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.

10:30am PDT

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

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

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

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

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 in field settings.

Panelists will use real-world scenarios (some routine, some messy) to examine gastrointestinal illness prevention and management, human waste disposal, outbreak response, Leave No Trace considerations, and public lands regulations. Panelists will also share a variety of approaches to communicating about poop that foster a positive risk management culture with participants and field staff. We will address youth-specific challenges (e.g., “poop avoidance”) and inclusion (e.g., pre-existing health issues, cultural sensitivity, gender dynamics).

Attendees will leave with (1) actionable frameworks for prevention, decision-making, and incident response, (2) an up-to-date understanding of wilderness medicine protocols for assessment and treatment of gastrointestinal illnesses, and (3) practical tools for teaching, normalizing, and managing one of the most universal (and operationally complex) aspects of outdoor programs.

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

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 →

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

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 immense value for guides and educators who both manage risk in the wilderness setting, and teach others to develop their own risk management practices. First, this workshop will give participants an opportunity to “tell” a personal risk management story. Then, attendees will receive some guiding frameworks on how to increase the impact of their story based on the goal of sharing their story, and the venue in which the story is shared. The discussion will prompt weaving the story into their debrief practices, lesson plans, and job interviews. This workshop will be of value for all attendees, but may be of particular utility for earlier career field professionals looking to reflect and speak to recent incidents in their developing career.

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

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

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 →

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

Field Practices, Breakout Session