Wilderness Risk Management Award Established

Lander, Wyo. – On October 14, 2009 at the opening convocation of the 16th Annual Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC), the Charles (Reb) Gregg Award For Exceptional Leadership, Service, and Innovation in Wilderness Risk Management was inaugurated. This award recognizes extraordinary contributions to the outdoor education community, to adventure and service organizations, and to programs and businesses that utilize wild places for their activities.

Charles (Reb) Gregg is a practicing attorney in Houston, Texas, who specializes in outdoor adventure and education law. He serves on the board of directors of The Student Conservation Association (SCA) and The Friends of Big Bend National Park, as a member of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference steering committee, and on the accreditation council of the Association for Experiential Education. Reb is also legal counsel to a number of organizations, including summer camps, secondary and college outdoor programs, challenge courses, and outfitters.

” Reb has truly been the pioneer in the practice of law as it relates to outdoor education and recreation”, said John Gans, the executive director of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). “His leadership and uncanny ability to balance legal necessities and ethical obligation have made him the role model for the industry. The Charles (Reb) Gregg Award is an appropriate way of honoring Reb’s professional legacy.”

John E. (Jed) Williamson of Hanover, New Hampshire, was the first recipient of the award on October 16, 2009. He was recognized for his contributions to the development of incident review methods and risk management audit processes, designing preventive approaches for reducing accidents, reviewing programs, and investigating incidents in-depth for over 40 years.

The Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) is an annual event that offers an outstanding educational experience to help outdoor professionals mitigate the risks inherent in exploring, working, teaching, and recreating in wild places. The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound, and the Student Conservation Association sponsor the WRMC.