Stuart Slay

About Stuart Slay

I am deeply passionate about the power of outdoor and adventure programming. Risk and safety management is closely connected with programs’ mission, and by promoting safety across the whole system we are supporting not only the participants our programs serve but also the field as a whole. I’m lucky to do this work with the SCA and as Co-Chair of the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. I’m eager to support international school programs and the travel, adventure, and service programs they work with, as this part of the sector is close “close to home.” I firmly believe that DEIB work is risk management work, and I am continually learning and striving to ally for historically marginalized voices in the outdoor and experiential programming space. I humbly recognize that my work and livelihood are dependent upon working and serving on public lands, many of which were taken from original indigenous stewards. I’m continually interested in and humbled to learn more about the peoples, cultures, and knowledge of these stewards, both at home and on the lands I’ve worked and lived on abroad. I am interested in research and constantly think about ideas and practices that continually refine and take our small but mighty field to the next level. Topics of interest include safety science, safety culture, cultural risk, and trauma informed care. I’m becoming more interested in understanding the impacts of climate change on outdoor programs’ risk, safety, and operational continuity.

Experience

1. Senior Director of Risk and Safety Management

   Student Conservation Association

   Oct 2020 — Present · US

Education

• Western Colorado University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Outdoor Leadership and Instruction

• Prescott College

  Master of Arts - MA, Adventure Education