Risk Management for Outdoor Programs by Viristar [Online]

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Risk Management for Outdoor Programs by Viristar

Pre-conference Workshop (Online)

Dates: April 2 – 30, 2025
Tuition: USD 584.10 (10%  special discount for OFFSEAS attendees from regular USD 649 tuition)
Online: This course will take place via Viristar’s platforms

The course will take place in the lead up and conclude just following OFFSEAS. If you wish to participate in an earlier cohort you can choose to do so – just reach out after registration.

Viristar’s Risk Management for Outdoor Programs course provides a comprehensive training on safety management for outdoor and experiential professionals.

The course is 40 hours in length, over four weeks, and takes place on Viristar’s online platforms. Live Sessions are at 11:00 am Singapore time (UTC+8) on April 2, 9, 15, 23 and 30, and generally last for 90 minutes.

The course is suitable for managers and those with administrative or other leadership responsibilities for experiential, outdoor, wilderness, adventure, or travel programs, or those who plan to be managers. No prior knowledge is required.

Course Components:

The course is composed of both self-study and video-conference sessions. These live calls include seminar-style discussions, participant presentations, question and answer periods, and learning activities held in large and small groups.

In between video-conference sessions are Independent Work Periods. During these times participants complete independent work including readings, video presentations, quizzes, discussion forums, video-based role-play simulations, assessments, and writing assignments such as a Risk Management Plan outline.

Course topics include:

  • Laws
  • Safety standards
  • Human factors
  • Equipment
  • Transportation
  • Insurance
  • Safety audits
  • Systems thinking
  • and much more

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.

Textbook:

The course includes access to an e-version of the course textbook, Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure. 

Certification:

Individuals who fully participate in learning activities and successfully complete the final exam receive a certificate from Viristar valid for three years.

Important Details

This course will take place via Vivistars platforms. After registering via OFFSEAS to get the 10% discount you will be provided the instructions on how to access the course

 For more information, visit courses.viristar.com.

The course exceeded my expectations in terms of depth of content and style of delivery–activities are varied and really well thought out. Also a good balance of theory and actual real world events.

This course is a must for every outdoor program manager to attend, so that they understand their responsibility and roles in implementing risk management in their organization.

Viristar’s risk management course is recommended to anyone working or volunteering in outdoor education or outdoor activities. Highly effective and an excellent opportunity to upskill!

Engaging during weekly zoom meetings has brought the topic of risk management alive. My awareness and knowledge on the topic has expanded into new areas of safety and inspired me to learn more.

Facilitator

Jeff Baierlein

Jeff Baierlein

Director, Viristar

Jeff A. Baierlein (pronouns: he/him) founded Viristar to provide the very best in consulting and training services to help outdoor and informal education organizations ignite their full potential. Jeff has over 30 years of experience with outdoor education, environmental education, adventure education and experiential education organizations in the US and around the world. He led remote wilderness expeditions, worked as a naturalist-educator, served as an Emergency Medical Technician with ambulance services, led search and rescue missions, and was appointed to the Washington State Governor’s Council on Environmental Education. He served as Executive Director of both the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education and the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center. His writing and lectures have been translated into Russian, Vietnamese, and Chinese.