2026 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Main Conference: Tuesday October 20 - Thursday, October 22, 2026

Preconference: Monday October 19 - Tuesday, October 20, 2026

*Schedule subject to change.

8:00am PDT

Hybrid Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification

Monday October 19, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT

Registration will open soon for this course - CLICK HERE. Additional cost TBACourse OverviewOur Hybrid WFR Recertification includes an online component in addition to the traditional scenarios and skills. The online pre-course work allows you to review the curriculum at your own pace, and focus on the hands-on element during your two days on course. The pre-course work must be completed by the...
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Monday October 19, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

8:00am PDT

Risk Management Training for Administrators

Monday October 19, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

To register for this course, CLICK HERE - Additional cost $950Course OverviewWhether 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...
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Monday October 19, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

8:00am PDT

Developing Operating Thresholds for Heat and Wildfire Smoke in Outdoor Programs (FREE to attend & walk-ins welcomed)

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Clark

Free to attend! Walk-ins welcomed, and pre-registration appreciated.This session brings together outdoor industry professionals to develop consensus guidelines for managing two growing risks: extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Participants will collaborate to define practical operating thresholds for when to modify, postpone, or cancel trips, as well as clear protocols for responding when conditions...
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Speakers

Brendan Madden

Director, Enterprise Risk, Girl Guides of Canada

Brendan Madden is the Director, Enterprise Risk at Girl Guides of Canada. He was active in the expedition-based adventure education field for 30 years, and held senior management and instructor positions at both Outward Bound Canada and NOLS. Brendan is a risk management trainer at... Read More →

Stuart Slay

Independent Risk Advisor, Slay Risk LLC

Stuart Slay is Director of Slay Risk, a safety leadership consultancy and coaching practice for outdoor programs and schools. Stuart previously led risk management at the SCA and spent a decade directing an outdoor education program at an international school in South Korea. His background... Read More →

Shana Tarter

Director, Dynamics Project Implementation, NOLS

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

8:00am PDT

Incident Support for Traumatic Stress

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Washington

To register for this preconference workshop, purchase the"Incident Support for Traumatic Stress" ticket on the registration page - additional cost $129This training provides tangible tools and structure for leadership to manage the risk of stress injury within their organizations. We will provide an overview of stress injury, with specific direction for managing potentially traumatic...
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Speakers

Josie McKee

Director of Education, Responder Alliance

Over the past two decades, Josie’s career in the outdoor industry has included guiding and personal climbing expeditions around the globe, working on the Yosemite Search & Rescue team and teaching wilderness medicine. Stress exposure throughout this career gave her personal insight... Read More →

Gates Richards

Operations Director | Lead Instructor, Experiential Consulting | Responder Alliance

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

8:00am PDT

Hybrid Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 4:30pm PDT

Multnomah

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 4:30pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

8:00am PDT

Risk Management Training for Administrators

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 4:30pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 4:30pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

8:00am PDT

Youth Mental Health First Aid USA Certification - Hybrid Format

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT

Clackamas

To register for this preconference workshop, purchase the"Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification" ticket on the registration page - additional cost $215Have you completed your WFR or WFA Certification, but still don't feel prepared to help during a mental health or substance use situation? Join us for an in-depth training to build the skills and confidence you want and need. This course...
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Speakers

Natasha Buffo

Founder, MHFA Trainer, Writer, Dirt & Tears

Natasha Buffo is a former business analyst for Google, Inc. turned outdoor adventurer, community mental health facilitator, and creative non-fiction writer and editor. She’s been a Certified Adult Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) for a decade. Since becoming an MFHA Instructor in... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

12:30pm PDT

Befriending the Nervous System. A Body Centered Approach to Managing Difficult Situations (FREE to attend & walk-ins welcomed)

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:30pm - 4:30pm PDT

Clark

Free to attend! Walk-ins welcomed, and pre-registration appreciated.Have you ever felt paralyzed by fear in the wilderness? Or felt the need to agree with others against what your intuition was telling you? Have you experienced a difficult or terrifying situation that has been hard to deal with, even months or years after the event? When crisis situations arise, our brains sense the stress and the...
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Speakers

Stacy Earlywine

Associate Consultant, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Experiential Consulting

Stacy is a dynamic, engaging presenter with a passion for creating a safe space for anyone she works with. Her background is in movement, outdoor program management, bodywork and Somatic Experiencing. She is an Associate Consultant with Experiential Consulting and thrilled to be bringing... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

12:30pm PDT

Lessons From the Edge: What the Mountains Teach Us About Anticipating Mistakes and Reducing Consequences

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:30pm - 4:30pm PDT

Washington

To register for this preconference workshop, purchase the"Lessons From the Edge" ticket on the registration page - additional cost $100This session explores what mountain recreation teaches us about understanding and managing risk in any environment. Drawing from experience in outdoor settings, participants will explore personal and organizational risk tolerance, as well as common habits that...
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Speakers

Luc Mehl

Owner, Triple Point Training

Luc Mehl is an outdoor educator and author based in Anchorage, Alaska. Luc teaches swiftwater and ice rescue, avalanche safety, risk management, and trip planning, grounded in over 10,000 miles of travel throughout remote Alaska. Luc’s work has earned a Banff Mountain Book Award... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Preconference

12:30pm PDT

Parent Phone Call Lab

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:30pm - 4:30pm PDT

Crown Zellerbach

To register for this preconference workshop, purchase the"Parent Phone Call Lab" ticket on the registration page - additional cost $30Phone calls with parents (or clients) can become so many different things; they can be opportunities and positive connection points, and they can also be pitfalls and significant stressors. This experiential and scenario-based workshop will give participants...
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Speakers

Paul Dreyer

Strategy Associate, Where There Be Dragons

Paul Dreyer (he/him) has worked throughout the world as a facilitator, presenter, curriculum designer, coach, expeditionary leader, RM consultant, and remote medicine instructor. After years as CEO of Avid4 Adventure, Paul became a consultant supporting multiple organizations, including... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Crown Zellerbach

Preconference

3:00pm PDT

Adventure Risk Research Symposium

Tuesday October 20, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Online

Join for the 8th annual Adventure Risk Research Symposium! Learn from adventure risk management and outdoor safety researchers as they present their current research and peer reviewed articles ranging from across the globe. Researchers will share a broad array of new and very relevant topics. Here’s a snippet: Decision making in early-stage backcountry skiers and snowboarders | Practitioner...
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Speakers

Clare Dallat

Founder and Director, Risk Resolve

Jeff Jackson

Jeff Jackson Professional Services

Tuesday October 20, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Online

Preconference

5:00pm PDT

Exhibitor Showcase, Happy Hour, & Conference Kick-Off

Tuesday October 20, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm PDT

Ballroom

Enjoy this energizing event to kick-start your WRMC experience! Light refreshments provided and cash bar available. Network and learn from over thirty industry and professional partners and meet other attendees before the Opening Session. And be sure to also check out the Poster Presentations that will be stationed in the Exhibit Hall:Crisis at Sea: Managing a Partial Sinking and Its Aftermath |...
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Speakers

Andrew Arter

Director of Sailing, Sail Caribbean

Andrew Arter is the Director of Sailing at Sail Caribbean, a teen summer program where participants live aboard sailing vessels and travel between Caribbean islands. With over 20 years of sailing experience, Andrew combines a strong background in seamanship with an engineering degree... Read More →

Daniel J. Cassidy, SAR Professional

Chief Ranger, Mohonk Preserve

Dan joined the Preserve team as a Seasonal Patrol Ranger back in October of 2017 with a foundation in rock climbing and mountain pursuits. He worked his way up the ranks of the ranger team and in January of 2024 landed in his current role as Chief Ranger. Dan has spent the last 7... Read More →

Sergio Juarez

Director of Students, High Mountain Institute

Sergio is a Mexican outdoor professional (NOLS, AMGA, and DMM Instructor) with a passion for the world of intersectionalities, and a keen advocate for marginalized and underrepresented communities in the outdoors. Sergio is the Director of Students at the High Mountain Institute in... Read More →

Blaire Modic

Director of Education, Global Facilitators

Blaire Modic is a global experiential learning leader specializing in international risk management and program safety. With over 20 years of experience, he has developed and led study abroad programs across Latin America, Europe, and beyond, designing protocols for health, safety... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Networking Event, General Session

7:00am PDT

Breakfast (Meal Plan only)

Wednesday October 21, 2026 7:00am - 8:30am PDT

Ballroom

Wednesday October 21, 2026 7:00am - 8:30am PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

8:30am PDT

“No one was injured” (or were they?) Reducing risk factors & increasing protective factors for psychological stress injury following adverse field incidents

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Multnomah

First aid scenarios, natural disasters, and accidents can result in unstable scenes and medical first aid needs. But what about those who witness an adverse event, those who provide critical first aid, or groups that are part of a “near miss”? While most people who experience a potentially traumatic event do not go on to experience lasting post-traumatic stress symptoms, the potential for...
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Speakers

Daye Hagel

Director, Mental Health Wilderness First Aid

Daye Hagel is a veteran wilderness guide and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (C.C.C.) with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and the former Executive Director of the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of B.C., as well as a wife and a mother of three. She developed and... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

Navigating the ADA and Employee Reasonable Accommodation Requests

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Clark

The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), or similar state counterparts, apply to most employers. The protections it offers, and what it requires of both employers and employees can be incredibly confusing. This presentation will offer a step-by-step approach to help you determine if the ADA applies; what steps you need to take as an employer to prevent ADA discrimination and appropriately...
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Speakers

Amanda Esch

Partner, Davis & Cannon, LLP

Amanda F. Esch was raised on a guest and working cattle ranch, giving her a unique understanding of risk management in the outdoor industry. She helps employers draft policies and procedures, conduct independent third-party workplace investigations, and defends administrative and... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

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

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Washington

Traveling as a visibly marginalized group poses inherent risks to programs and participants. With 25+ 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...
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Speakers

Ginny Brooks

Senior Program Manager, City Kids Wilderness Project

Ginny Brooks: Ginny joined City Kids as JET Program Manager in 2022. She is responsible for programming for the 10th, 11th, and 12th grade participants, including school year trips, leadership and professional development training, summer experiences, and post high school planning... Read More →

Montae Franklin

Camp Director, City Kids Wilderness Project

Montae Franklin joined the City Kids community in 2004, progressing from a camper to a staff member and returning in various roles through the years. Before taking on the Camp Director position, he did branding work at FedEx and sat on the board of Horton’s Kids. Additionally, he... Read More →

N'Dea Stewart

Program Manager, City Kids Wilderness Project

N'Dea Stewart: N’Dea is a proud City Kids alumna and now serves as the Elite & Leadership Program Manager. With a deep connection to Washington, DC, and a passion for empowering its youth, N’Dea is dedicated to “paying it forward” by providing transformative outdoor opportunities... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

Creating a Just Safety Culture in Your Camp

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Weyerhaeuser

Child protection policies are essential, and to be effective they must become a living part of your camp culture. This workshop will discuss how to incorporate safety policies into your organization from the ground up and create a safety culture that is ingrained in every part of your camp culture.

Speakers

Tom Rawlings, J.D.

Member, Chalmers, Adams, Backer & Wallen, LLC

For more than 30 years, Tom Rawlings has served as an attorney, juvenile court judge, child rights ombudsman, and director of Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services. He currently works in child welfare as a member of Chalmers Adams Backer & Wallen, LLC, in Atlanta.Tom... Read More →

Debbie Ausburn

Attorney, Chalmers Adams Backer & Wallen LLC

Debbie Ausburn is a social-worker-turned-lawyer who has worked with youth-serving organizations for more than 40 years. She has served a a criminal prosecutor, member of the governing board of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, and a volunteer and Board member with non-profit... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

Using Medical and Behavioral Protocols to Support Field Decision Making

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Clackamas

Medical and behavior protocols support effective decision making in the field. They allow field staff to manage risk and make decisions in ambiguous and complex situations, support consistency across a program, add valuable expertise and common language, and aid decision making in real time. In this workshop, we’ll explore case studies to deepen understanding of how protocols are applied and how...
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Speakers

Robin Larson

Wilderness Medicine Education Director, NOLS

Katie Baum Mettenbrink

Risk Management Director, NOLS

Katie has worked in outdoor education since 1999. Today she is the risk management director at NOLS. Over two decades, she has held a variety of administrative roles at NOLS, chaired the WRMC Steering Committee, co-authored Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders, and spent more than... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Staff Training & Decision Making, Breakout Session

10:00am PDT

Snack Break & Exhibitor Hall Open

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am PDT

Ballroom

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

10:30am PDT

Not Your Typical Incident: Applying Incident Command to “Non-Normal” Administrative Crises

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Multnomah

Incident command systems are typically designed for field-based emergencies, but what happens when the crisis is administrative? Organizations also face “non-normal” incidents such as government shutdowns, sudden funding disruptions, regional natural disasters, and pandemic impacts that require rapid, coordinated responses across teams. This session explores how incident command structure...
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Speakers

Kennedy Redick Jr

National Programs Manager-Internships, Student Conservation Association

Kennedy serves as the National Program Manager for Internships at the Student ConservationAssociation (SCA), where he leads strategic efforts to cultivate the next generation ofenvironmental stewards through federal workforce development initiatives. With over a decadeof experience... Read More →

Anne Morrison

Director Risk & Safety Management, The SCA

Anne Morrison is the Director of Risk and Safety Management at the Student Conservation Association (SCA). She previously spent a decade with Northwest Outward Bound School in a variety of leadership roles. With over 20 years in the outdoor industry, Anne focuses on safety systems... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Accimapping: Theory to Practice

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Clackamas

Systems based risk management has been a leading theory and approach explored at WRMC and throughout the outdoor education risk management community over the past decade. Specifically, accimaps, and accimapping, has been shown to be a leading new practice to better understand how accidents occur and how to better inspect systems within and beyond organizations. In particular, accimapping are a...
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Speakers

Matt-Baker-White

Executive Director, Wild Rockies Field Instutite

Matt Baker-White, M.Ed. is a seasoned field instructor, program administrator, and self-proclaimed risk nerd. As a climber, skiier, backpacker, educator, and parent, he is used to managing field-based risks. As a nonprofit executive director, he has leaned heavily into systems thinking... Read More →

Ash Sward

Enrollment and Operations Coordinator, Wild Rockies Field Institute

Ash Sward, M.Sc. is an experienced field instructor, having led sections of courses for WRFI in Montana and the Southwest. Additionally they helped stand up a local nonprofit in Missoula, MT focused on increasing access to outdoor board sports and empowering youth and marginalized... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Field Practices, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Legal Issues 101: The Basics You Need to Know CORE

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

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 key legal issues to address immediately after a serious incident, what indemnity is...
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Speakers

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 organizations, providing advice about: responding to incidents... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Neurospicy: Supporting Neurodivergent Staff and Participants

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Washington

Neurodivergent participants on our outdoor trips are becoming more and more common, and that’s amazing! This shows that differing brains feel embraced by the outdoor industry, and don’t feel siloed into solely participating in Wilderness Therapy. With more participants than ever (and leaders!) identifying as neurodivergent in our outdoor programs, it is imperative administrators and field...
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Speakers

Taylor Feldman

College Outdoors Program Manager, Lewis & Clark College Outdoors

Taylor Feldman is the College Outdoors Program Manager at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. She is passionate about risk-aware adventuring, mountaineering, foraging, dancing, fermenting, and forest-bathing. Taylor's passion for incorporating justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Balancing Inclusion and Compliance: Strategies for Meeting AEE Standards Amid Political Change

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Clark

Expanded research into human dimensions of risk management has revealed that psychological safety and a sense of belonging are central to improving program learning outcomes and strengthening an organization’s safety culture. AEE has integrated these insights into its accreditation framework, which includes seven standards that address psychological safety, diversity, and inclusion. AEE also...
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Speakers

Margaret Kelso

Risk Management Director, Cornerstone Safety Group

Teresa Jennings, LCSW, LAC, is based in Durango, Colorado, and serves as the Program Director at La Plata Youth Services, a nonprofit supporting youth through mental health, mentorship, and diversion programs. She is also a Mental Health Advisor & Community Wellness Manager with Cornerstone... Read More →

Amy Smallwood

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs; Affiliate faculty, Colorado Mountain College

Amy has worked in outdoor education for over 25 years primarily as an outdoor education professor and administrator. She also teaches wilderness medicine courses for Desert Mountain Medicine, avalanche courses through AIARE, and is an active member of her local search and rescue group... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

12:00pm PDT

Lunch (all attendees)

Wednesday October 21, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Ballroom

Wednesday October 21, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

1:00pm PDT

Community Recgonition Award Ceremony

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT

Ballroom

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Networking Event, General Session

1:30pm PDT

Making the Call: Climate Risk Decision-Making in the Field

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Multnomah

As climate-driven hazards intensify, outdoor program leaders are increasingly required to make high-stakes decisions under uncertain and rapidly changing conditions. This session explores practical decision-making frameworks that support effective risk management before, during, and after climate-related incidents. Using case studies like wildfires, flash flooding, and extreme heat, participants...
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Speakers

Megan Bahari

Senior Director of Disaster Mitigation and Response, American Conservation Experience

Megan Bahari is the Senior Director of Disaster Mitigation and Response at American Conservation Experience (ACE), where she leads the growth of ACE’s disaster work nationwide. She brings over a decade of experience across domestic and international emergencies, including hurricanes... Read More →

Karen Pick

National Director of Program Safety, American Conservation Experience

With over 30 years of experience teaching, guiding, and mentoring in the outdoors, Karen Pick brings a wealth of expertise to her role as National Director of Program Safety at American Conservation Experience (ACE). Her work there merges her strong background in risk management with... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Field Practices, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

How a Climber Got Convicted of Manslaughter

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Clark

A climbing date gone bad, a fatal winter ascent, and a criminal conviction: A case study in how bad decision-making led to a manslaughter conviction. In February 2026, a climber was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend on the Grossglockner in Austria after abandoning his exhausted partner near the summit. The conviction was based on lack of experience,...
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Speakers

Jon Heshka

Associate Professor, Thompson Rivers University Adventure Studies Dept

Jon is a climber and former guide. He trained and coordinated search and rescue full-time in BC for 7 years, worked with Denali Mountain Rescue, and has been a professor at Thompson Rivers University in Canada since 2002. He teaches in the Adventure Studies Department and also served... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

Resilience in the Mountains, A Body Centered, Nervous System Approach to Increasing Resiliency

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Washington

Have you ever felt paralyzed by fear in the mountains? Or felt the need to agree with others against what your intuition was telling you? Have you experienced a difficult or terrifying situation that has been hard to deal with, even months or years after the event? When crisis situations arise in the mountains, our brains sense the stress and the nervous system reacts, often without our conscious...
See More →

Speakers

Stacy Earlywine

Associate Consultant, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Experiential Consulting

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

Vini, Vedi, VUCA, Pura Vida – Navigating Health & Safety for International Programs

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

We’ll provide an overview of the most salient challenges for operating/managing overseas programs in our current VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) World. We’ll also look at the challenges of melding local competence (culture, language, sensibilities) with U.S. standards for health, safety and security. Where disruption is one of the few certainties, translating uncertainty into...
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Speakers

Tim Barker

Director of Operations & Safety, The Hurricane Island Outward Bound School

Tim serves as the Director of Operations & Safety at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. He helped build a strategic partnership between Outward Bound Costa Rica and HIOBS, co-founded the Sundog Outdoor Leadership Initiative, and serves on the Colorado College’s Ritt Kellogg... Read More →

Bill Frederick

Director, Lodestone Safety International

Bill Frederick - Bill is the founder of Lodestone Safety International. He spent 20 years in outdoor ed (Outward Bound) and international education (SFS and Dartmouth). Bill also teaches for Wilderness Medical Associates International and designed their Travel Med curriculum. He holds... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

Participants in Distress: Developing a framework for mental health response in the field

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Clackamas

Mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and depression, are on the rise in our society, including across college campuses. Many outdoor programs, especially those in collegiate settings, can see the effects of this firsthand through the increase in both number and severity of behavioral and mental health related incidents in the field. At our program, student guides are trained on mental...
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Speakers

Tessa Opperman

Outdoor Leadership Programs Manager, UC San Diego Recreation - Outback Adventures

Tessa Opperman has worked in Outdoor Education for eighteen years, and has been in her full-time administrator role for over seven years. She has a Master of Arts in Outdoor Education Leadership from Prescott College. She has experience working in wilderness therapy and as a NOLS... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Staff Training & Decision Making, Breakout Session

2:30pm PDT

Snack Break & Exhibitor Hall Open

Wednesday October 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

Ballroom

Wednesday October 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

3:00pm PDT

Building Climate Change Resilience in the Outdoor Industry

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Multnomah

Utilizing our peer-reviewed study of climate impacts on outdoor programs (2025), we will present an overview of the sector’s self-assessment of the impacts of climate change on operations and perception of preparedness to face these burgeoning challenges. We will introduce our Climate Resilience Plan based on the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and demonstrate how to apply it...
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Speakers

Brendan Madden

Director, Enterprise Risk, Girl Guides of Canada

Shana Tarter

Director, Dynamics Project Implementation, NOLS

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

Contemporary Critical Incident Management Planning

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Clackamas

Effective critical incident management requires extraordinary capabilities precisely when organizations are most vulnerable. Research consistently demonstrates that during crises, decision-making quality deteriorates significantly compared to normal operations. The paradox is clear: our need for adaptability, clear judgment, and leadership from both the field and the office peaks exactly when...
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Speakers

Deb Ajango

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 →

Clare Dallat

Founder and Director, Risk Resolve

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

Cold Water Safety Best Practices - Avoiding Fatalities and Lawsuits

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

The hazards of cold water immersion are well-documented and have been known for over 50 years. Despite extensive scientific research and a large number of close calls and fatalities, tragic incidents continue to occur every year. Cold water close calls and fatalities are almost always preventable, yet many outdoor programs and commercial outfitters fail to implement best practices. Fatalities are...
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Speakers

Moulton Avery

Founder and Director, National Center for Cold Water Safety

Founder and Director, National Center for Cold Water Safety. Internationally recognized subject matter expert with 50+ years experience. Executive Director, Center for Environmental Physiology, Washington, DC for ten years. Developed first national public health campaigns on heat... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Field Practices, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

Responding to Mental Health in the Field: Support, Presence, and Decision-Making

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Clark

Mental health concerns, including suicide risk, are increasingly encountered in outdoor and experiential settings. Many professionals have received training in approaches such as Mental Health First Aid, which build awareness and confidence in supporting individuals in distress. In acute situations, however, the challenge is often less about identifying a specific diagnosis and more about how to...
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Speakers

Graham Prather

Wilderness Medicine Education Manager, NOLS

Graham Prather is the Education Manager at NOLS Wilderness Medicine. He has over two decades of experience in experiential education and holds an MS in Experiential Education and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. A Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) and mental... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response: developing comprehensive practices, navigating awkward conversations, and responding to incidents

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Washington

In this interactive workshop, participants explore the Socioecological Model—a harm reduction framework for assessing and strengthening organizational approaches to sexual misconduct. Together, we’ll assess your team’s efforts to set expectations for appropriate conduct and their readiness to prevent and respond to incidents of sexual misconduct and related encounters. The session covers key...
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Speakers

Deidre Loftus

Consultant and Sexual Misconduct Prevention Educator

Deirdre is a consultant with over a decade of experience dedicated to ending sexual misconduct within and beyond the outdoor industry. She specializes in developing strategies to interrupt and prevent sexual misconduct in traditional education and outdoor education settings. Her work... Read More →

Frances Mock

Frances Turner Mock, Attorney

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

4:45pm PDT

Structured Networking

Wednesday October 21, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm PDT

Ballroom

Join peers for engaging and information conversations, and hear how like-organizations manage similar challenges. Hosted by WRMC Steering Committee members, topics are provided and volunteers facilitate small group discussions. The goal is to provide a venue for conference attendees to connect and network, and share similar challenges and ideas to help improve their programs.

Wednesday October 21, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Networking Event

7:00am PDT

Breakfast (Meal Plan only)

Thursday October 22, 2026 7:00am - 8:30am PDT

Ballroom

Thursday October 22, 2026 7:00am - 8:30am PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

8:30am PDT

NOLS Crisis Case Study

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Multnomah

Responding to a crisis, such as a participant fatality, is complex. It can also be stressful and chaotic. A crisis has the potential to overwhelm an organization's staff and resources, threatening the ability to run programs in the short or long-term. Having a response plan in place that addresses foreseeable needs allows the people in your organization to focus on inevitable surprises and lays...
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Speakers

Katie Baum Mettenbrink

Risk Management Director, NOLS

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

The Poop Panel: Health, Hygiene, and Habitats when “Human Waste” Happens

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Clackamas

Everyone poops – but in the field, how we manage it can have real consequences for participant and ecosystem health, group dynamics, and organizational risk. This candid, practical panel brings together experts in field protocols, wilderness medicine, youth program design and implementation, land management, and both wilderness and global travel programs to explore the challenges of human waste...
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Speakers

José González

Faculty, NOLS

José H. González Sanders, Ed.D., is Director and Chair of Experiential Education at The Overlake School, leading outdoor, global, and service learning programs. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in risk management systems, safety science, and international program... Read More →

Paul Dreyer

Strategy Associate, Where There Be Dragons

Neal Fox

Founder and Executive Director, Sierra STEM

Dr. Neal Fox (he/him) is the Founder and Executive Director of Sierra STEM, an outdoor education and science enrichment nonprofit in California’s Eastern Sierra. Neal earned his PhD from Brown University and spent 12 years as a researcher and teacher before moving to the mountains... Read More →

Nadia Kimmel

CEO, Desert Mountain Medicine

Nadia serves as an instructor, curriculum writer, and founding member of the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative. Nadia holds an MS from Northern Arizona University, where her research examined backcountry human waste disposal and fecal bacteria in Southwest ecosystems. Her... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Field Practices, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

A flash flood, a fatality, a lawsuit. A case study in critical incident response and preparing to successfully defend a lawsuit.

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Weyerhaeuser

Join outdoor recreation attorney Leah Corrigan for a candid discussion of a river fatality in Grand Canyon on a commercial river trip. We will delve into risk management strategies that ultimately led to a favorable result in litigation. From risk management preparedness to immediate response and litigation, the session will explore tangible takeaways for managers and outdoor professionals.

Speakers

Leah Corrigan

Managing Attorney, Recreation Law Group

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

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

Positive Masculinity: A Relational Approach to Managing Behavioral Risks with Boys & Young Men

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Washington

Current research suggests that boys and young men are experiencing increased rates of online gender bias socialization, behavioral dysregulation, and a lack of prosocial skill development. They need experiential programs more than ever. Yet, mental health challenges, social isolation, rampant misogyny, and the lure of the harmful version of masculinity found in the “manosphere” all present...
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Speakers

John Harnetiaux

Upper School Dean of Students | NOLS Instructor, Catlin Gabel School

John Harnetiaux: John is the Dean of Students at Catlin Gabel School in Portland, OR, and is a NOLS field instructor. He was also the Operations Manager for NOLS Pacific Northwest, director of outdoor programs at Eastern Washington University, and director of outdoor and global education... Read More →

Kip Ioane

Founder and Lead Facilitator | Head Basketball Coach at South Salem High School, Teams of Men

Kip Ioane is the founder and lead facilitator of TeamsOfMen and head boys basketball coach at South Salem High School in Salem, Oregon. A longtime educator and coach, he works with schools, athletic programs, and parents to help young men build emotional fluency, accountability, and... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

8:30am PDT

Creating Influence as a Safety Leader

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT

Clark

Safety leaders in outdoor programs are often accountable for safety outcomes, yet they have little positional authority to direct decisions or set organizational priorities. This is a structural challenge, not a personal one, and it's commonly faced by risk managers, program directors, and anyone who wears a safety leadership hat as part of their role.

Speakers

Stuart Slay

Independent Risk Advisor, Slay Risk LLC

Thursday October 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

10:00am PDT

Snack Break & Exhibitor Hall Open

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am PDT

Ballroom

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

10:30am PDT

Bystander Intervention Tools for Outdoor Trips & Adventures

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Washington

Abuse, bullying, harassment, coercive dynamics, and harmful group behavior do not disappear in wilderness settings. In many cases, isolation, fatigue, hierarchy, and tight-knit outdoor communities make these dynamics harder to name and riskier to interrupt. This session begins by examining the context in which harm occurs, including power, identity, social cohesion, and the small-community...
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Speakers

Oeishi Banajeer

Behavioral Health Systems & Policy Architect,, Grove Institute

Oeishi Banerjee is the behavioral health policy and system architect at Grove Institute. With a background in technology and psychology, she is currently pursuing a master's degree at Dartmouth, focusing on the intersection of the environment and business. At Grove, she supports the... Read More →

Kallie Kurtz

Designer & Lead Clinician, Grove Institute

Kallie Kurtz, LCSW, is the Clinical Director at Grove Institute, specializing in the intersection of behavioral health and the outdoors. She develops innovative therapy models, such as Bilateral Kinetic Processing, and specializes in trauma, ADHD, and crisis response her work spans... Read More →

Fartun Osman

Behavioral Health Catalyst, Grove Institute

Fartun Osman is a behavioral health catalyst with Grove Institute and a special education teacher at an alternative school in Portland, OR. Having moved to Portland as a Somali refugee from Kenya at a young age, Fartun is an active member of the outdoor community and Diversify Whitewater... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Have You Got It Covered? Insurance 101 - The Basics

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

In part one of the presentation participants will learn the basics of securing an adequate insurance program for an outdoor organization. Topics will include conducting a risk assessment and navigating a claim, as well as reviewing the fundamentals of the most important insurance policies: General Liability, Auto, Workers Compensation, Umbrella, D&O, Employment Practices, Crime, Cyber, Property...
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Speakers

Sam Daume

Senior Vice President, Fred C. Church Insurance

Lach Zemp

Risk Management Council, Outward Bound

Lach (pronounced “Lash”) serves as Risk Management Counsel at Outward Bound, overseeing a range of risk management issues and claims for the Outward Bound Schools. Before joining Outward Bound, Lach practiced law for 30 years defending clients, including summer camps and employers... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Beyond the Incident: Buildling Sustainable Mental Health Support in the Outdoor Industry

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Multnomah

This interactive workshop explores how outdoor organizations can better support staff mental health beyond immediate incident response. Drawing on experiences from SOAR and lessons learned from peer support groups for outdoor trauma, participants will examine both the challenges and opportunities of providing mid- to long-term care in a field shaped by isolation, seasonality, and high-performance...
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Speakers

Jenny Fiebig

Board Member, SOAR

Jenny now works with SOAR, supporting individuals and communities impacted by outdoor-related trauma through peer support and connection-centered approaches. Since 2015, Jenny has practiced Internal Family Systems (IFS), integrating its focus on understanding all parts of the sel... Read More →

Em Ledingham

Board Member, SOAR

Em Ledingham: Em Ledingham is a NOLS instructor, IFS practitioner, and SOAR Board Member.

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Outdoor Classrooms In Transition; Navigating the Risks of a Changing Federal Landscape

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Clark

In the turbulent period since January 2025, agency management of the public lands and waters that serve as our outdoor classrooms has changed, and more changes are in the works. A few of these changes will create new opportunities for outdoor programs. However, most of these changes will shatter management norms that have existed on public lands for many years. In their place, the Administration...
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Speakers

Paul Sanford

Director of Equitable Access Policy, The Wilderness Society

Steve Smith

Founder and Lead Consultant, Experiential Consulting, LLC

Steve Smith has worked in the outdoor industry for over thirty years, including leadership roles in the field, in the office, in the board room, and in national conferences, specializing in risk management. Since founding Experiential Consulting in 2008, the team at EC has worked... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

10:30am PDT

Beyond Imparting Knowledge: Mentorship That Builds Self-Awareness and Empowerment CORE

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Clackamas

Mentorship goes beyond imparting knowledge. It is about helping emerging leaders grow confident in their decision-making, develop sound judgment, and gain a deeper understanding of their own capabilities and limits so they can lead others safely and effectively.Self-awareness and empowerment are often viewed as natural by-products of gaining experience and learning new skills. But what if we...
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Speakers

Rumi Kodama

Paramedic - Instructor/Preceptor & Outdoor Professional, Unaffiliated

Rumi works as a paramedic in BC with roots in the outdoor/wilderness therapy industry for over 25 years including: YMCA, BC Conservation Corps, NOLS, Outward Bound Canada, and Alaska Crossings. Mentoring others has become a prominent role allowing her to develop and iterate new... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Staff Training & Decision Making, Breakout Session

12:00pm PDT

Lunch (all attendees)

Thursday October 22, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT

Ballroom

Thursday October 22, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

1:30pm PDT

Tell Your Risk Management Story: How to Better Share Incidents From the Field to Sharpen Your Skills, Strengthen Learning Outcomes, and Enhance Your Career

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

When you work in the field long enough, you soon find yourself with a catalog of stories to tell at happy hour, or around the campfire, about the incidents and near misses you’ve experienced in your career. These stories can be challenging to share, or quite exciting and fun. The presenters of this workshop will argue that storytelling is a skill that can be developed, and is a skill that has...
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Speakers

Matt Leslie

Associate Director, Custom Education, NOLS

Matt Leslie is the Associate Director of Business Development for NOLS Custom Education, helping bring the NOLS curriculum and experiential learning to their wide-ranging partner organizations. Matt is also a senior field instructor for NOLS, leading backpacking, rock climbing, and... Read More →

Zach Taylor

Senior Field Instructor, NOLS

Zach Taylor (he/him) is a NOLS field and wilderness medicine instructor with 7 years leading wilderness expeditions across North America. In addition to field work, Zach has become increasingly passionate about the intentional development of new field instructors — serving on NOLS... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Field Practices, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

Strategic Communication: Mastering the Art of Challenging Conversation and De-escalation

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Washington

This session offers a comprehensive look at the strategies and skills necessary for mastering challenging conversations and effectively managing conflict. Beginning with self-regulation techniques that focus on maintaining composure and mental clarity under pressure we will then build on that foundation and examine how to use empathy and strategic, non-threatening language to redirect difficult...
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Speakers

Jenn Layman

Chief Partnership & Strategy Officer, American Conservation Experience

Jenn Layman brings over 20 years of youth development, conservation, and partnership experience to the role of Chief Partnership & Strategy Office at American Conservation Experience (ACE). She is passionate about systematically dismantling barriers to participation and enjoyment... Read More →

Karen Pick

National Director of Program Safety, American Conservation Experience

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Mental Social & Emotional Health, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

Hire Better: Discussing An Outdoor Education Hiring Norm

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Multnomah

Many employers hire new staff at the base of their organizational framework, with more advanced roles being filled by internal applicants. We will discuss pros and cons of this practice, strategies for applicants to better present their experience when applying for leadership roles, how administrators can be more open to skilled external applicants, and ways to support your own staff in carrying...
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Speakers

Lucas Wade

Wilderness Risk Director, Camp Manito-wish YMCA.

Lucas Wade is the Wilderness Risk Director at Camp Manito-wish YMCA in Wisconsin, where he supports more than 200 staff each summer in leading trips 3-45 days in length all across North America.

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

Self-Reliance in the Age of Field Technology: What We’ve Gained, What We’ve Lost, and What We Choose

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Clark

Over the last few decades, field technology has developed alongside evolving expectations of safety and communication among our clients and participants. How has this also influenced our sense of self-reliance and our ability to make sound decisions in the field independently? Join us for a discussion on how these changes have influenced our industry and our sense of self-reliance, what we might...
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Speakers

Nancy Crane

Director of Outings Safety, Sierra Club

Nancy Crane is an outdoor education and safety leader with over 25 years of experience guiding program operations, safety systems, and leadership development. She currently serves as Director of Outings Safety at Sierra Club and previously held leadership roles with First Descents... Read More →

Doug Sandok

Outings Program Safety Manager, Sierra Club

Doug Sandok has been active in the outdoor and travel industries as a professional mountain guide, instructor, program director and risk manager for almost 40 years. He has held risk management positions with Where There Be Dragons, The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, REI Experiences... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Staff Training & Decision Making, Breakout Session

1:30pm PDT

The Sociology of Risk: Identity and Meaning in the Wilderness

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Clackamas

The “FACETS” acronym is a widely used tool designed to help wilderness professionals avoid falling into heuristic traps. Yet accidents persist, even among highly experienced guides. Rather than treating these incidents as lapses of judgement, workshop participants will consider the following questions: What kind of person did this decision allow me to be at that moment? Which identities were...
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Speakers

Elan Rochell-Share

PhD Student in Sociology, Department of Sociology, University of Colorado Boulder

Elan Rochell-Share is a Ph.D. student in Sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder and an experienced wilderness guide. While his dissertation focuses on the cultural frameworks shaping mental health practitioners, he has spent recent years applying sociological and organizational... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Staff Training & Decision Making, Breakout Session

2:30pm PDT

Snack Break & Exhibitor Hall Open

Thursday October 22, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

Ballroom

Thursday October 22, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Meal

3:00pm PDT

Navigating Critical Incident Stress: Support Strategies Before, During, and After the Event

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Washington

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of resilience, wellness, and stress management resources? It’s time to de-mystify the toolkit. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a comprehensive body of knowledge offering practical skills to support groups and individuals throughout the entire lifecycle of an incident. In this interactive session, we move beyond the buzzwords to provide a...
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Speakers

Katjarina "Katja" Hurt

Director, Wilderness Chaplains

Katja is a Learning Strategies Manager for Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and a Master-Level Trainer. A 19-year ski patroller, EMT, and mountaineer, she brings extensive field experience as a Seattle Mountain Rescue Resilience Team member and volunteer... Read More →

Brian Linacre

Member, Tacoma Mountain Rescue

Brian is a career paramedic-firefighter and Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT) member with the Hoquiam Fire Department in Washington. With a lifetime of urban and wildland emergency response experience, he serves as a dedicated volunteer with Tacoma Mountain Rescue, Pierce County... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Washington 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Emergency Planning & Crisis Response, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

Wilderness Medicine: What’s New and Evolving CORE

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Clackamas

Join us for an update on what’s new in the field of wilderness medicine. We’ll explore evolving practices and revisit outdated ones, with topics ranging from epinephrine administration and naloxone to blisters and tourniquet use. Refresh your skills and leave with the most up-to-date information currently being taught at NOLS Wilderness Medicine.

Speakers

Robin Larson

Wilderness Medicine Education Director, NOLS

Graham Prather

Wilderness Medicine Education Manager, NOLS

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Clackamas 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Field Practices, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

“We are Ready to Swear-in the Witness” – How Your Marketing and Policies Show Up in Litigation - A Deposition Simulation: Anne Jones v. ABC River Guides

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Clark

ABC River Guides has been sued in a personal injury action after Anne Jones fell out of an overturned raft, hitting her head on a rock after her helmet fell off due to an allegedly faulty buckle. Now, Bill Brown, owner/operator of ABC will give a deposition in the case. Listen in as ABC"s lawyer prepared Mr. Brown for his deposition, then watch a true-to-life simulation of the deposition with a...
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Speakers

Ben Scott

Partner, Butler Snow LLP

Ben is a partner with Butler Snow LLP in Memphis, Tennessee. His law practice focuses on civil defense litigation, including product liability, personal injury, premises liability, employment, and medical professional liability. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ben is a... Read More →

Doug Stevens

Attorney, Caplan & Ernest, LLC

Lach Zemp

Risk Management Council, Outward Bound

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Clark 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Legal & Insurance, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

The Information Gap: Using AI to Deliver the Right Answers at the Right Time in Outdoor Programs

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Weyerhaeuser

Most preventable issues in outdoor programs don’t start in the field—they start with missing, unclear, or inaccessible information. Participants arrive underprepared, families misunderstand expectations, and staff spend valuable time filling gaps instead of focusing on leadership and safety.

Speakers

Michael Nesbitt

Owner/Managing Director, Naturalists at Large

Mike is an owner of Naturalists at Large and has worked in outdoor education for over 25 years. With a background in adventure education and natural history, he has spent his career with Naturalists at Large, contributing in roles ranging from field instruction and program development... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Weyerhaeuser 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Program Administration, Breakout Session

3:00pm PDT

Short-Talk Series

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT

Multnomah

The short-talk series will have four presentations (of 18 minutes each) in this rapid-fire Ted Talk-style format!Closing the Coverage Gap: Participant Accident Insurance | Bill SmerThis session educates wilderness and outdoor risk professionals on how Participant Accident insurance strengthens overall risk management. It explores common injury scenarios, explains where General Liability coverage...
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Speakers

Katherine Gaia Barbaree

Education Program Director, Borderlands Restoration Network

Katherine has over two decades of experience building resilience at the intersection of community, ecology, and education. She credits her life-long love affair with arid mountain landscapes to her eastern Mediterranean ancestry, as well as formative experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer... Read More →

Xochitl Lopez

Environmental Field Coordinator, Borderlands Restoration Network

Xochitl (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Oxnard, California. Xochitl is a proud first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Ñuu Savi (Mixtec) migrants and has a background in youth organizing, environmental and recreational planning, education, and hospitality. One... Read More →

Bill Smer

National Sales Director, The Hartford

Bill Smer is National Sales Director for Accident & Health at The Hartford, supporting organizations with specialized insurance solutions since 2022. With over 20 years of experience in accident and health insurance sales, Bill brings deep expertise in risk management for outdoor... Read More →

Andrea Kane

Since 1999 Andrea Kane has taught for SOLO, teaching individuals how to respond to emergencies with limited resources. She led outdoor trips for many years, was Director of Outdoor Pursuits at Simon’s Rock College, ran the UVM Adventure Ropes Course, built and paddled kayaks for... Read More →

José González

Faculty, NOLS

Karla Hernandez

Field Coordinator, Borderlands Restoration Network

Karla, born and raised in Nogales, is shaped by the bicultural richness of the border region. She has a deep love for the desert, mountains, oceans, and the life that connects them all. Drawing on interpretive ranger experience from multiple public land sites and environmental education... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm PDT
Multnomah 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Short-Talk Series, Breakout Session

4:45pm PDT

Keynote Address with Erick Cedeño | The Most Overlooked Expedition in American Outdoor History: Retracing the 1897 Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps Expedition

Thursday October 22, 2026 4:45pm - 6:00pm PDT

Ballroom

This keynote centers on the story of the Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps and examines why one of the most ambitious expeditions in U.S. history remains largely unknown. It explores how narratives of exploration are shaped, who gets remembered, and how that influences participation and belonging in outdoor spaces today. Through retracing this journey, Erick reflects on the role of storytelling in...
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Speakers

Erick Cedeño

Erick Cedeño was born in Panama City and raised in Miami. He graduated from Bethune-Cookman University. His philosophy is to explore everything. He has set out to do just that but on two wheels. After a bicycle tour from Vancouver to Tijuana, he traveled from Miami Beach to New York... Read More →

Thursday October 22, 2026 4:45pm - 6:00pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Networking Event, General Session

6:00pm PDT

Conference Closing & Celebration!

Thursday October 22, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

Ballroom

Wrap up the conference with unstructured networking, drinks, and celebration!

Thursday October 22, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Ballroom 909 N Hayden Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217

Networking Event, General Session

2026 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

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