2024 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

In the realm of outdoor recreation, where safety and inclusion are paramount, our scenario-based presentation confronts the pervasive issues of violence and harassment. Drawing from concerning statistics, which highlight the prevalence of harassment and assault in the outdoor industry, we emphasize the urgent need for action to address these challenges and their detrimental impact on workplace culture. Participants will explore how to foster positive cultural change and minimize harassment and violence through a risk management perspective. They'll gain insight into systemic factors contributing to these issues, as well as behavior escalation, active bystander response skills, and the impacts on individuals and organizations. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding violence and harassment, emerging with heightened awareness and tangible strategies to effect positive change. Join us as we empower individuals to step up as leaders in creating environments that prioritize safety, belonging, and respect.

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

The program will ask audience members to consider their capacities to assess, support and manage a broad range of escalating mental health challenges. Drawing from wilderness first aid foundations, the presenter will provide an overview of steps and strategies for prevention and intervention. Organizations can utilize this information to evaluate current strengths and gaps and develop programming, culture, and staff skills.

This workshop will highlight the pros and cons of current wilderness therapy (WT) program models. It will address the concept of totalistic youth programming and the critiques of the “troubled teen industry” by highlighting client rights and client voice. The workshop presenters bring perspectives of WT clients, field staff, clinicians, and researchers. Together, the facilitators hope to promote a safe and open space for dialogue to better establish a trauma-responsive WT intervention model. The larger context of mental health treatment in the US will be highlighted as a limitation but with a focus on how both wilderness and adventure therapy practitioners can embrace more of a human rights perspective, bringing in some of the work of the recent work done by the ATIC Ethics Committee, as well as the revisions being made to the OBH Accreditation Standards re: involuntary treatment and transport.