Risk Management

How NOLS Is Reopening Courses Responsibly in the Field

Through careful planning and preparation to mitigate risks of COVID-19, we will be able to welcome students for select courses this summer.

Aparna Rajagopal stands at wooden podium at the WRMC holding Reb Gregg award plaque

Takeaways from the 2019 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Why should you bother attending the Wilderness Risk Management Conference? Get the inside scoop on the 2019 WRMC from NOLS staff member Molly Herber.

pink and purple sunset with wisps over cloud over calm water in New Zealand

Social Distancing Responsibly in the Outdoors

Now's the time to apply lessons learned outdoors, like practicing LNT, having a positive attitude, and managing risk responsibly, to the frontcountry.

A quinzhee stands in deep snow in front of a mountain while a pair of skis rests outside its entrance.

How To Build a Winter Snow Shelter

Excited to go winter camping? These pro tips and instructions teach you how to build a quinzhee shelter out of snow instead of using a tent.

How To Build a Winter Snow Shelter

A quinzhee snow shelter stands in front of a mountain with a pair of skis outside its door — Photo by Molly Hagbrand

Winter is in full swing in the northern hemisphere and snow camping is in the forecast. People who regularly camp in below-freezing temperatures and piles of snow know it has numerous advantages over warm-weather camping. That’s right, advantages.

wildfire consumes a forest with thick smoke and sparks against blackened pines

Managing Risk Outdoors: Backcountry Wildfires

It's no secret: wildfires are scary. If you're planning an outdoor trip in a fire-prone area, adding risk management strategies into your trip plan ...

NOLS students practice skills during a medical scenario a the Wyss Campus

Continuing Your Wilderness Medicine Education at the WRMC

Build on your wilderness medicine training and take your outdoor skills to the next level at the Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC).

Person crossing a river using a trekking pole for balance

Wilderness Safety Training: Key for Any Risk Management Toolkit

How do you manage the inherent risks, like limited communication or distance from medical care, of exploring remote areas? Take a Wilderness Safety ...

Group hiking across a green valley toward an alpine lake on a sunny day in Alaska

Consultation with NOLS Risk Services: A 5-Step Risk Management Review

Check out our 5-step process to performing a thorough risk management review tailored to your organization.

Jaime Musnicki poses wearing a jacket and climbing harness and tied into climbing protection on a snowy route

Leading in the Avalanche Safety and Education Industry

NOLS instructor and American Avalanche Association executive director Jaime Musnicki talks about her career in the outdoor industry.

Coast of Portland with Mount Hood in the distance and boats in a marina

New Perspectives on Risk Management: WRMC 2018

The WRMC is about community as much as it is about improving risk management practices, as NOLS staffer Day Scott writes.

Five people wearing backpacks cross a river with pine trees on the riverbank

NOLS and the Wilderness Risk Management Conference: 25 Years of Facing Challenges Together

For the last 25 years NOLS has worked with partners across the outdoor industry to improve risk management awareness, standards, and practices.

infographic showing the key considerations when deciding whether to evacuate a patient

Stay or Go? Making Evacuation Decisions [Infographic]

How do you make decisions about evacuating a patient from the wilderness?

Five smiling instructors wearing kayaking gear fling their arms out, holding their paddles triumphantly

NOLS Instructor Expeditions of 2017

Check out a collection of stories from some of the expeditions and trainings instructors pursued in 2017 to continue growing as leaders and educators.

Creating a Diverse Community of Risk Managers

Antarctic expedition contractors, wilderness therapists, university outdoor program supervisors—what do they have in common? Managing risk in dynamic ...

Leaving a Legacy: Learning and Leading Risk Management Collaboration and Dialogue in Seoul

Director of Teaching and Learning at the Korea International School (KIS) talks about lessons learned from a risk management training.

Students sit on snow and rest while mountaineering

Enhancing Student Experience and Inclusion through Risk Management

Cal Poly recreation and adventure education staff talk about how risk management adds perspective and growth for their students and programs.

Embracing Acceptable Risk in the Non-Traditional Classroom: Marin Academy & the WRMC

NOLS caught up with Marin Academy Director of Outings Julie Barnes to find out why she values risk taking, risk management, and wilderness-based ...

Prepare for the Unexpected with a Solid Trip Plan

'I’m out of layers,' I thought as I searched my pack looking for something to make a splint. A broken femur wasn't a part of our trip plan...

Growing Your Comfort Zone in the Wilderness

We read in plenty of places that getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing—it seems these days that everyone wants us to step outside...

Bee Prepared: WFR Training Applied in Real Life

When Urban Environments Go Wild: Wilderness Medicine in the Aftermath of Disaster

Risk Management in the Outdoors: Beyond the NOLS Course

Why risk management matters for a variety of outdoor programs

What Organizations Should Know about Risk Management

Risk management isn't just a checklist - read about how it can benefit your organization

Debunking Myths: What Should You Do If Someone has Hypothermia?

Knowing the recommended treatments for hypothermia in the wilderness is an important winter skill. Here NOLS addresses common myths about first aid ...