What is risk management oversight?

Following the Risk Management Training in Minneapolis, MN (a pre-conference workshop to the AORE conference), I had the chance to ask Risk Management Training instructor Missy White how she defined and explained the term risk management oversight. Here is what she said:

"Risk management oversight means consideration of risks from both a systematic and systemic point of view.

Systematic means a crisply linear, cause and effect analysis, which of course is vital. That’s how we recognize that shoulder injury data compiled on river courses reveals the need for better technique instruction on bracing.

A systemic viewpoint recognizes that most aspects of an organization are inherently related, and that no decision can be made in a vacuum. For instance, a decision to spend  money for communication devices affects scholarship money for diversity. Holding to a systemic point of view requires clarity of mission as well as rigorous evaluation of all decisions against the whole landscape of an organization."

Missy White is a senior NOLS instructor, having worked 230+ weeks in the field since 1987. With a Masters in Organizational Development, White has worked numerous Instructor Courses and is an avid practitioner of risk management and leadership development for individuals and organizations.

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Brown featured in Athens, Georgia News

Brown is recognized in this issue for his completion of the Wind River Wilderness course, the course that Paul Petzoldt created to launch the National Outdoor Leadership School in 1965.

 

 

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Transition Time

Students on the first Semester in Patagonia of this season have just completed their kayak route, and have now transitioned into their Independent Travel section. These students have earned the privilege of conducting their own hiking expedition with NOLS support, but without instructors present. They've planned their routes, packed their food, and set out on a 10-day hiking trip where they can put to use their outdoor skills and leadership obtained in their first two sections. This group will complete their independent travel section and return to the NOLS Campo on November 28 for their end-of-semester graduation party.  

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Students get ready for the cold...

In a previous post I mentioned how NOLS Rocky Mountain was working hard to prep for our NOLS Fall Semester in the Rockies winter sections. The day has finally come as three separate courses and instructor teams bag their food and try on ski boots in anticipation of the coming weeks. Posted below are some of pictures taken from today. Check out our Flickr site for more photos! 

 

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NOLS MythCrushers Episode 1: Fish Eyes

Fish eyes are the bubbles rising from the bottom of the pot as water is heated. Some people believe this is hot enough for reliable disinfection. We disagree.

Let us know what you think, leave a comment! Be sure to stay tuned for the next episode, NOLS MythCrushers Episode 2: Snake Bites.

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Pizza & Calzone Recipe - A NOLS Cookery Classic

Yeast Crust:
1 tsp. dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup flour

Sauce:
Sauce recipes in NOLS Cookery or choose your own favorite!

Possible Toppings:
fish, wild onions, bacon, ham, sausage, pepperjack, chedder, or mozzarella cheese crumbled or thinly sliced, etc...

Directions:
Dissolve yeast in warm water with sugar and salt. Add flour and mix to make stiff dough. Oil a fry pan, and spread dough in pan with oiled fingers to form crust. Turn up edges to hold sauce. Pour sauce over crust, and top with cheese and any other toppings. Cover and bake on a stove on low heat until crust is golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Or you can use a twiggy fire, which helps cook crust from both top and bottom. Be sure to move the pan in round the clock rotation in quarter turns to bake all parts of the pizza.

Alternative cooking method: Put crust in pan and cook for about 10 minutes; flip, spread with sauce and cheese, cover, and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.

Variation: For calzones, spread flattened dough in pan and cover one half with desired toppings. Fold other half of dough over the top and pinch edges together to seal in toppings. Cook about 10 minutes on each side, or use a twiggy fire and bake for about 20 minutes.

For more recipes including this one, check out the NOLS Cookery at http://www.nols.edu/books

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A Winter Wonderland

As the weather cools down in Lander, NOLS Rocky Mountain employees are busy prepping for winter sections for six of our Fall Semester in the Rockies courses. The winter section is the last section for these semester students and is a great way to conclude their adventure. Lasting anywhere from 11 to 15 days, students travel on skis through such environments as the Absaroka Range of northwestern Wyoming carrying packs and sleds up to 70lbs. They will learn the basics of snow camping, skiing, waxing, avalanche risk management, snow physics, cold- weather physiology, winter ecology, and of course, cold-injury prevention! 

 

 

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Final Exams

Patagonia Year students are finishing their third section today with final written and practical exams to qualify as Wilderness First Responders.  This WFR training is key to  students' preparedness for extended travel in the backcountry.  It has been provided by Wilderness Medicine Insitute of NOLS and this training is tied directly to students' recent in-field experience and upcoming wilderness travel sections.   It will allow them to assess and effectively treat backcountry medical issues with confidence.

 

Tomorrow will have this group planning and making logistics preparations for their month-long mountain travel section: packing rations, selecting equipment, maps, etc. Mountain travel for this group will be conducted in remote areas not far from the small town of Cochrane in the Aisen Region of Chile.

Thanks to Mark Cornwell, WFR Instructor, for the photos.

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Chili Cook Off Results, Zombie Plan Competition Announced

This is a busy week down here at the NOLS Southwest, with the return of a Fall Semester and the Sonoran Year courses.  For both, temperatures in the high 80’s to low 90’s have made essential housekeeping tasks, like van washing, more appealing than usual, as equipment is shuffled and prepped for the next adventure. 

On Monday, ready-for-action proctor Kurt Simer organized a little field trip to see “Zombieland” for Fall Semester students.  This movie has caused a bit of conversation.  According to Nick Storm there are two kinds of people in this world:  "Those who have a zombie plan and those who don't."  Agreed.  Thus, we have established a Best Ever Zombie Plan Competition.  Electronically mail your plan, in 200 words or less, to Ryan Mauter at ryan_mauter(at)nols.edu.  It better be awesome.  Prizes?  Probably not.  Glory, honor, and undeniable prestige?  Certainly.

Also, I just want to add that I won the first annual NOLS Southwest Chili Cook Off.  I whooped Elise Guarino, Scott Christy, and Jan Spicer.  I've never seen a grown man cry -- big, choking cry -- as hard as Scott did last week.  Though Jan took "most chili-like" and Elise "best use of barbecue flavor," the people spoke.  Winner:  me.  Truly, the competition was fierce and each dish was delicious.  Expect revised rules and increased competition Fall 2010.   

Today, Sonoran Year students began their Leadership Education and Development Seminar (LEADS).  With NOLS veteran John Abel leading, students will further explore the NOLS leadership curriculum and their personal leadership styles. 

Departing for the Rio Grande this morning, Fall Semester students filed into a fully-geared bus – a beautiful sight and exciting moment for the beginning of any expedition.  Duck Murphy, Rebecca Raynor, and Max Fisher will be joining Kurt to complete the instructor team for this section.  Jan Spicer is currently elated to be playing “Fairy Dog Mother” for Ocho (down here with Duck) who has made instant friends with resident branch dogs Luna, Scout, and Nimbus.     

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Know Your Knots - The Trucker's Hitch

The trucker's hitch is a great thing to have in your quiver of tricks. It's often the first knot we teach students on NOLS courses to use for pitching a tent. It is simple to tie, easy to adjust, and easy to untie.

Because if forms a pulley and give you a 3 to 1 mechanical advantage, it can be used to cinch items down on your pack, to raise heavy food bags for bear hangs, or just to tie your gear to the roof rack of your car on your way to the mountains.

- Excerpt from The National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness Guide

http://www.nols.edu/books/wilderness_guide/

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