Safety Culture and Risk Management: Empowering your Outdoor Program Staff

Managing risk is the backbone of any successful outdoor program, and it starts with the people who lead and support it—your staff. This workshop will focus on how to implement a healthy safety culture at your program to equip your leaders, instructors, and staff with the skills, knowledge, and support they need so that risk management is prioritized and understood by all.

In this workshop, we’ll cover:

• What safety culture is and how it impacts your organization’s risk management

• Steps you can take to develop and maintain a healthy safety culture at your program

• The importance of a supportive environment where staff can openly discuss safety issues without fear of judgment or reprisal

About the Presenter

Annie Linhart, Viristar

Annie Linhart (pronouns: she/her) is the Program Manager with Viristar. Annie has a proven track record of leadership in the outdoor industry, working in the experiential and adventure education industry. She attended Southern Illinois University for her B.S. in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management and obtained her M.S. in Outdoor Recreation at Indiana University. Some of Annie’s work experience includes instructing outdoor technical skills programs as well as experiential facilitation programs for collegiate outdoor programs, nonprofits, and instructing for Outward Bound California as well as the Colorado Outward Bound School. She most recently served as the Assistant Director for a nonprofit outdoor recreation and education center in Northern Michigan. Annie is an EMT, a wilderness medicine instructor, and has held a variety of certifications in the outdoor industry ranging from paddling to Leave No Trace. Annie currently resides in Traverse City, Michigan.