Training Description
Risk Management for Outdoor Programs
Online Training Course for Outdoor Professionals
October 24 - November 14, 2020
Dates
October 24 - November 14, 2020
Four live online sessions:
Saturday October 24, 11 am - 12 noon ET
Saturday October 31, 11 am - 12 noon ET
Saturday November 7, 11 am - 12 noon ET
Saturday November 14, 11 am - 12 noon ET
Independent individual and group work occur between live sessions.
Outcomes
- Gain critical knowledge of best practices in outdoor program risk management
- Learn procedures, systems and plans essential to meeting key outdoor safety standards
- Understand how to apply successful risk management strategies to adventure programs, experiential education, wilderness expeditions, and outdoor trips
Valuable for
Program Coordinators/Managers, Risk Management officers, Risk Management/Safety Committee members, members of Boards of Directors, executive leadership. Leaders of outdoor, wilderness, travel, experiential and adventure programs.
Course Format
The course is composed of four live video-conference sessions and three independent work periods:
1. Live sessions. Four live, video-conference sessions, one hour long, occurring 11 am – noon Eastern Time on consecutive Saturdays. This include structured real-time small-group and large-group discussions and participant project presentations. These take place starting Saturday October 24, ending November 14, 2020:
Saturday October 24, 11 am - 12 noon Eastern Daylight Saving Time (UTC-4)
Saturday October 31, 11 am - 12 noon Eastern Daylight Saving Time (UTC-4)
Saturday November 7, 11 am - 12 noon Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5)
Saturday November 14, 11 am - 12 noon Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5)
2. Independent work. Between live video-conferences, three independent work periods for individual and remote small-group activity. This work includes:
- Review of pre-recorded slide presentations with presenter video
- Completion of readings
- Participation in online discussion forums
- Participation in interactive video-based decision-making activities
- Completion of writing assignments (including writing risk management plan and strategic improvement plan content)
- Peer review of select classmate writing content
- Completion of organizational self-assessment
- Completion of online worksheets
- Participation in online risk decision-making role-playing scenario
- Structured analysis of case-study examples
- Completion of quizzes and final exam
These occur the weeks of October 25-31, November 1-7, and November 8-14, 2020.
Independent work is anticipated to take a minimum of 7-12 hours per week.
Trainer/Facilitator
Jeff Baierlein, Director, Viristar Risk Management; past Executive Director at Outward Bound USA.
Language
English
Cost
USD $259. Course fee includes four live sessions, materials for independent work sessions, an electronic copy of the course textbook Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure, and certification.
Syllabus
Live Session 1
Welcome, Orientation, Introductory Concepts in Risk Management
Independent Work 1
General Concepts in Risk Management
- Approaches to Risk Management
- Standards
- Laws
Risk Domains
- Organizational Culture
- Activities and Program Areas
- Staff
- Equipment
- Participants
- Subcontractors
- Transportation
- Business Administration
Live Session 2
Facilitated Discussion
Participant Presentations: Self-Evaluation of Risk Management in Risk Management Domains
Independent Work 2
Risk Management Instruments
- Risk Transfer
- Incident Management
- Incident Reporting
- Incident Reviews
- Risk Management Committee
- Medical Screening
- Risk Management Reviews
- Media Relations
- Documentation
- Accreditation
- Systems Thinking
Special Topic: COVID-19 Management
Live Session 3
Facilitated Discussion
Participant Presentations: Self-Evaluation of Risk Management with Risk Management Instruments
Independent Work 3
Synthesis & Application
Risk Management Plan Development
Strategic Improvement Plan for Your Organization
Final Exam
Live Session 4
Facilitated Discussion
Participant Presentation: Strategic Improvement Plan for Your Organization
Conclusion & Certificates
Textbook
The course textbook is Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure (viristar.com/book). This 208-page text is provided to each student in electronic format.
Certification
Participants take short quizzes throughout the course and a final written exam. Individuals who fully participate in learning activities and successfully complete the final exam receive a certificate from Viristar valid for three years.
Previous Participants Say:
- “Viristar delivered a high quality training and I would recommend it to any outdoor program.” Si Dilks, ChinaClimb
- “Extremely useful, important and informative course…very enjoyable and worthwhile.” Kelvin Fawcett, Nord Anglia International School
- “Great insight into risk management—took a lot away to implement back at my workplace. Very well run. Great course!” Liam Warren, Harrow International School
Registration
Enroll at https://aore.org/pre-conference_workshops.php. The course is being offered as a “pre-conference” workshop at the annual conference of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, although anyone may enroll (and need not attend any other conference-related activities). Follow directions under “How to Register for Pre/Post Conference Workshops” to register for the AORE annual conference and select this training event from the menu.
Registration
Enroll at https://aore.org/pre-conference_workshops.php. The course is being offered as a “pre-conference” workshop at the annual conference of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, although anyone may enroll (and need not attend any other conference-related activities). Follow directions under “How to Register for Pre/Post Conference Workshops” to register for the AORE annual conference and select this training event from the menu.