About this Course

Overview
Participate in a day dedicated to acquiring mental and behavioral healthcare skills specifically designed for outdoor professionals and experiential educators. This course will delve into our RESPOND Method, which focuses on preventing and managing mental and behavioral health issues among students attending outdoor education programs, adventure courses, or utilizing green spaces. You will gain skills such as:
- Preventative strategies
- De-escalation
- Anxiety reduction
and much more!
Who should attend?
This course is designed for professionals and volunteers who work with youth and adults in outdoor or experiential education settings. Ideal participants include:Outdoor educators and wilderness guidesCamp counselors and program directorsAdventure therapy practitionersSchool teachers leading outdoor programsYouth development professionalsParks and recreation staffCollege outdoor program coordinatorsTherapeutic wilderness program staffEnvironmental education instructorsOutdoor trip leaders and outfittersMental health professionals working in outdoor settingsAnyone responsible for the behavioral and emotional well-being of participants in outdoor programsNo prior mental health training is required. This course is accessible to all experience levels and provides practical, hands-on skills you can immediately apply in your work with students and participants.
- How to recognize early warning signs of behavioral and mental health escalation in outdoor and experiential settings
- De-escalation techniques that actually work when emotions are high and conditions are unpredictable
- Grounding and regulation tools you can use with participants in real time (and on yourself)
- Clear, supportive communication strategies for moments of stress, conflict, or shutdown
- How to respond to common field scenarios like panic, anxiety, anger, withdrawal, or overwhelm
- What to do—and what not to do— when a situation starts to feel unsafe or out of control
- How to support participants after an incident and help groups re-center and move forward
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Increased confidence and presence so you’re not guessing in the moments that matter most
This course is hands-on, scenario-based, and designed specifically for people who lead others in outdoor and experiential environments.
What You'll Learn

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