Emily Ford Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2024 Annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference in Salt Lake City

June 12, 2024

Winter adventurer and renowned thru-hiker to share her insights and experiences at 31st annual conference on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – June 12, 2024 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The 31st Annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC), presented by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound USA, and the Student Conservation Association (SCA), has announced that the acclaimed winter adventurer and thru-hiker Emily Ford will be the keynote speaker at the annual event, being held October 15-17, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. This renowned conference brings outdoor professionals, educators, guides, and risk managers together to address challenges, share current practices, and enhance safety and risk management in wilderness settings.

As the keynote speaker, Ford will deliver a thought-provoking and inspirational address, “28 Days in the Wilderness,” during the conference Keynote Reception on Thursday, October 17. Her extensive outdoor adventure background will provide valuable insights into her outdoor endeavors, from thru-hiking and winter camping to preparing to compete in the Iditarod.

“We are thrilled to have Emily Ford as our keynote speaker for this year’s Wilderness Risk Management Conference,” said WRMC Steering Committee member Marcus Shoffner. “Her experiences, passion, and perspective on how everyone deserves to explore, regardless of race or gender identity, will provide valuable insights for those who seek adventure and may feel underrepresented in outdoor spaces.”

In addition to Ford’s keynote address, the WMRC will feature various workshops, presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to learn from industry experts, participate in interactive sessions, and gain valuable insights into risk management strategies.

Registration is open for this year’s WRMC and is open to the public.

WRMC Information | HERE

Registration Information | HERE

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About Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC)

The core objective of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) is to offer an outstanding educational experience to help industry professionals and the community mitigate the risks inherent in exploring, working, teaching, and recreating in wild places. The WRMC, held annually and now in its 31st year, is held in collaboration with NOLS, Outward Bound USA, and the SCA.

About Emily Ford

Emily Ford is a winter adventurer and thru-hiker based in Duluth, Minnesota. She has completed many thru-hikes in the midwest, including the 1,200-mile Ice Age trail, which crosses Wisconsin east to west from Potawatomi State Park to St. Croix State Park on the Minnesota border. Also, in the winter of 2022, she completed a solo 180-mile ski route across the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness with her Alaskan Husky, Diggins. She now spends her winters running sled dogs in Alaska. With an understanding and drive to show that anyone can adventure and everyone deserves to discover the outdoors, regardless of race, gender identity, or upbringing, she continues to seek adventure and represent the underrepresented in outdoor spaces.

About National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)

Established in 1965, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is the leader in wilderness education. What began in a small cabin in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountain range has evolved into a global, multifaceted nonprofit school offering a proven leadership curriculum through expedition courses, wilderness medicine certifications, risk management training, and custom education solutions for organizations. Today, NOLS operates 14 campuses worldwide and provides classroom instruction in over 40 countries. The NOLS community includes over 930 active instructors who teach various outdoor skills, from mountaineering and sailing to wilderness medicine that empower students to step forward in their lives. www.nols.edu | @nols | 800.710.6657

About Outward Bound
Outward Bound, founded in 1941 by educator Kurt Hahn, is a non-profit educational organization that serves people of all ages and circumstances through challenging learning expeditions that focus on character development, leadership and service. In the U.S. Outward Bound is a national network of schools and is the leading provider of experiential and outdoor education offering over 1,000 courses throughout the year, across the U.S. and internationally. Outward Bound helps individuals and teams discover strength of character and an aptitude for leadership needed to serve others in their community and care for the world around them. Outward Bound serves 40,000 students annually, many of whom receive scholarship support and has a nationwide community of more than 1 million people.
To learn more, please visit: www.outwardbound.org

About the Student Conservation Association (SCA)
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people, and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and the communities we serve. For more, visit www.thesca.org

MEDIA CONTACTS

National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)

Kelli Lusk

kelli_lusk@nols.edu

OUTWARD BOUND USA (OBUSA)

Ben Worden

bworden@outwardbound.org

STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION (SCA)

Sarah Hoye

shoye@thesca.org