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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8:30am PDT

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

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

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 →

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

Program Administration, 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 will establish new norms that prioritize mining, logging, and energy development, and increase access for motorized vehicles. Inevitably, this shift will impact outdoor programs that take place on public lands, as extractive activities and motorized use become visible in areas where we have historically provided programming or conservation work. This session will update previous presentations on the agency policy changes currently underway and consider how these changes will impact the risk profile and program effectiveness of outdoor programming that makes use of nearby landscapes. After we have laid out the current state of public lands, we will shift into a discussion of how to apply risk management models to proactively assess these dynamic risks and allocate resources accordingly, and invite participants to apply these models to their own organizational situations and programs.

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

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 their value forward when they go somewhere other than your organization.

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

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