2024 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

How much choice do participants have in your program? Have marketing campaigns seduced them, or are they required to participate by school or parents? Or, perhaps they “choose” to go along because they want to belong in a group. Most instructors know how to offer choice; however, can they teach choice-making skills? Outdoor programs can offer opportunities for participants to make conscious choices and develop an ethic of care through intentional learning, reflection, practice, and engagement with others, which helps to make programs safer and allows participants to leave the program with more skills to travel safely outdoors. With accelerated environmental degradation and political polarization, deepening our understanding of care, on the individual and collective levels seems crucial. Group cohesion and instructor expectations impact choice and one’s sense of belonging—both of which are influenced by factors such as culture and life experiences. Instructors can help participants understand these dynamic and relational processes and develop reflective moral reasoning to increase their understanding of ethical implications of their choices (the average human makes up to 35,000 choices daily). Session participants explore ethical and practical considerations around choice and belonging and outline practical considerations to create safer feeling, equitable, and inclusive environments for people to develop choice-making skills where they can consider and understand the consequences of their choices on themselves, others, and the natural environment—all of which improve the safety outcomes of program experiences.

In this workshop, we would explore the field coaching process that Outward Bound Singapore undertakes to ensure quality and safety in programme delivery. Field coaching is a cornerstone of our commitment to excellence in outdoor education. Our coaching process encompasses a tailored coaching approach and distinct categories to address the diverse needs and profiles of our instructors. Through a combination of theory and practical insights, this workshop will delve into the components of our field coaching process and its significance in enhancing programme quality and safety. The key elements covered are as follows: • Coaching Approach that encompasses the identification of the coaching activity objectives, detailing an observation plan and the coaching model to engage the instructors in sharing of feedback and supporting their development. • Field Coaching Categories that cater to the different areas of development for various profiles of the instructors. Attendees would gain a deeper understanding of the field coaching process and its role in enhancing programme quality and safety. In doing so, instructors can be empowered to deliver quality outdoor education experiences while prioritising participant safety and well-being.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to a simple but effective process for developing an impactful staff training program that develops essential skills, behaviors, and performance expectations to achieve greater programmatic impact. Participants will be guided through a case study from “Project Kindred,” a youth development program in Milwaukee where this approach has been developed and tested. Participants will have the opportunity to practice each step as they begin to apply the framework to their organizations.

This workshop will provide program managers, rescue team leaders, and others with the tools needed to keep their staff's wilderness medical skills well-tuned and accessible. Wilderness Medicine training is an important part of risk management for outdoor programs and rescue teams. Regardless of the duration of a certification, wilderness medicine schools recommend that program managers and team leaders facilitate periodic review sessions with their team, equipment, and environment. This workshop will apply the concepts of spaced learning, in situ practice, and cognitive offloading to help program managers help their staff transfer lessons from their wilderness medical training courses to the parameters and scope of the program they serve. This workshop will serve Search and Rescue Teams, Ski Patrollers, outing clubs, college and professional outdoor programs, professional guide services, military recreation departments, summer camps with tripping programs, etc.