fits each entity. Nurturing your program or entity means looking at and becoming familiar with the several ‘layers’ and approaches that each entity should be looking at – IE – what are the office people doing vs. the field staff and how do those roles coalesce? Have the office staff created appropriate forms and data collection systems that reflect what the field staff are accomplishing? How does each level of the entity accomplish hazard recognition? It’s time to take the plunge and have a comprehensive overview of what your whole entity/program and its various parts should look like to see if the entire entity is functioning at its best. This is the end game of risk management and is intended to engage everything you have learned up to this point at WRMC.

Speakers

Tracey Knutson

Attorney, Knutson Law

Tracey L. Knutson is a licensed attorney whose primary practice involves working with recreation and adventure sports commercial operators, public land administrators and recreation oriented educational groups. An experienced trial lawyer, Tracey defends recreation companies and sports... Read More →

Conference Assist

Abbie Siecinski

Young Adult Program Coordinator, Venture Outdoors

Denise Mitten

Professor Emerita, Education for Sustainability Doctoral Program, Adventure Education, Prescott College

Michael Davis

National Program Manager, YMCA Bold & Gold

Excited about getting all types of people outside in all types of activities.

Friday October 21, 2022 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Amphitheater - Ground Floor

Legal and Insurance

3:30pm EDT

Compassionate Risk Taking for the Sustainable Future

Participant Survey

Overview:
In our first risk-taking exercise, participants will be encouraged to turn off their electronic devices for the duration of the workshop. For those interested in taking this risk a step further, we will invite you to separate yourself from your devices by leaving them in a safekeeping box near the door

Capacity for compassionate risk taking is an outcome of effective adventure education. The culture of risk aversion has been adversely affecting quality of outdoor experiences. Fear of liability in its many forms moves outdoor industry away from Free Living in Nature towards prescribed and often transactional experiences of shorter duration and limited scope. In the past two years, the reduction approach to risk taking has caused substantial degradation of social well-being. To achieve social transformation and reverse the climate change we need to raise generations of compassionate and altruistic risk-takers and the adventure education has a unique role to play!

During this interactive workshop participants will examine the benefits of healthy risk-taking approach to life and education, create a list of personal and institutional healthy risk-taking habits, develop methods for holding exciting briefings with stakeholders aimed at replacing the irrational fear with excitement for adventure and leave inspired to change the institutional culture of fear.

Speakers

Misha Golfman

Founder, Kroka Expeditions

Misha Golfman is a co-founder of Kroka Expeditions, a farm-based wilderness expedition school in Marlow, NH. He was raised by a dissident family in Northern Russia in an outdoor tradition foraging for sustenance and spending long winters at a ski-in cabin. Misha and his wife Lynne... Read More →

Nathan Lyczak

Executive Director, Kroka Expeditions

Prior to coming to Kroka, Nathan had served as a communications oﬃcer in the US Navy, taught English in Nicaragua, and worked as a 4th grade classroom teacher in rural New Hampshire. As an undergraduate he studied Physics, changing course later in life when he pursued a Masters... Read More →

Conference Assist

Adrienne Ross

Adventure-Based Mental Health Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project

Brendan Madden

Head of Program, Outward Bound Canada

Mari Houck

Yellowstone Recruitment Coordinator, Ecology Project International

Friday October 21, 2022 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Emerald I

Program Administration

3:30pm EDT

Consent and Other Risk Management Lessons from Partner Dance

Participant Survey

Consent and Other Risk Management Lessons from Partner Dance is a two part workshop. The first half is active, with movement exercises that underscore risk management priorities. The second half is a reflection and deeper dive into each of those practices, with a particular emphasis on consent. At the end, Madeleine will share her experience as a professional dancer and W-EMT that offer the ‘why’ behind these practices. No previous dance experience necessary!

Speakers

Madeleine Lebovic (she/her)

Refugee Shelter Supervisor; W-EMT, German Red Cross

Madeleine Lebovic is a W-EMT, professional dancer, and photographer whose passion lies at the intersection of safety and communication. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University and has spent the past six years working in refugee resettlement and creative education... Read More →

Conference Assist

Brandolyn Thran

Associate Director and Science Advisor, Nevada Outdoor School

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Molly Mosenthal

MS Mental Health Counseling & Adventure Based Therapy, Prescott College - Student

Friday October 21, 2022 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Emerald III Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Program Administration

3:30pm EDT

Making Risk Management Training Tangible for Staff Using Cross-Industry Adaptations

Participant Survey

The ability to manage risk is a hallmark of excellent leaders. Let’s challenge the current ways in which we plan training and introduce new theories in training design. With recognition of cross industry research as an invaluable resource, this session presents a frontline staff centered framework for training risk management. Let’s round this off with specific training ideas you can walk away with to enhance your training sessions and make them tangible.

Speakers

Rumi Kodama

Paramedic/Wilderness Therapy Guide, Unaffiliated

Conference Assist

Michael Lessard

Director of Experiences, Adventure Cycling Association

Moleek Busby

Field Operations Senior Manager, Washington Trails Association

Sophie Moyer

President, University of Vermont Outing Club

Friday October 21, 2022 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Emerald II Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

Staff Training & Decision Making

6:30pm EDT

Keynote Presentation Joshua Morris and Dinner - How Risk Management Saved Lives During the Thai Cave Rescue

Dinner is included in your conference registration from 6:30-7:30pm followed by the Keynote Presentation from Joshua Morris.

For 18 days in the month of July, 12 boys and their coach were trapped inside a flooded cave. The rescuers faced challenging conditions unlike anything ever experienced before. With a unique behind the scenes perspective, Josh’s illustrated talk will highlight key decisions made during the course of this mission which ultimately led to its success. Josh will explore how risk management played a significant role during a crisis and share how cross cultural and outdoor education provided him and his team with the necessary skills to play a key role in the rescue.

Speakers

Joshua "Josh" Morris

Founder/Director, The Progression Group

Keynote Speaker Joshua Morris is the founder and CEO of The Progression Group, a multicultural organization that works with students, educators, corporations, and athletes to fuel individual growth, create meaningful connections, and prepare for what’s next. An avid climber and... Read More →

Friday October 21, 2022 6:30pm - 9:00pm EDT
Lake Champlain Exhibition Hall - Ground Floor Double Tree By Hilton, Burlington, VT, USA

General Session

9:00pm EDT

2022 WRMC Critical Demographic Metrics Survey

2022 WRMC Critical Demographic Metrics Survey
CONSENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Demographics will offer a critical metric for the WRMC as we seek to improve our strategies, approaches, and culture. Demographic data will assist in the WRMCs strategic planning by providing insight into what supports and systems are needed, such as affinity or attendee groups, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and other relevant resources to bolster the attendee experience and educational content. By understanding who we are serving, we can assess the alignment of our conference with our current and future attendees.

All information collected is anonymous and will remain confidential, and be utilized for internal conference planning and programming.

By completing 2022 WRMC Critical Demographic Metrics Survey, you agree that you have read and understood the purpose of the survey and voluntarily agree to participate.

If you are a SPEAKER ONLY - You will complete the Selected Speaker's Demographic Survey AND this 2022 Critical Demographic Metrics Survey.

Friday October 21, 2022 9:00pm - 9:15pm EDT