EXPOSE WRMC Returns to In-Person Format

By Sara Lauridsen Philanthropy Coordinator

The Wilderness Risk Management Conference, the gold standard in helping to mitigate risks inherent in exploring, working, teaching, and recreating in wild places, met in person last October, the first time since 2019.

The WRMC convened for the very first time in 1994 and continued to gather for the next 26 years. In 2020 and 2021, as travel and social gatherings came to a screeching halt during the Covid 19 pandemic, it transformed to an online format. Now after three long years, Darcy Owens, WRMC Manager, enthusiastically reflected on this year’s conference—held Oct. 19-23 in Burlington, Vermont—calling it a “highly successful return to an in-person event” with more than 450 attendees, 225 participating organizations, an exciting array of more than 50 workshops and events, and an exceptional keynote speaker.

According to Drew Leemon, NOLS Risk Management Director, “The WRMC is the best conference of its kind in our profession. No other conference focuses so well on this important aspect of adventure programming and working in remote environments.”

Hosted by NOLS in partnership with Outward Bound, the Student Conservation Association, and the WRMC Steering Committee, the conference provides a forum for outdoor industry professionals to learn and share common practices in wilderness risk management. It helps build a culture of open dialogue as attendees congregate and collaborate. In last year’s survey of attendees, many especially raved about the joy of being able to be back in person, reconnecting with old friends and colleagues, and meeting new ones. People could also attend via Zoom.

The 2022 WRMC conference schedule included innovative workshops on emerging and classic risk management issues, networking sessions, and short talks. Topics addressed were wide ranging and highlights included trauma-sensitive care in the field, stress-injury mitigation, using brain science to improve performance, and emotional intelligence. Several workshops focused on methods for integrating DEI and identity-conscious awareness into risk management, resonating with the WRMC Steering Committee tenet on cultural humility supporting risk management and being essential in creating inclusive programs.

Further connecting the essential relationship between risk management and cultural awareness was keynote speaker Joshua Morris’s riveting address titled “How Risk Management Saved Lives during the Thai Caves Rescue.” Based in Thailand as a caver and climber since 1999, Joshua had developed both a risk management mindset and a keen cross-cultural consciousness. This prepared him well to be the Lead International Team Coordinator in the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue of 12 boys and their coach. Rescuers had never experienced such a daunting set of circumstances and Joshua maintains that it was key risk management decisions that led to the success of the formidable mission.

To assemble such an impressive annual collection of inspiring speakers and events, the WRMC relies on extensive efforts of a cadre of dedicated industry professionals. The Charles (Reb) Gregg Wilderness Risk Management Award is presented annually at the WRMC precisely to recognize those outstanding contributions. (Learn more about this year’s winner, Catherine Hansen-Stamp, on page 8).

Katie Baum Mettenbrink, NOLS Associate Director of Operations, summarized her conference takeaway: “As always, it was an opportunity to recognize that many of the challenges we face in our programs are not unique; we have a whole community of people working on similar issues, grounded in similar values. I’m inspired by the dedication to running quality programs and caring for the people involved and the lands where we operate.”

This year’s conference will be the 30th celebration, so please consider attending what continues to be the benchmark in Wilderness Risk Management Conferences, October 18-20, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. See you there!