Applied Risk Management for Outdoor Programs

Catalog description

In this course, students are trained to balance risk with fundamental outdoor program objectives. They learn to craft defensible risk acknowledgments and emergency response plans while practicing how to educate and involve participants in risk management. Students will gain extensive practice in documentation, reporting, and emergency communications through case studies and practical scenarios as well as learn best practices for teaching participants practical skills in wildlife conflict avoidance, maintaining group wellness and avoiding communicable disease, and medical screening for proactive mental health management. Student assessments include planning and executing an outdoor trip for volunteers as well as participating in an incident response drill with Missoula County’s SAR team and Aerie Backcountry Medicine. Several day-long field trips and one overnight field experience required. Level: Undergraduate and graduate.