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WRMC attendees in breakout taking notes.

Wilderness Risk Management Conference

October 18-22, 2021 | Online

NOLS Outward BoundSCA

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Brad Christensen
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Facing Challenges Together

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. 

Join us October 18-22, for the 28th (and second online) annual conference!

The WRMC is a collaboration between NOLS, Outward Bound USA, and the Student Conservation Association, in partnership with the WRMC Steering Committee.

NOLS Outward BoundStudent Conservation Association (SCA)

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About the WRMC

Learning and Sharing

Attend the WRMC to gain practical risk management skills, network with others in the industry, share field and administrative techniques, and help develop risk management standards for the outdoor adventure and education industries.

Contact WRMC

Get ready for 2021

WRMC, Online, October 18-22, 2021

Register Online

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Two conference attendees look at the conference schedule.

2021 Schedule

Check out this year's line up of sessions and speakers!
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Jim Ratz Memorial Scholarships

Apply for a scholarship to attend the WRMC! Or if you able, please consider donating to the scholarship fund.
Presenter, Jose Gonzalez, addressing the audience at the WRMC.

College Credit

Learn how you can earn college credit for attending the WRMC. Also find out how to use AmeriCorps or 529 funding to pay for the credit and WRMC registration.

2020 Highlights

José González

Keynote Speaker

Watch the keynote address "Holding Space for Equitable Sociocultural Risk Management" by José González!
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Reb Gregg Wilderness Risk Management Award

Congratulations to Sara Souza, winner of the 2020 Reb Gregg Wilderness Risk Management Award! Check out this interview with Sara and find out why she is so deserving.
Workshop attendees in circle comparing notes at WRMC.

Resource Center

Slide presentations from 2020 workshops are now posted! You'll also find previous workshops, resources, keynote presentations, conference programs, and conference action steps here.

More About the WRMC

WRMC Steering Committee members in huddle.

Steering Committee

Meet the WRMC Steering Committee! This committee evaluates and selects educational content based on a shared risk management philosphy.
WRMC tenants poster

WRMC Tenets

The WRMC provides a forum to learn and share common practices in wilderness risk management and contributes to a culture of open dialogue among outdoor industry professionals.

History of the WRMC

The story goes that famous mountaineer and outdoor educator Willie Unsoeld was once asked by a fearful parent if he could guarantee her son’s safety on an Outward Bound course...
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Our Letter to the Community

Many in our community are experiencing tremendous pain and grief. The WRMC Steering Committee stands in support and solidarity with Black Lives and with those protesting racism, injustice and state-sanctioned violence.
Conference attendees sitting in a circle and talking during a workshop.

WRMC on the NOLS Blog

Takeaways, learning, and reflections from WRMC attendees.
Video thumbnail of Valuing Risk Management

Valuing Risk Management

Learn about why the WRMC was created and how we believe sharing practices benefits us all in the industry.

What WRMC Attendees Have to Say

Small group discussions during breakout session.

We send employees to the WRMC to keep our risk management minds primed and awake, to keep us aware of any new research or standards that are emerging in the field, and to network with folks doing similar work to our own. We go to the WRMC to share experiences and resources, and to have some fun!

Julie Barnes Marin Academy
Audience clapping opening night WRMC 2017.

As a busy adventure education administrator, the WRMC is the cornerstone of my year. It is a place where colleagues and competitors gather to compare notes and ask the hard questions. By coming together, we make everyone stronger.

Brendan Madden Outward Bound Canada
A room a attendees sitting and listening to a workshop speaker.

Risk is an unavoidable and also essential element of outdoor pursuits and adventure programming. For 25 years the WRMC has been the nexus for program administrators and practitioners to gather and share practices, discuss important issues, and learn from experts.

Drew Leemon NOLS
Two attendees participate in a demonstration during Misty Blakesly's workshop while the rest of the group sits around them.

Coming from Colombia, the WRMC provided me an opportunity to understand that in the face of our worst case scenario, we had an opportunity to not only grow as an individual program but also commit to working with other programs in Colombia. Participating in the WRMC and seeing NOLS working with Outward Bound and SCA helped me identify that one of the most important areas that we can work on is building a risk management community in our industry.

Carolina Porras López Bluefields
Tracy Rekart speaking during her workshop.

Make sure you bring a blank notebook and a full pen! I still have all my notes from the sessions I’ve attended at the WRMC and continue to reference them and draw on the knowledge I gained to improve my program’s risk management practices.

Kathleen Floberg YMCA Camp Widjiwagan

NOLS Outward BoundStudent Conservation Association (SCA)

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