Viristar is proud to renew our Business Affiliate membership with the International Camping Fellowship (ICF), further strengthening our commitment to improve the safety and quality outdoor experiences around the world.
As part of this ongoing partnership, ICF members receive discounted access to Viristar’s Risk Management for Outdoor Programs training. The course offers camp directors and other camp program leaders a comprehensive training on safety practices for outdoor programs.
The 40-hour online course provides participants with a theoretical model of incident causation and prevention, designed specifically for camps and similar experiential and outdoor programs. The model employs the latest thinking in complex socio-technical systems theory and human factors research to provide a globally leading framework by which to minimize risk of trip, travel, and other camp related activities.
Participants consistently praise the course for its relevance and real-world application. “An excellent combination of case studies, exercises, self-paced work, and meetings,” said Jake Taylor, Safety Manager at Camp Beaumont Hong Kong.
The course has received the Educational Endorsement seal from the American Camp Association and provides detailed guidance on a wide range of camp-specific risk management topics, including:
- Staff recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision
- Managing subcontractors and third-party providers
- Developing risk management plans for outdoor activities
- Wilderness risk management procedures
- Understanding accreditation, regulatory, and legal frameworks
- Navigating media relations around safety-related incidents
- Working with standard-setting bodies such as the Australian Camps Association and American Camp Association
In addition to risk management training, Viristar offers a comprehensive suite of services to help camps improve safety and effectiveness, including:
- Risk Management Reviews to assess organizational safety and risk management practices
- Incident Reviews to understand contributing factors to a major incident
- Education Program Design to enhance outcomes, customer service satisfaction, and business sustainability
- Safety Systems Development to improve and implement risk management systems and structures
Viristar’s team brings decades of experience within the camp sector. For over 30 years, our staff have held roles as executive leaders, program managers, and camp counselors, serving camps in the USA, Canada, and Russia.
As a Business Affiliate of ICF, we are committed to working alongside ICF to expand its offerings for camp professionals around the world. We are proud to contribute our services to help the global ICF community improve the quality and safety of their camp programs.
