Frequently Asked Questions
Q: “I work in a small, non-profit outdoor program and we’re
looking to develop some policies and procedures. Some of our staff have worked at places like NOLS and
Outward Bound in the past, and have their field staff manuals. Should we just use those existing
policies rather than recreating the wheel?”
A: I know that a lot of small programs are tempted to do this,
and on the surface it can save time and effort. However, “borrowing” policies and procedures from another
program (especially a large, national program like NOLS or Outward Bound)
infringes on those programs' proprietary, copyrighted material which they worked hard to develop (and which they also revise frequently). EVEN IF YOU GET THEIR PERMISSION, borrowing policies and
procedures is rarely a good idea for smaller programs, since Outward Bound and NOLS policies
are designed for their staff, students, resources, and mission. Here's an analogy: Borrowing policies for your program is
like borrowing the owner’s manual to a Jeep and using it for your Subaru – it kind of works (there’s a steering wheel,
windshield wipers, stick shift, etc.) but really, that manual was written for
the Jeep, not the Subaru. I
suggest you develop your own policies and procedures that fit YOUR program,
staff, students, resources, and values. I have done this for several clients in the past, and would be happy to talk to you about how I might help you develop your own policies that uniquely fit your program, students, staff, and mission.
Q: "Should we carry satellite phones in the field? They seem really expensive, but perhaps
they’re becoming the industry standard?"
A: A satellite phone is a useful tool, but
it does not replace good instructor training and judgment. Carrying such tools can in fact
have unintended consequences: Are
you taking more risks, or pushing yourself further than you normally would,
because you have a satellite phone? In many parts of the Pacific Northwest, cell service is
marginal or nonexistent, so a sat phone might meet some of your needs. There are also other options
such as SPOT technology. I suggest
you assess your program’s objective, course area, risk tolerance, and budget
and select field communication devices that match your program’s needs.
For a detailed overview of communication technology, see this article from the Northwest Mountain Journal: LINK
Q:
"We are looking to develop some staff
training materials and would like to know, what are some common causes you see
for incidents or near-misses in the field?"
A: One of the biggest causes for incidents, in my
experience, is leaders operating from an itinerary-driven or activity-driven
approach, (relying on a schedule, or on perceived pressure to conduct a
particular activity), rather than an outcomes-based approach (relying on
assessment and judgment to deliver what the situation warrants). When a group is driven by their
itinerary (“We HAVE to get over Lightning Bolt Pass by Tuesday so we can do our
top-roping on Wednesday”), it creates a culture that de-emphasizes
judgment. As a result, they can end
up managing ACTIVITIES or managing TERRAIN (“spot them when they make this
move, belay the next section”) instead of managing PEOPLE. When instructors take the time to know
what their goals are for the course, and to assess what’s actually going on
with their students and conditions then this emphasizes a culture of effective
risk management. So, I suggest you
spend some time teaching staff the difference between an activity-based
approach, and an outcomes-based approach to outdoor education. I offer trainings and workshops around these topics.
Check back for more questions and answers soon.
Cascade Pass Panorama
If you have a question, please submit it to the email address below.