Can you really be “safe” in the wilderness? An inside look into OBC’s risk management
Although wilderness courses inherently involve some risk, at Outward Bound Canada (OBC) we take meticulous steps to minimize that risk. In this interview with Emily Boyes, our National Risk and Safety Manager, you’ll learn how we put safety at the forefront of every program.
With her passion for safety and years of experience in the outdoor sector, Emily answers your questions about OBC’s risk management procedures, staff training, and how we keep parents informed while their children attend our courses. Learn more about our thorough planning, emergency preparedness, and the balance we strike between adventure and safety — and rest assured that your teen’s next OBC adventure is in good hands.
A Q&A with OBC’s National Risk and Safety Manager Emily Boyes
OBC: How did you get into risk management, and what do you like most about your role at OBC?
EB: I completed the Adventure Guide Program at Thompson Rivers University from 2012 to 2014, which included a mix of field and classroom courses and covered a variety of topics related to risk management in the outdoor sector. Since then, I’ve worked in the outdoor industry as a wilderness guide, program director, and outdoor educator where I’ve been responsible for managing and mitigating field and organizational risk.
I like the diversity of my role at OBC and the various problems I get to solve on a daily basis. One moment I’m revising policy and the next I’m brainstorming with our Admissions and Program team on how OBC can best accommodate and meet diverse student needs in the field.
OBC: What does your day-to-day work look like when programs are in the field?
EB: The first thing I do is check the emergency channel on SLACK to make sure there have been no incidents in the field requiring attention. Next, I check various weather and climate monitoring sites for new and existing threats to the programs. These include active wildfire maps, air quality forecasts, wind forecasts, etc. After that, it depends on what’s happening in the field, what courses folks are prepping for, or where my support is most needed. I may connect with the Admissions team to discuss student applications, check in with our regional safety officers about transportation issues, or answer questions about policies and procedures. It’s always dynamic and changing!
OBC: What technology do you think has really improved risk management for backcountry wilderness travel and programming?
EB: Satellite phones and devices like the Garmin InReach, which is a GPS tracker, navigation tool, 2-way satellite messenger and SOS device all in one. When I first started canoe tripping as a child, we’d leave basecamp and essentially be on our own in the backcountry until we returned. If something happened that required evacuation and/or front country assistance, we had no choice but to support ourselves in getting help. If we were lucky, we’d stumble upon another group with a motorboat or be near an ATV trail with road access. Having a reliable way to communicate with groups in the field is a game changer.
OBC: Can you explain the risk assessment process for OBC programs? How do you identify and mitigate potential risks?
EB: OBC has various risk assessment systems in place. For general program planning and implementation, OBC requires staff to submit a New Program Plan (NPP) for new program activities or activities that have not been implemented in the last five years, for new international programs, or for programs working with new populations with specific needs that may present elevated levels of risk, require significant program redesign, or involve significant changes in staff qualifications and/or training.
NPPs must be approved in three stages: 1) The National Safety Officer, 2) the National Safety Committee, and 3) the Board Risk Oversight Committee.
This ensures that various individuals within the organization can evaluate the suitability of the program for OBC. Staff must answer general questions such as: What aspects of the new program fit with existing risk tolerances? What elements of the proposed program are new to OBC? And is the proposed new program feasible within OBC’s existing capabilities?
In addition, NPPs require a detailed risk assessment of the proposed program area, reconnaissance missions, hazard identification and mitigation, staff qualifications, new or existing participant needs, transportation risks, and emergency procedures specific to the proposed program area.
Programs that are regularly offered by OBC also require ongoing risk management and mitigation. These risks generally fall into the same categories outlined in the NPPs, with additional consideration of how climate change and individual student needs affect the level of risk OBC is willing to tolerate.
OBC: How does OBC train its staff for emergencies in the field? Are there specific protocols for different situations (e.g. medical emergencies, weather events)?
EB: Each year, OBC conducts a crisis drill to evaluate departmental preparedness and identify any gaps in our response and recovery activities. The primary goal of this exercise is to assess how well internal and external response teams are adhering to OBC’s Crisis Protocol, and to ensure steady communication and efficient collaboration between field instructors, OBC response teams, responding agencies, local governments, and the media.
In addition, the regions participate in tabletop drills to simulate region-specific scenarios preparing staff for potential incidents based on the activities and geographical areas of each region. During instructor training in the spring, instructors are expected to familiarize themselves with policies and procedures in advance, while program managers review any new policies and procedures with staff to ensure comprehension and compliance.
OBC: What communication plan does OBC have in place to keep parents informed during their youth’s program, especially regarding safety updates?
EB: Once a youth is in the care of OBC, families can expect to hear from us at least once. Typically, our program support staff will send a photo of the child’s group and a letter to the family when the group has assembled and is about to begin their journey.
If there are any incidents or situations in the field that require communication with parents, the instructors forward the information to their program manager, who then either contacts the parents and families directly or asks the Admissions team for assistance. While the saying “no news is good news” is generally true, OBC will inform parents and families of any threats to the safety of the group or significant changes to the course plan, such as evacuations, road closures, or weather-related events.
OBC: We’re known for bringing participants beyond their comfort zone. How do we balance a sense of adventure with safety in our courses?
EB: Stepping outside our comfort zone and transitioning from the known to the unknown is essential for personal development and growth, particularly for youth burgeoning on adolescence or adulthood. It challenges them socially and emotionally, helping them discover their strengths, weaknesses, and potential.
OBC creates a setting and container for this exploration to occur. The activities students engage in on course have inherent risks due to their design or setting, meant to appropriately challenge students while ensuring all significant risks are reduced as much as possible. Finding this balance is always changing; dependent on the developing needs of students, climate change, instructor competencies and experience, organizational risk tolerance. Our team works hard to anticipate risks, trends and patterns that might compromise our ability to balance a sense of adventure with safety. We understand that the closer we come to meeting this target, the more transformative and successful the program will be for the student.
OBC: What’s OBC thinking about the 2024 wildfire season? Last year it made headlines in Canada for its ferocity.
EB: In 2024, wildfires, air quality, and drought will continue to be a major concern. Unfortunately, these issues are expected to worsen over time due to climate change. We spend a lot of time planning contingency routes for our programs and monitor wildfires and air quality daily throughout the summer. Instructors adhere to our Wildfire Smoke Policy, which outlines the acceptable level of smoke in the air before it is considered “unhealthy” by the Environmental Protection Agency and poses a potential threat to the health and well-being of our students and staff.
In courses where the risk of smoke inhalation due to wildfires is greater, we have launched a pilot air quality monitoring project where instructors carry handheld AQI monitors to make informed decisions on how to manage this risk. Although this is only the second year of the project, we are encouraged by the data and hope to expand the project to all regions in the future. If you are concerned about wildfires in your program area, please feel free to reach out to us to learn more about how wildfires or smoke may impact your child’s program.
OBC: What advice would you give to parents who are concerned about safety when sending their teens to a program?
EB: I’d encourage parents to talk to someone directly about their concerns. The first point of contact will likely be our Admissions team, who are very friendly and approachable and knowledgeable about the programs we offer and how we mitigate and manage the risks associated with program activities. If parents have questions that our Admissions team can’t answer, we will connect parents with either a program manager or the National Safety Officer (me!). We want to make sure that parents and students are aware of the risks, that they feel comfortable knowing how we will take care of them and their children, and that they are excited about their upcoming adventure.
OBC: What’s your favourite book to take on an outdoor adventure?
EB: I have three answers, depending on the type of trip:
- “The Alchemist”, by Paulo Coelho – to read aloud to youth groups
- “Women Who Run with the Wolves”, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés – to read aloud to all women’s trips
- “The Emerald Mile”, Kevin Fedarko – a newly discovered personal favourite.
Thank you, Emily, for your hard work and all the information!
With our focus on risk mitigation strategies such as real-time air quality monitoring and comprehensive emergency protocols, we provide unparalleled safety standards in the outdoor education industry. OBC is constantly adapting to the challenges of a changing environment so you can have confidence that your teen is in good hands.