Name: Short-Talk Series
Start: 2026-10-22T15:00:00-0700
End: 2026-10-22T16:30:00-0700

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

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

*Schedule subject to change.

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 Smer
This 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 falls short, and highlights how Participant Accident helps address medical expenses quickly and regardless of fault. Using real‑world wilderness program examples, attendees gain practical insight into how this coverage supports participant care, reduces post‑incident conflict, and complements existing insurance and safety practices—without replacing them.

Belonging on the Border: Accessibility and Inclusivity in the Arizona-Sonora binational Sky Islands | Katherine Gaia Barbaree, Xochitl Lopez, Karla Hernandez
The borderlands of the US Southwest are a highly politicized, racialized, and an increasingly militarized zone. How do we foster an environment of inclusivity and belonging that feels accessible and inclusive to those historically excluded from outdoor recreation and wilderness spaces? In this short talk, participants will hear how one organization–Borderlands Restoration Network–develops and facilitates educational programs that transcend historical lines of who does and does not belong on public lands and outdoor spaces. In the mountainous Sky Island region of the Arizona-Sonora borderlands, our education programs attempt to create and foster an environment of accessibility and inclusivity, amidst a backdrop of larger, dominating narrative that supports anything but.

Risk Reduction PechaKucha: Soft Skills or Bust! | Andrea Kane
A Short Talk in Three Acts Conveying Top Secret Soft-Skills-for-Risk-Reduction Tricks Learned Through 26 Years of Teaching Wilderness Emergency Medicine

Crossing Borders: Managing Immigration Risk for International Student Travel | José González
International student travel has become increasingly complex due to evolving immigration policies, border enforcement practices, and documentation requirements. Outdoor programs and schools now face additional risks when students cross international borders, particularly when participants hold different citizenship statuses or visas.The session will examine emerging risk factors, including customs searches of electronic devices, changing travel restrictions, documentation requirements for minors, and procedures if a student is detained or delayed at a border crossing.Participants will leave with practical tools including a border-crossing documentation checklist, staff preparation guidance, and communication protocols for responding to immigration-related incidents. This session is designed for organizations running international programs in destinations where border processes can create operational risk.

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

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 →

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

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2026 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Katherine Gaia Barbaree

Xochitl Lopez

Bill Smer

Andrea Kane

José González

Karla Hernandez

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2026 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Katherine Gaia Barbaree

Xochitl Lopez

Bill Smer

Andrea Kane

José González

Karla Hernandez

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