Textbook

Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure

The acclaimed textbook Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure is available for purchase in paperback and eBook format.

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Your outdoor, experiential or travel program provides fun, personal growth, adventure. It changes lives. But are your safety systems up to standards? If something happens, are you prepared to respond?


Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure provides essential knowledge for any adventure or outdoor professional. Program managers, executives, volunteers and group leaders will learn critical approaches and strategies for successfully anticipating and addressing risks.

Packed with real-life stories, current research findings, and good practice guidance, Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: a Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure gives expert advice on:

  • Approaches to Risk Management
  • Standards
  • Legal Considerations
  • Safety Culture
  • Activities and Program Areas
  • Staff
  • Equipment
  • Participants
  • Subcontractors
  • Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Risk Transfer
  • Incident Management
  • Incident Reporting
  • Incident Reviews
  • Risk Management Committee
  • Medical Screening
  • Risk Management Reviews
  • Media Relations
  • Documentation
  • Accreditation
  • Seeing Systems

Use the button below to download a 15-page sample of the book, including Contents, Preface, and Introduction.

Download sample

Price: ‎USD 59

Author: Jeff A. Baierlein
Publisher: ‎Viristar (March 21, 2019)
Sold by: Amazon

Language: English

Paperback
Length: 218 pages
Item Weight: ‎ .75 kg | 1.65 pounds
Dimensions: ‎ 21.6 x 1.4 x 28 cm | 8.5 x 0.54 x 11 inches
ISBN-10: 1733349111
ISBN-13: 978-1733349116
OCLC Number: 1273556703

eBook

The e-book edition, a Kindle e-book download, is available for virtually all devices, including

Android, iPhone, tablets, Mac and PC, with the free Kindle app.

Features of this print replica edition include:

  • Notes and highlights
  • Search, copy and paste
  • Zoom and pan
  • Pop-out linked table-of-contents
  • Page numbers matching print edition

Risk Management for Outdoor Programs: A Guide to Safety in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure is used in university classrooms, educational travel programs, adventure tourism operations, search and rescue, adventure centers, outdoor education and forest schools, camps, wilderness therapy programs, park and recreation settings, and more.

About the Author

Jeff Baierlein (he/him) is the director of the consultancy Viristar, providing safety, curriculum, and strategy services to outdoor, adventure, travel, and experiential programs worldwide.

Jeff began working as an outdoor and adventure professional in 1987.  He has over 1000 field days leading mountaineering, sailing, whitewater and flatwater canoeing, backpacking, whitewater and sea kayaking, rock climbing, canyoning and caving expeditions up to three months in length. 

Jeff is the former Executive Director of Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School and of the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education. He has worked as an EMT and on Search and Rescue teams, leading rescues in North America and Asia.

Jeff has provided risk management reviews, expert witness services, incident reviews, and safety trainings for organizations in over 60 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and Africa.

Jeff lives on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Testimonials

  • Brought the topic of risk management alive. My awareness and knowledge on the topic has expanded into new areas of safety.

    Rich Hunt

    Teacher, Health & Safety Coordinator, British School Manila, Manila, Philippines

  • The Viristar team is really passionate about safety in the outdoors–it manifests vividly in their training!

    Shamsiah Ismail

    Director, Bila Bila Odyssey, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • It’s well thought out and thought-provoking. Thanks to this course we are able to make valuable strides toward mitigating risks more effectively.

    Mike Lewis

    Founder, General Director, YMCE Group, Beijing, China

  • This is one of the most useful courses I have done…gives a real insight to managing risk. Definitely recommend.

    Peter Osongti Ayompe

    Outdoor Education Specialist, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

  • Reid Burland

    Owner, Geronimo Construction, North Dakota, USA

  • This was a really beneficial course…it’s given me the language I needed to deepen my understanding of risk management.

    Kate Johnston

    Outdoor Educator, Singapore

  • Dr. Todd Davis

    Assistant Professor & Outdoor Program Director, Delta State University, Cleveland Mississippi USA

  • Ruvan Ranatunga

    Director of Operations & Lead Facilitator, Adventure SEALs Expeditions, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • Viristar provides a wealth of knowledge and information through an easy to use online learning platform.

    Liam Rumbles

    Senior Programme Coordinator, Treasure Island Ltd, Hong Kong

  • Viristar’s risk management textbook was thorough and hit all the high notes.

    Rachel Garrett

    Experiential Education Coordinator, Jackson Hole Community School, Wyoming, USA

  • The course left me feeling more empowered to make positive improvements at my organization.

    Rob Donisch

    Applied Learning Specialist, Korea International School, South Korea

  • Viristar was awesome! The WFA class was engaging and fun and interesting, and I appreciate the relevant information and training.

    Carie Ward

    Lead Teacher, Charles Wright Academy, Washington state, USA

  • This course breaks the whole risk assessment down into bit size and meaningful thought processes.

    Tony Tan

    Chief Executive Officer, InnoTrek Pte Ltd, Singapore

  • Michelle Kloet

    Alberta, Canada

  • Martin Foakes

    Head of Outdoor Education, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore