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.

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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 psychological injury, burnout, trauma, and stress injuries is real, and can be mitigated with awareness and action. Here we explore 1) Risk factors for psychological stress and trauma injuries following an adverse event, 2) Protective factors that increase psychological resilience, and 3) Simple awareness and action steps that organizations can incorporate in their risk management plans to mitigate risk factors and increase protective factors for staff, participants, and others affected by a potentially traumatic field incident.

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 consider reasonable accommodation requests; how to vet reasonable accommodation requests; and how to avoid discrimination and retaliation claims.

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 presentation aims to provide a framework and replicable tools for other organizations.

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 to write them for usability, as well as review how they’re developed and updated.

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 (ICS) can be adapted to manage complex, organization-wide disruptions. Using a case study from the Student Conservation Association (SCA), presenters will walk through how ICS principles were applied to stabilize operations, reallocate resources, and support staff, participants, and partners during last year’s federal government shutdown and AmeriCorps grant terminations. Participants will learn a practical framework for structuring response efforts, clarifying roles, and identifying key operational risks. Through guided discussion and hands-on activities, attendees will begin developing a tailored response plan for an administrative incident relevant to their own organization. This session is ideal for program leaders, risk managers, and operations staff seeking to strengthen organizational resilience beyond traditional field incidents.

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 useful tool to identify "systems hazards," which might not be immediately visible in a linear, chain-of-risk approach to incident analysis. This presentation will look to show how a collaborative accimapping exercise after an incident occurs in the field (with both administration and field instructors) can give an organization tangible action steps and tools to reduce risk in the future. We will look at a specific incident that occurred during the Wild Rockies Field Institute's (WRFI) 2024 season, dig into the process of debriefing and accimapping together, and look at some of the outcomes and changes WRFI has made since then to address systemic issues uncovered.

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 and why you should care, what discoverability is, and other topics.

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 staff seek to anticipate the needs and unique risks of this broad population so we may best support them before, during, and after their trip. We’ll learn about Universal Design Framework, Essential Eligibility Criteria, and ADA Reasonable Accommodations. As we delve in, we’ll quickly learn how adapting outdoor programs using this lens actually improves our program for all, not just some.

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 requires accredited organizations to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The current sociopolitical climate has created some conflict for organizations and their ability to comply with and report on the applicable standards. This workshop will review the seven standards that address inclusion, diversity, and psychological safety and will discuss various approaches organizations are taking to navigate them within their local contexts. Attendees will consider how to implement prudent legal strategies that continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of staff and participants

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 will examine how critical decisions are made in the field, what information is available at the time, and how outcomes are shaped by those choices. Through facilitated discussion, attendees will analyze key decision points such as when to modify or cancel programming, how to establish evacuation triggers, and how to balance competing risks to participants, staff, and organizational continuity. The session emphasizes transferable tools and frameworks that can be applied across camps, conservation corps, guiding operations, and other outdoor programs. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen decision-making processes, improve communication under pressure, and build more adaptive, climate-informed risk management systems.

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, insufficient equipment, communication challenges, not turning back in time, and a cascade of bad decision-making. This session will examine what happened, the climber’s defense and justifications for his decisions, and why the court found him guilty. The judge was a climber and mountain rescuer so offered a uniquely qualified perspective to the case. While Austrian law is very different from the laws in the United States and Canada, this session will explore how the court established that the defendant owed his girlfriend a duty of care and how his actions fell short of reasonable alpine climbing standards.

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 input. These reactions may be unhelpful in a crisis. Instead, when we can connect - to our body, our environment and others - we will respond more calmly and effectively. Join me in an experiential exploration of the nervous system and how we can harness it’s power to help us stabilize any situation in the mountains and beyond.

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 →

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 equations of risk becomes critical for decision making with implications for info acquisition, flexibility and resilience. We’ll initially present a macro-overview of navigating health, safety and security abroad, and then look at how the principles and the realities play out in an Outward Bound program in Central America.

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 health emergency response and given tools to use to help keep participants physically and emotionally safe in the field. In this workshop we will discuss the importance of being proactive around mental health incident response and how to support trip leaders in gaining confidence and competence in this area. Attendees will have an opportunity to share experiences and successes, and will walk away with resources to help implement similar strategies at their outdoor programs.

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 at the organizational level. We will offer strategies for building early warning systems and highlight new decision-making challenges faced by programs. We’ll discuss how to leverage and augment existing tools to better represent the new risks posed by extreme weather events and wildfires. Finally, we will review how organizations can operationalize contributions to climate change solutions.

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 →

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 these qualities become most difficult to maintain. This workshop delivers a practical, evidence-informed framework for developing robust critical incident management systems for outdoor and adventure programs. Participants will engage with realistic scenarios that highlight the cognitive and operational challenges that emerge during critical incidents, while exploring proven planning methodologies that address these challenges and support the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. The session emphasizes that effective response begins with systematic preparation. Attendees will receive practical tools and templates for immediate implementation, enabling the development of customized critical incident management plans appropriate to their specific operational contexts. By workshop conclusion, participants will have the knowledge and resources needed to thoroughly assess and strengthen their organization's capacity to manage critical incidents compassionately and effectively.

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 devastating to family and friends, and also undermine the goals and objectives of outdoor programs. Wrongful death settlements alone can easily run into millions of dollars, to say nothing of legal fees and adverse publicity.

The keys to successful cold water risk management are awareness of the danger and following best practices for cold water safety. There are Five Golden Rules of cold water safety. Each is important, but it's the combination of all five that empower you to build a robust cold water safety net.

Recognition and application of cold water safety best practices empower program administrators, trip leaders, instructors, and participants to enhance program safety through the assessment and management of cold water risks.

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 respond and what to do next.

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 legal considerations, with practical, adaptable policy recommendations tailored to your unique work in outdoor education settings.

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