WORKSHOP RESOURCES
The true value of attending the WRMC is in the resulting action you take upon returning to your organization. Conference resources are available here to help you take the next steps
The information presented at the WRMC and in the resources below reflect the opinion of the individual presenters and/or their organizations. The WRMC represents a shared risk management philosophy, but is not a standard-setting body and does not certify or endorse practices.
WRMC Tracks
*Need to review the links below!!
Emergency Planning & Crisis Response Track: Planning for and responding to field incidents and large-scale crises, supporting affected parties, post-incident response.
2023 Presentations:
- Don't Let a Crisis Shock You- Sharing Our Experience Managing the NOLS Lightning Fatality - Drew Leemon, Fraces Mock, Katie Baum Mettenbrink 2023 (pdf)
- Operation Art and the COVID-19 Pandemic - Lessons from the Conservation Corps - Hannah Wendel, Colin Giegerich 2023 (pdf)
- Risk Management of Wildfire Smoke Exposure - Andrea Stephens, Seth Hawkins 2023 (pdf)
- Short Talk Series - Sam Sala, Jun Ping Lim, Luc Mehl, Larisa Castille 2023 (pdf)
Past Presentations:
- Crisis Management: A Preplan in Action – Drew Leemon, Katie Baum Mettenbrink 2020 (pdf)
- Supporting Family and Staff During Critical Incidents – Suellen Sack 2020 (pdf)
- A Case Study in Systems Failure: NZ’s Mangatepopo Tragedy Presentation – Jeff Jackson 2011 (pdf)
- A Critical Evaluation of Certifications – Curt Davidson, Graham Ottley 2014 (pdf)
- At the End of My Rope and Hit by a Rock and Stuck in a Hard Place: Two Patients' Perspectives vs. Perceptions – Jeannette Stawski, Christine Lagattolla 2019 (pdf)
- Blindspot: Near Miss Trauma – Brendan Madden 2017 (pdf)
- Communicating with Families in Challenging Situations – Laura Herrin 2007 (pdf)
- Complexities in Intercultural Emergency Response – Tim Hare 2016 (prezi link)
- Conducting Internal Incident Reviews – Kurt Merrill, Kris Wright 2006 (pdf)
- Crisis Communications Boot Camp – Skip King 2015 (pdf)
- Crisis Communication in the Digital Age: The Basics Still Matter – Bruce Palmer 2016 (pdf)
- Crisis Management: A Preplan in Action – Drew Leemon 2016 (pdf)
- Crisis Management: Emotional Support for Participants, Staff, and Families – Suellen Sack, Steve Neal 2019 (pdf)
- Critical Incident Stress Debriefing – Deb Ajango 2004 (pdf)
- Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: Helpful or Harmful? – Tod Schimelpfenig 2005 (pdf)
- Exceptions to Medical Sceening at NOLS – Drew Leemon 2005 (pdf)
- Expecting the Unexpected – Todd Duncan, Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Tony Rango 2018 (pdf)
- Field Emergency Decision Making – Deb Ajango 2012 (pdf)
- Getting Beyond Operator Error: Using Systems to Analyze Accidents – Jeff Jackson 2013 (pdf)
- Green Horns to Gurus: Program Supervision Strategies for Managing and Supporting Field Staff – Chris Benson 2015 (pdf)
- How to Feed Alligators: Ten Things You Need to Know About Communicating in a Crisis – Skip King 2017 (pdf)
- Incident Data Project – Drew Leemon 2013 (pdf)
- Incident Response: The Aftermath of Infectious Disease Exposure – Caroline Nassif, Rita Galdos 2017 (pdf)
- Interagency Incident Response: SAR Case Studies and Paddlecraft Safety – U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Marine Patrol, Maine Fire Department 2017 (pdf)
- It Just Got Worse: Managing Conventional and Social Media in Crisis Situations – Skip King 2014 (pdf)
- Johnny is Lost – Gates Richards 2019 (pdf)
- Lessons from the Lava Mountain Fire: Planning, Communications, Evacuation, and Post-Crisis – Matthew Cook 2017 (pdf)
- Managing Field Evacuations – Jay Satz, Kurt Merrill, Dave McEvoy 2006 (pdf)
- Media Training: Preparing for the Hot Seat presentation – Heidi White 2018 (pdf)
- Performing Under Pressure – Deb Ajango 2014 (pdf)
- Practicing your Worst Nightmare: A Realistic Emergency Response Exercise – Gretchen Ostherr 2017 (pdf)
- Preparing and Executing Effective Critical Incident Simulations with Administrative Staff – Mark Vermeal 2015 (pdf)
- Ready for Primetime? Crisis Training for Traditional and Social Media – Travis Taylor, Karmina Zafiro 2015 (pdf)
- Risk Management: The Traumatic Aftermath – Dr. Will Marling 2019 (pdf)
- Risk Management: The Traumatic Aftermath – Will Marling 2016 (pdf)
- SAR for Outdoor Leaders – Tod Schimelpfenig 2008 (pdf)
- Shades of Gray: The Complications of Managing Incidents Overseas – Gennifre Hartman, Jennifer Royall, Leah Knickerbocker 2012 (pdf)
- Small Organization Emergency Response Plans: Where Do I Start? – John Kelly 2018 (pdf)
- Supporting Families and Victims in the Aftermath of a Critical Field Incident – Jay A. Satz, Molly Hampton 2008 (pdf)
- Surprises and Lessons from Major Incidents – Frances Mock, Lewis Glenn, Steve Neal, and Michael Lindsey 2011 (pdf)
- The Art (and Science) of Giving Bad News: Critical Incident and Death Notifications – Will Marling, Jay Satz 2018 (pdf)
- The Foreign and the Familiar: International Emergency Response presentation – Tim Hare 2018 (prezi link)
- The Wilderness Incident Investigative Interview – Kurt Merrill, Kris Wright 2005 (pdf)
- This is Not JUST a Drill – Mark Vermeal 2013 (pdf)
- Walking Towards the Storm: Lessons from a Crisis – Jonathan Igoe, Tom Costley, Emily Ferrell 2019 (pdf)
- Welcome to the Jungle: Navigating the Interface Between Social and Conventional Media in a Crisis – Skip King 2019 (pdf)
- Who Gets to Know What? Writing and Sharing Your Investigation Report – Frances Mock, Drew Leemon 2012 (pdf)
- Why Victim Relations is as Important as Pulic Relations – Will Marling 2009 (pdf)
- Worst Case Scenario: An Expedition Leader's Response to a Fatality – Jerry Isaak 2012 (pdf)
Field Practices Track: Practices, tools, techniques, and information specifically for field staff.
2023 Presentations:
- SWIM, WADE, THROW, TRS! Streamlining your River Rescue Response Readiness - Nate Ostis 2023 (pdf)
- Lessons from the Field - Case Studies in Wilderness Medicine - Gates Richards 2023 (pdf)
Past Presentations:
- 2020 Wilderness Medicine Update – Seth Hawkins 2020 (pdf)
- Accidents in North American Climbing: Accident Reporting and Narratives to Prevent Future Climbing Accidents – R. Bryan Simon 2019 (pdf)
- Accidents in Outdoor Pursuits: Assessment and Prevention Approaches – Jed Williamson 2013 (pdf)
- Advanced Foot Entrapment Techniques – Nate Ostis 2016 (pdf)
- Antibiotic Resistant Staph Infections/MRSA (Poster) – Anna Johnson 2017 (pdf)
- Bear Habitat Field Practices – Katie Baum Mettenbrink 2012 (pdf)
- Behavioral Risk Management: Preventing Critical Incidents in the Field – Sky Gray, Kevin Moeller 2010 (pdf)
- Building Homemade Shotguns with Pulleys – Nate Ostis 2018 (pdf)
- Case Studies in Wilderness Medicine – Shana Tarter 2018 (pdf)
- Coming to the Rescue: What Happens During an Emergency Response to a Serious Incident in a National Park – Jay Shields (pdf)
- Compassionate Risk Taking for the Positive Future – Misha Golfman 2019 (pdf)
- Connecting to Nature: Culturally Appropriate, Inclusive, Risk Management Field Practices to Promote Community and Individual Health and Healing – Misty Blakesley, Marquel Musgrave, Reuben Chinana, Renae Lee 2019 (pdf)
- Continuing the Conversation: A Panel Discussion on Gender Questions – Elyse Rylander, Zander McRae, Jay Satz, Paul Dreyer 2017 (pdf)
- Cultivating Outdoor Leadership through Storytelling: An Introduction to Relational Public Narrative – Darren Gruetze 2018 (pdf)
- EEG Analysis of Competition Rock Climbers – Andrew Bailey 2018 (pdf)
- How Remote Communications Aid in Self-Rescue, SAR Protocol, and Resource Deployment (Short talk) – Brett Wagenheim 2017 (pdf)
- How to Hijack Heads and Hearts: Creating Culture, Psychological Safety, and Fast-Tracking Your Way to a High Performing Team – Amberleigh Hammond 2019 (Prezi link)
- Innovations in Wilderness Medicine – Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins 2019 (pdf)
- Intro to Climber First Aid – Seth Hawkins, Bryan Simon 2014 (pdf)
- Is Automation and Technology Derailing Our Ability to Think Critically? – David Yacubian 2018 (pdf)
- Managing a Behavioral Crisis in the Remote Setting – Laura McGladrey, Will Marling 2018 (pdf)
- Managing Technology in the Wilderness – Drew Leemon 2008 (pdf)
- Medical Topics: Old, New, and Controversial – David Johnson, MD 2013 (pdf)
- Minimum Guidelines and Scope of Practice for Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Draft 2009 (pdf)
- Mosquito Illnesses – Gregory Moore 2016 (pdf)
- Outdoor Lightning Risk Management – John Gookin 2011 (pdf)
- Preventing Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Infections: What You Need to Know – Jo Ellis 2018 (pdf)
- Psychological First Aid: Train the Trainers Seminar – Laura McGladrey 2018 (pdf)
- Psychological First Aid – Todd Schimelpfenig 2016 (pdf)
- Psychological First Aid Toolkit – Laura Gladrey Griebling, Paul Dreyer 2015 (pdf)
- Recognition and Care of Drowning Incidents – Anna Johnson 2018 (pdf)
- Rejecting The Binary: The Benefits of Considering Emotional Risk for LGBTQ Individuals – Kira McGieson, Elyse Rylander 2016 (prezi link)
- Risk Management Update to Drowning and Submersion Injuries – Justin Doroshenko, Seth Hawkins 2014 (pdf)
- Risk Managing a Wilderness Fast: Why, When, and How to Facilitate a Fast in the Backcountry – Paul Stonehouse 2013 (pdf)
- Risk, Reflection and Resilience: Storytelling as Pedagogy – Eric Boggs 2019 (pdf)
- Spinal Immobilization – David McEvoy 2016 (pdf)
- Strengthening Your Culture of Safety Through Onsite Safety Briefings – Caroline Dunn, Gitte Venicx 2017 (pdf)
- Supporting Struggling Participants: Managing Behavior and Mental Health Issues presentation – Katie Baum Mettenbrink, Emily Ledingham 2018 (prezi link)
- Supporting Struggling Participants: Managing Behavioral and Mental Health Issues – Katie Baum Mettenbrink, Emily Ledingham 2016 (prezi link)
- Tech Talk: Safety, Communication, and Navigation in the Backcountry – Chip Noble 2014 (pdf)
- The Assessment and Management of Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries in the Field: Where We Started, Where We are Now, and Why – Paul Nicolazzo (pdf)
- The Developing Adolescent Brain with Respect to Education and Safety Management – Steve Creech 2016 (pdf)
- The First 72 Hours: Creating a Culture of Risk Awareness – Susie Caldwell Rinehart, Chris Yager 2012 (pdf)
- The Foreign and the Familiar: International Programming as a Benefit for Wilderness Programs – Tim Hare 2017 (pdf)
- The Frontier of American Belaying: Changing a Folkcraft to a Science – Ron Funderburke 2016
- The Risk Management of Teaching and Practicing Advanced Climbing Skills with Students – Anna Haegel 2012 (pdf)
- Tools for Behavioral Crisis in the Remote Setting – Laura McGladrey, Will Marling 2016 (pdf)
- Understanding and Managing Negative Adolescent Behavior in the Wilderness Setting – Doug Mahon 2010 (pdf)
- Updates and Overview: Navigating Health, Safety, and Security Abroad – Bill Frederick 2019 (pdf)
- Where Are the Instructors? Benefits of Unaccompanied Wilderness Program Components – Andrew Bobilya 2009 (pdf)
- Wilderness Medicine-Current Topics – Tod Schimelpfenig 2012 (pdf)
- Wilderness Medicine: Inclusive Practices for LGBTQ and Non-Binary People – Colleen McHugh 2019 (pdf)
Legal & Insurance Track: Persistent and/or emerging legal and insurance issues.
2023 Presentations:
- How to Evaluate and Create a Release Contract - Tracey Knutson 2023 (pdf)
- Not All Complaints Are Created Equal - Properly Conduct _ Document Misconduct - Ann McCollum, Lach Zemp 2023 (pdf)
- Insurance 101_ Have You Got It Covered - Mike Lucas, Lach Zemp 2023 (pdf)
- Oh Yeah, This is Work - Employment Law Basics - Ann McCollum 2023 (pdf)
Past Presentations:
- Americans with Disabilities Act: Protecting Your Program and Increasing Inclusivity with Essential Eligibility Criteria – Ben Tettlebaum 2020 (pdf)
- Administration of Epinephrine in the Backcountry: Evolving Legal Considerations – Nadia Kimmel, Leah Corrigan 2016 (pdf)
- A Legal Primer for Staff – Reb Gregg 2006 (pdf)
- Almost Safe and Proud of It – Reb Gregg 2019 (pdf)
- And the Winner is...(?) Hot Issues, Hot Cases handouts (Pre-conference) – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2017 (pdf)
- Big Decisions in the Field (and Their Legal Implications): Part III – Leslie Arutunian, Reb Gregg 2018 (pdf)
- Case Study of a Major Burn Injury and the Subsequent Litigation – Al Wright 2015 (pdf)
- Choose Words Carefully: What You Say Matters – Wilma J. Gray 2012 (pdf)
- Conducting Internal Incident Reviews – Kurt Merrill, Kris Wright 2010 (pdf)
- Contracting with Outside Organizations – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Todd Duncan 2015 (pdf)
- Discovery and Depositions Can Be Fun – Wilma Gray 2013 (pdf)
- Do You Understand Your Participant Agreement? Does Anyone? – Reb Gregg, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2018 (pdf)
- Emerging Legal Issues for Adventure Programs – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2009 (pdf)
- Employer Liability, the New Frontier of Risk Management: The Accidental and Tragic Death of a Staff Member – Lach Zemp 2018 (pdf)
- Epinephrine and Outdoor Programming: Where are We Now? – Frances Mock, Seth Hawkins 2014 (pdf)
- Essential Eligibility Criteria: A Risk Management Tool – Janet Zeller, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2012 (pdf)
- Exploring the Exculpatories – Reb Gregg 2016 (pdf)
- Federal Mandate Compliance and How it Applies to Outdoor Recreation and Education – Daniela Cross, Christine Upton 2018 (pdf)
- From the Gecko to the Stag: How to Prioritize and Optimize Your Organizations's Insurance Program – Don Pachner 2016 (pdf)
- Fundamental Legal – Reb Gregg 2007 (pdf)
- Haubner & Miller vs. Abercombie & Kent: Case Study of an Ongoing Lawsuit – Ross Cloutier 2010 (pdf)
- Have You Got it Covered? Insurance 101 with Exposure Scenarios that Could Lead to Catastrophic Organizational and Financial Loss – Steve Neal, Sam Daume 2018 (pdf)
- Have You Got It Covered? Insurance 101 with Exposure Scenarios that Could Lead to Catastrophic Organizational and Financial Loss – Sam Daume, Steve Neal 2019 (pdf)
- Have Your Cake and Eat It: Understanding the ADA to Protect Your Program and Increase Inclusivity – Chad Olcott, Ben Tettlebaum 2019 (pdf)
- Hotchkiss Update: Where are We Now, What's Next? – Frances Mock, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2017 (pdf)
- Insurance Panel – Christopher Barnes, Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Doug Killeen, John McManamon 2008 (pdf)
- Insurance Provisions in Outdoor Organization Contracts and Permits – Don Pachner 2014 (pdf)
- Lawsuits, Legal Issues, and Lessons for the Outdoor Industry – Wilma Gray, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2019 (pdf)
- Legal Implications of Rx Medications – Frances Mock 2003 (pdf)
- Legal Issues 101: The Basics You Need to Know – Frances Mock 2018 (pdf)
- Legal Issues – Reb Gregg, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2008 (pdf)
- Lessons for Handling Sexual-Related Incidents: Exploring the Legal, Operational, and Administrative Challenges – Doug Stevens, Dave Dennis, Traci McKee 2017 (pdf)
- Lessons We Share with British Petroleum and Wall Street – Reb Gregg 2010 (pdf)
- Managing Legal Issues After a Serious Incident: What to Do, What to Say – Frances Mock 2014 (pdf)
- Managing Legal Liability – Reb Gregg 2005 (pdf)
- Managing the Other Risk – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2006 (pdf)
- Marketing and Legal Issues – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2006 (pdf)
- Participant Agreements: New Developments – Reb Gregg 2012 (pdf)
- Participant Agreements: Releases and Related Issues – Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2014 (pdf)
- Post Accident Conduct, Legal and Ethical Issues – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2003 (pdf)
- Potential Legal Liability for Sexual Activities and Assault – Frances Mock 2006 (pdf)
- Protecting Your Program with Paper – Reb Gregg 2017 (pdf)
- Releases Part 1: General Concepts – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2005 (pdf)
- Releases Part 2: Elements of an Agreement – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2005 (pdf)
- Releases Revisited – Reb Gregg, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2007 (pdf)
- Responding to Sexual Assault Claims from a Proactive and Reactive Perspective – Dave Dennis, Doug Stevens 2019 (pdf)
- Risk Management Primer – Tracey Knutson 2016 (pdf)
- Screening for Mental Health: Medical Legal Considerations – Ann McCollum, Laura McGladrey 2017 (pdf)
- Setting the Table: Fundamental Legal Issues – Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2012 (pdf)
- Should I Call My Lawyer? Responding to the Angry, Demanding Client – Frances Mock 2012 (pdf)
- Staffing and Compensation Issues – James Pearson 2016 (pdf)
- Staffing Issues for Outdoor Programs – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2005 (pdf)
- Standards in the Industry: What Does this Phrase Really Mean and How Do Standards Impact Your Programs and Practices? – Tracey Knutson 2013 (pdf)
- The Changing Landscape: Insurance 101 – Rick Braschler 2010 (pdf)
- The Elusive Reasonable Person – Reb Gregg, Catharine Hansen-Stamp 2007 (pdf)
- The Law Says 'Yes' to Risk – Reb Gregg 2015 (pdf)
- The Lawyer's Role in Outdoor Programs – Reb Gregg 2006 (pdf)
- Top 10 Current Risk Management Issues for Recreation Providers – Tracey Knutson 2018 (pdf)
- Top 10 General Dos and Don’ts to Avoid Liabilities – Tracey Knutson 2017 (pdf)
- Tough Mudder Tragedy: Lessons Learned (So Far) – Jill Penwardent 2015 (pdf)
- Trials and Tribulations Overview of the Litagation Process – Frances Mock 2004 (pdf)
- Understanding Hotchkiss: What Happened and How it Impacts Your Program – Frances Mock 2015 (pdf)
- Understanding Your Legal Duty of Care – Reb Gregg 2011 (pdf)
- Volunteer Legal Issues – Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2008 (pdf)
- What the Courts Want Us to Know – Reb Gregg, Cathrine Hansen-Stamp 2011 (pdf)
- What Does the Law Require of Me? How to Determine Your Legal Duties – Michael Blaisie 2016 (pdf)
- What You Say and Write Down-Practical Value and Legal Impact – Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Reb Gregg 2009 (pdf)
- What You Need to Know When Applying for or Renewing Insurance – Don Pachner 2013 (pdf)
- Working with Minors: Legal Issues – Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2016 (pdf)
Program Administration Track: Tools and information for program managers on a wide range of topics including culture; pre-program screening; hiring and HR issues; diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; and engaging participants in risk management.
2023 Presentations:
- Preparing for Failure - Jeff Jackson 2023 (pdf)
- Risky Business - A Risk Management Primer for All Attendees - José González, Amberleigh Hammond 2023 (pdf)
Past Presentations:
- Creating and Maintaining a Just Culture in Your Organization – Dave Yacubian 2020 (pdf)
- Evolving Hazards in a Different Landscape: Innovative Strategies for Developing and Running Programs Abroad – Bill Frederick, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2020 (pdf)
- Safety Differently! A Research-Based "New View of Risk Management" – Steve Smith 2020 (prezi link)
- #TimesUp: Go Beyond Policy in Managing Harassment – Victoria Kerr, AJ Wojtalik 2018 (pdf)
- 10 Steps to Better Risk Management – Alex Kosseff, Andrew Leider 2015 (pdf)
- Abuse Prevention as an Empowerment Tactic – Courtney Aber 2019 (pdf)
- A Strategic Approach to Managing Risks at Your Organization – Mark Vermeal, Steve Pace 2018 (pdf)
- Adapt-Ability: Working with People with Disabilities in an Adventure Setting – Becky Van Horsen, Eric Bonin, Janine Donald 2013 (pdf)
- Advocating for Risk in a Risk Averse World – Christopher Barnes 2012 (pdf)
- Beginning the Climb Toward Equity: Tools for Assessing and Managing Social and Emotional Risk – Elyse Rylander, Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin 2018 (pdf)
- Betting the Farm: Risk Propensity and Field Applications – Alan Ewert, Jay Whitacre 2010 (pdf)
- Beyond the Schoolyard Gate: Guiding Principles for Managing Risk Off Camp/School Property – Ann McCollum 2019 (pdf)
- Bloodborne and Other Pathogens in the Backcountry – Steve Neal and David Johnson, MD 2013 (pdf)
- Building Capacity for High School Students to be Backcountry Medical Providers – Allison McGuire, Madison Dressler 2019 (pdf)
- Cases in Quantifying Risk – Ross Cloutier 2015 (pdf)
- Chance and Randomness: The Complications of Managing Incidents Overseas – Gennifre Hartman, Aaron Slosberg, Jennifer Royall 2013 (pdf)
- Change Management: Creating a Wilderness Expeditions and Risk Management Culture from the Ground Up – Mark Johnson, Lyle Walkinshaw 2019 (pdf)
- Climbing Incident Analysis: Mazama Case Study – Doug Wilson 2015 (pdf)
- Collaborative Risk Management: How a Park Agency and Contracted Recreation Providers Facilitate Adaptive Recreation and Risk Management (Poster) – Marcy Marchello, Karen Foster, Brenda Davies (pdf)
- Communicating Risk: Insight and Analysis of Communicating Risk To Parents – Claire Dallat 2008 (pdf)
- Containers as Boundaries: Proactive and Participant-Centered Strategies to Raise Risk Awareness – Ryan Wagner, Tim Hare, Aaron Slosberg 2014 (prezi link)
- Creating a Comprehensive Risk Management Database – Kathleen Floberg, Mark Bixby 2017 (Prezi link)
- Culture and Risk – Sky Gray, Nina Roberts 2005 (pdf)
- Culture as Cause – Kurt Merrill 2005 (pdf)
- Cultural Competence and Risk Management: Do You Know What Your Staff Doesn't Know? – Robin Chiles, Jenni Conrad 2012 (pdf)
- Dechı̨ta Nezǫ Gots’udı́ (Living on the Land in a Good Way): Supporting Indigenous Resurgence Through Anti-Colonial Approaches to Risk Management Planning – Jess Dunkin, Walter Bezha 2019 (pdf)
- Developing a Culture of Risk Management Throughout Your Higher Education Institution – Paul Tame 2015 (pdf)
- Evolution of a Process: Recording and Using Risk Management Data to Improve Your Program – Nathan Trappe, Kate Farthing 2015 (pdf)
- Fostering Student Leadership, Competence, and Independence – Tod Schimelpfenig 2007 (pdf)
- Getting Your Board on Board with Safety and Risk Management – Mark Vermeal, Ginger Mihalik 2017 (pdf)
- Grassroots Organizing: A Tool to Shift Your Risk Management Culture – Mel Mac Innis, Alex Kosseff 2014 (pdf)
- Health, Safety, and Security Abroad: A Strategic Approach – Bill Frederick 2012 (pdf)
- Health, Safety, and Security Abroad: Updates and Overview – Bill Frederick 2016 (pdf)
- I Can't Believe They're Doing That! Lessons from the Intersections of Guiding and Outdoor Adventure Education – Josh Cole, Erika Halm 2016 (prezi link)
- In the (Data) Field: Information Management as Risk Management – Sara Martin 2019 (pdf)
- Incident Reporting – Drew Leemon 2006 (pdf)
- Incident Tracking Database: Improving Safety through Advanced Data Analytics – Rick Curtis 2016 (pdf)
- Incident Trends in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare: What Do They Mean to Me? – Stephen Javorski 2013 (pdf)
- Injury in the Wild: Understanding and Preventing Outdoor Education Injury Incidents – Clare Dallat, Paul Salmon 2017 (pdf)
- Institutional and Personal Risk Tolerance: Mitigating the Differences – Mark Vermeal, Christopher Barnes 2011 (pdf)
- Intellectual Risk: The Risk of New and Different Ideas – Jason Luthy 2012 (pdf)
- Internal and External Review – Jed Williamson, Jay A. Satz 2010 (pdf)
- International Expeditions: Opportunities and Challenges – Peter Harvey, Jen Alger 2008 (pdf)
- International Risk Management – Bill Fredrick 2006 (pdf)
- Learning from Our Mistakes: Assessing Risk through Data Analysis – Kurt Simer, Mark Bixby 2012 (pdf)
- Lessons from Leaving: Analyzing Student Motivations and Prevention Strategies for Early Dismissals – Graham Ottley, Curt Davidson 2015 (pdf)
- Leveraging Technology for Managing Risk – David Gregory 2019 (pdf)
- Making Good Decisions in the Face of Media Hype – Chad Olcott 2016 (pdf)
- Managing Risk from Behind the Desk: A Systems-Based Approach – Josh Cole, Mitsu Iwasaki, and Steve Smith 2010 (pdf)
- Managing Risk with Volunteer Leaders – Alex Kosseff, Melanie MacInnis 2012 (pdf)
- Managing Risk Through Participant Engagement – Kate Farthing 2019 (pdf)
- Medical History Form Trends: The Pros, Cons, and Potential Consequences – Nadia Kimmel, Leah Corrigan, Paul Nicolazzo 2019 (pdf)
- Medical Oversight for Wilderness Activities – Seth Hawkins 2012 (pdf)
- Medical Screening: Options and Answers – Frances Mock, Seth Hawkins 2016 (pdf)
- Medications Management for Minors While in the Field – Robin Liston, Mark Vermeal 2008 (pdf)
- Minimizing Risk When Working with 'At-Risk' Populations: Questions to Consider – Julie Dubin and Becca Polglase 2015 (pdf)
- Minimizing Risk When Working with 'At-Risk' Populations: Four Components of Effective Risk Management – Diane Girard (pdf)
- Minimizing Risk When Working with 'At-Risk' Populations: Communicating with your Agent – Diane Girard (pdf)
- More Than People, Equipment, and Environment: The Design of a Risk Assessment Method – Clare Dallat 2016 (pdf)
- Moving Forward: Current Safety Management Strategies at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School – Bruce Hendricks 2008 (pdf)
- Now What? Bringing The WRMC Back to Your Organization – Alex Kosseff, Andy Leider 2018 (pdf)
- Offering Perspective: Industry Standards and Practices: What Does this Mean for Your Program? – Steve Pace, Drew Leemon, Catherine Hansen-Stamp 2017 (pdf)
- Parent Phone Call Practice Lab – Paul Dreyer 2017 (pdf)
- Preparing Administrative Staff to Manage Programs in the Filed: A Team Approach – Kate Farthing, Lindsay Venable 2016 (pdf)
- Preparation for Field Activities in Uncontrolled Environments – Dave Story, Pam Collins 2015 (pdf)
- Psychological Screening for Outdoor Programs – Amberleigh Hammond, Billy Roos 2011 (pdf)
- Risk Management in Tropical America – Luis Carmago 2006 (pdf)
- Safety Culture: Management Levers that Drive Safety Performance – Jeff Jackson 2016 (pdf)
- Screening Participants for International Programs – Bill Frederick 2017 (pdf)
- Screening the Whole Applicant – Annaliese Thies 2014 (pdf)
- Search and Rescue Victims: Who are They and What We can do to Reduce the Risk – Dan Hadley 2016 (pdf)
- Small Program Risk Management – Christopher Barnes 2011 (pdf)
- Social Media's Heuristic Trap and the Role of Digital Immigrants in Teaching Risk Management to Digital Natives – Jerry Isaak 2013 (pdf)
- Staff Supervision – Jeff Jackson 2006 (pdf)
- Standards Do Exist for International Programs – Natalie Mello 2014 (pdf)
- State of the Field: Using Comparative Risk Management Data to Benchmark Your Program – Jim Sibthorp, Lisa Meerts-Brandsma, Shannon Rochelle, Drew Leemon 2016 (pdf)
- Student Applications and Interviews: Managing Risk Before Your Expedition (Short talk) – Colby Smith 2017 (pdf)
- Supporting Students in Programs Designed to Diversity Conservation – Rob Terry, Millie Jimenez, Megan Kohli 2016 (pdf)
- Successful Risk Management Committees – Aram Attarian 2012 (pdf)
- The Normalization of Deviance – Aram Attarian 2015 (pdf)
- The Objective Hazards of Culture: Risk Management in an International Setting – Mark Ritchie 2004 (pdf)
- The Phone Interview: Evaluating Candidates from a Distance – Gates Richards 2012 (pdf)
- The Rekkie: Solid Site Visits Support Safety and Success in International Programming Worksheet – Anne Ogilvie and Lloyd Figgins 2011 (pdf)
- The Rekkie: Solid Site Visits Support Safety and Success in International Programming Checklist – Anne Ogilvie and Lloyd Figgins 2011 (pdf)
- The Role of a Medical Advisor – Shana Tarter 2009 (pdf)
- The Value and Practice of Medical Screening Workbook – Amberleigh Hammond 2015 (pdf)
- Tying the Strongest Knots: Building an Organizational Culture of Risk Management – Steve Smith
- Two Silos and a Crosswalk – Reb Gregg, Cathy Hansen-Stamp 2012 (pdf)
- Vetting for International Programs: What Can You Know; What Should You Know? – Bill Frederick 2014 (pdf)
- What Did I Get Myself Into? A Presentation on Understanding Cultural Barriers to Making Public Lands and Outdoor Recreation More Inclusive (Short talk) – Reth Duir 2017 (pdf)
- What Does Inclusion and Diversity have to do with Risk Management? – Steve Smith, Ava Holliday 2017 (Prezi link)
- What Did I Learn and Create After Catching a Child Molester? – Rick Braschler 2018 (pdf)
- Wildfire in the Backcountry – Eric Levy, Scott Christy 2019 (handout)
- Working with Independent Contractors (Poster) – Brett Christensen 2017 (pdf)
Staff Training & Decision Making Track: Effective training strategies for varied populations, including young adult leaders and volunteers; training staff in specific skills; understanding how people make decisions and designing staff trainings accordingly.
2023 Presentations:
- Using Behavioral Competencies to Hire, Train, _ Assess for a Culture of Safety - Bix Firer, Tom Cramer 2023 (pdf)
- Using Behavioral Competencies to Hire, Train, _ Assess for a Culture of Safety (handout 1) (pdf)
- Subjective Decision Making Errors; An Update - Kaen (kl) Lapides 2023
Past Presentations:
- Building and Evaluating Decision-Making Skills – Sarah Carpenter 2020 (pdf)
- 5 Strategies for Growing an Organizational Culture of Equity and Inclusion – Nettie Pardue, BJ Allen 2018 (pdf)
- A Culture of Risk Management – Jonathan Igoe, Alec Norton 2015 (pdf)
- Accelerated Training: Using Systems to Get Staff Quickly Up to Speed – Jeff Jackson 2012 (pdf)
- Ambushed by Myself: Growing Beyond Several Unexpected Leadership Pitfalls – Lester Zook 2015 (pdf)
- An Effective Model for Training Program Staff – Aaron Ball, Joel Reid 2018 (pdf)
- Analysis of an Accident on a Staff Outing – Phil Powers 2012 (pdf)
- Analyze, Manage, and Inform: A Useful Decision Making Tool from the Office to the Field – Dave Yacubian 2012 (pdf)
- Assessing Incident Data for Targeted Training: The Importance for the Near Miss – Josh Cole, Steve Smith 2012 (prezi link)
- Beyond Read and Repeat: Training Staff to Understand and Analyze Risk Management Policies – Aaron Gorban, Jess Wilson, Winslow Carroll 2014 (pdf)
- Breaking the Halo: Empowering Students in Outdoor Education 2019 – Katjarina Hurt (pdf)
- Building Intuition for Low Frequency/High Consequence Events – Clinton Culp 2016 (pdf)
- Buried: A Mountain Guide's Reflection on a Tragedy – Ken Wylie 2014 (pdf)
- Central Gulley Avalanche, A Case Study: How Good Intentions Slide You Straight to Hell – Thom Pollard, Will White 2013 (pdf)
- Creating a Culture of Practice – Jose Gonzalez 2017 (pdf)
- Creating an Emotionally Safe Environment on Wilderness Expeditions – Janae Turner, Katie Dalbey, Amy Ambachtsheer 2014 (pdf)
- Decision Making: Errors of Perception – Gates Richards 2016 (pdf)
- Designing an Effective Staff Training: A Systems Approach – Kathleen Pelto 2011 (pdf)
- Designing and Managing an Effective Staff Training – Gretchen Ostherr, Josh Cole 2009 (pdf)
- Developing Good Judgement and Decision Making – Loel Collins 2018 (pdf)
- Developing Judgment and Decision Making in our Staff – Tod Schimelpfenig, Liz Tuohy 2009 (pdf)
- Embracing Cultural Competence – Valeria de Casas 2018 (pdf)
- Emotional Safety Leads to Better Conservation Work: What an Exemplar Study of SCA Field Leaders Tells Our Industry About the Role of Emotional Safety in Programs - Josiah Downey 2018 (pdf)
- Help Your Staff Address a Mental Health Concern presentation – Kathleen Floberg, Claire Dzierzak 2018 (pdf)
- High Impact Training Practices: Tools for Socializing Your Training and Leveraging Relationships in Learning – Micah Leinbach 2016 (pdf)
- Holding Adult Volunteers Accountable: Walking the Staff/Volunteer Line – Brian Anderson 2019 (pdf)
- I Did Not Grow Up Like You AND I Still Belong Here – Mel Mac Innis 2019 (pdf)
- Inclusion Practicum – Sydney Clark, Anne Peick, Emily Ledingham 2016 (prezi link)
- Instructor Judgment Training: Case Study Discussion Method as Used by Outward Bound – James R. Garrett 2008 (pdf)
- Instructor Traps: What They Are and How They Impact Decision Making and Judgment – Alan Ewert, Amy Shellman, Lewis Glenn 2006 (pdf)
- Is Risk Management in Your Job Description? – Shana Tarter 2011 (pdf)
- Judgement and Decision Making – Tod Schimelpfenig, Gates Richards 2011 (pdf)
- Keeping Your Field Staff Fresh: A Model for Ongoing Training – Rebecca Bear, Jeremy Oyen 2014 (pdf)
- Leadership, Teamwork, and Communication – Tod Schimelpfenig 2005 (pdf)
- Leading Beyond Invincibility, Group-Think, Stupidity, and Other Catastrophic Attitudes – Lester Zook 2017 (pdf)
- Managing Risk By Understanding Trauma – Jenna Westendorf 2018 (pdf)
- Online Tools to Enhance Instructor Training (Short talk) – Ryan Jaret 2017 (pdf)
- Quantifying the Risk of Adventure – Ross Cloutier 2012 (pdf)
- Quick and Effective Risk Management Training for Your Staff presentation – Reid Anderson 2018 (pdf)
- Real People Making Real Decisions – Tod Schimelpfenig, Brendan Madden 2012 (pdf)
- Reflections and Updates on a Sexual Misconduct Systems Review – Emily Ledingham, Liz Tuohy 2019 (pdf)
- Resilience Engineering Meets Outdoor Risk Management – Morgan Reynolds 2018 (pdf)
- Risk Management Lessons from Airplane Safety Cards – Eric Boggs 2018 (pdf)
- Risk Management Lessons from the Aviation Industry – Clark Glenn 2010 (pdf)
- Risk Management Lessons from Baja Road Signs – Eric Boggs 2019 (pdf)
- River Rescue Awareness 101 – Nate Ostis 2011 (pdf)
- Sharing in Safety: Risk Management for Corps – Dave McEvoy, Jarrod Ball, Rachel Letter, Su Thieda, Jeff Parker 2015 (pdf)
- Standardizing Training: The Effect It Has and How to Do It – Amber Barnett, Julia Makowski 2019 (pdf)
- Stupidity Explored: Mindful Leadership Amplified – Lester Zook 2014 (pdf)
- SWAY, a Decision-Making Training for Your Team – Gary Thompson 2018 (pdf)
- Help Your Staff Address a Mental Health Concern handout (pdf)
- Systems Planning for Outdoor Programs – Jeff Jackson 2009 (pdf)
- The Checklist Manifesto and Beyond for Outdoor Programs – Al Wright 2017 (pdf)
- The Human Behind the Factor: A Brief Look at How Context Informs Practice in Backcountry Users – Laura Maguire 2018 (pdf)
- The Learning Brain: Using Cognitive Neuroscience to Rethink Traditional Assumptions in Student and Staff Training – Jeb Schenck PhD, Jessica Cruickshank 2008 (pdf)
- The Most Dangerous Thing We Do – Paul Dreyer 2018 (pdf)
- Three Plug and Play Staff Training Activities – Shana Tarter 2013 (pdf)
- Training to Failure and Other Unlikely and Highly Effective Training Strategies – Jeff Jackson 2017 (pdf)
- Training Simulations: Principles for Effective Learning – Katie Nelson 2019 (pdf)
- Training to Failure and Other Unlikely and Highly Effective Training Strategies – Jeff Jackson 2018 (pdf)
- Training Your Leaders as Wilderness Medicine Instructors – David McEvoy 2015 (pdf)
- Training Your Staff to be Risk Managers – Liz Tuohy 2014 (prezi link)
- Training Your Staff to Be Risk Managers – Liz Tuohy 2019 (pdf)
- Training Your Staff to Provide Opportunities for Participant Independence – Anne Peick 2017 (pdf)
- Virtual Risk Management: Using Online Training Modules to Increase Risk Awareness in University Faculty and Instructors – Angie Moline 2015 (pdf)
- Volunteer Training Strategies for Effective Risk Management – Claire Nelson, Holly Barrass 2018 (pdf)
- We are Failing Our Leaders: A Discussion and Dialogue on How We Can Better Serve Our Field Staff – Kai Johnson 2019 (pdf)
- When Judgement Fails: Intuition, Bias, and Experience in Field Decision Making 2011 – Brendan Madden (pdf)
- When P and P Go Out the Window – Tyler Carroll 2019 (pdf)
- Where Are We Now? 20 Years of Decision Making 2013 – Brendan Madden, Tod Schimelpfenig (pdf)
- You Know Too Much! Understanding and Mitigating Your Expert Blind Spot 2016 – Emily Abell (pdf)
Mental, Social, and Emotional Health Track: Mental health challenges and emotional risk; stress and trauma; supporting mental, social, and emotional health in both staff and students.
2023 Presentation:
- Community Resiliency Model - Charley Downing 2023 (pdf)
- Exclusive Spaces - Managing Inherent Risks of Racism in Outdoor Spaces - Meena Fernald, Arii Sylvers 2023 (pdf)
- Exclusive Spaces - Managing Inherent Risks of Racism in Outdoor Spaces - Organization Worksheet (handout 3)(pdf)
- Exclusive Spaces - Managing Inherent Risks of Racism in Outdoor Spaces - Scenario Practice (handout 2)(pdf)
- Exclusive Spaces - Managing Inherent Risks of Racism in Outdoor Spaces - Scenarios (handout 1)(pdf)
- From Mount Hood to Mount Hood - Lorca Smetana (youtube video)
- Navigating Resiliency, Bandwidth, and Burnout for Field Staff and Participants - Darren Gruetze 2023 (pdf)
- Navigating Resiliency, Bandwidth, and Burnout for Field Staff and Participants - 40 Assets (handout 1)(pdf)
- Navigating Resiliency, Bandwidth, and Burnout for Field Staff and Participants - ACES (handout 2)(pdf)
- Navigating Resiliency, Bandwidth, and Burnout for Field Staff and Participants - Dopamine Menu (handout 3)(pdf)
- Risk and the Human Nature Connection - Dave Erbe, Kayla Scheid 2023 (pdf)
- The Tidal Wave - Running Accessible Risk-Aware Wilderness Programs in Rising Mental Health Needs - Jill Zeppa 2023(pdf)
Past Presentation:
- Navigating Barriers to Building Inclusive Spaces - Slide Deck from Elyse Rylander
- Supporting Near Miss and Expedition Trauma: The How of It – Brendan Madden, Laura McGladrey 2020 (pdf)
- Ability Awareness: Emotional Well-Being for People with Disabilities – Nathan Vink 2019 (pdf)
- Emotional First Aid: Supporting Your Participants' Mental Health Needs – Jamie Robinson, Gary Robinson, Laura Thompson 2019 (pdf)
- Exclusive Spaces: Managing Inherent Risks to Traveling as a Visibly Marginalized Group – Colleen McHugh, Monique Dailey 2019 (pdf)
- Gender Identity Inclusion Practices: Things We Are Learning at NOLS – Shannon Rochelle 2019 (pdf)
- Mental and Behavioral Health Crisis Management in the Wilderness – Coulter Stone, Mariah Loftin, Norman Elizondo 2019 (pdf)
- Stress, Trauma, and Mental Health in the Workplace: A Program to Build Organizational Resilience – Mike Pigg, Victoria Kerr, Laura McGladrey 2019 (pdf)
- The Body Doesn’t Lie: Managing Risk Through Somatic-Based Learning – Tracy Rekart 2019 (pdf)
Conference Archive
Action steps are measurable tasks or ideas you should be able to do or implement in your program within a reasonably short time frame. They are not meant as large sweeping changes, rather as small steps to move you forward in your risk management strategy. The following lists are arranged alphabetically and include pre-conference workshops and posters.
- 2023 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2019 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2018 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2017 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2016 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2015 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2014 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2013 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2012 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2011 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2010 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2009 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2008 Conference Program (pdf)
- 2007 Conference Program (pdf)