Risk Management, Health and Well-being
We’re committed to providing a healthy travel and study experience for students. It’s grounded in our approach to managing risk, which is built into each program, not added on. And it’s guided by a structured risk management program that spells out expectations for students, is tailored to each program and adapts to changes in the natural and political environment.
We take risk management seriously.
We’re serious about managing and mitigating risk. Risk management is one of the most important factors in the planning and preparation of a Wildlands Studies program. We have a tailored emergency management plan for each program with a planned response for all levels of emergency and medical care.
Although we work hard to prevent incidents, wilderness travel does come with inherent risks. Injuries and accidents can happen. Participants should be aware of the potential for dangerous situations to arise.
Wildlands Studies provides exciting and unique backcountry field study experiences and we strive to achieve our program and educational goals while preventing injury and illness.
Orientation and risk management review.
Upon arrival, we provide a lengthy orientation and risk management review for the program. Students are instructed in general risk management protocols and skills specific to their program and location. We also cover access to emergency care, communication, hygiene, cultural norms and related topics. We want students to play an active role in individual and group risk management, learning to identify and manage potential risks before they happen.
We view risk management as a team effort. We believe learning to identify and avoid potential risks is one of the most valuable skills that participants can learn in the field. We begin our programs with a comprehensive orientation of the potential risks for the region, and continue this practice at each specific location. We expect students to acquire and use risk management skills on our programs, and as adults, accept responsibility for following our risk management protocols. This approach has helped us provide great experiences for students while minimizing the chances of injury and sickness.
Emergency communication.
Our leadership team is well equipped with various communications equipment including mobile phones, internet access, GPS devices and satellite phones. The location determines the equipment needs. Wildlands Studies maintains a 24-hour emergency contact system and stays in close contact with instructors throughout each program. There will be times when communication access is limited due to remote locations, and we work with local providers to ensure communication and medical care are accessible during these times.
We’re always available to help or to get a message to your student. Contact us at 831 684 9999 or email us at wildlands@wildlandsstudies.com
Please note that issues or emergencies that arise in the field are reported directly to our Wildlands Studies main office. Wildlands Studies will then contact the appropriate parties as necessary.
Wildlands Studies is fully committed to running all field programs consistent with industry standards for safety and risk management. We follow best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, local health officials, and regularly update our risk management protocols.
Each participant’s health and well-being are crucial to the program's success and the health and well-being of its other participants. Participants must, to the best of their knowledge, be fit and healthy, free of infection from COVID-19 or other communicable diseases and able to travel to the program location, and able to participate fully.
Wildlands Studies makes every effort to minimize the potential for exposure to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases not only among our small groups of students and instructors, but also within the rural communities we visit. All Wildlands Studies program participants are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to receive all other immunizations recommended by the CDC for the locations our programs visit.
We are pleased to offer programs that focus on investigating locations of environmental interest with a healthy student team. In all instances, Wildlands Studies will follow the entry and immunization requirements of the countries, states, regions and communities where we hold our field activities. Participants are required to show proof that they have met these immunization requirements to participate. Wildlands Studies will not make exceptions to regional immunization requirements. If, in spite of communication to participant, regional immunization requirements cannot be accomplished, participant will be required to withdraw from the program. Wildlands Studies will follow our Refund Policy if an enrolled participant is not willing or able to follow the immunization requirements and withdraws before the program start date.
We ask all participants to refer to the Centers for Disease Control, State Department and the embassy of your destination country to monitor entry requirements, including vaccination requirements. It is ultimately the responsibility of each program participant to ensure they are in compliance with their program location visitor requirements. The World Health Organization (WHO) also maintains a comprehensive information base about disease risk.
In addition to our risk management planning, we work hard to prepare students for differences in food, water, hygiene and cultural norms in the countries we visit. For most programs, especially international ones, there is no ready access to Western-style medical care. Instructors carry comprehensive, backcountry-oriented medical kits, and we ask students to bring their own basic first-aid supplies and prescription medicines. Prescription medicines should be accompanied by complete pharmacological information, available on request when you fill your prescription—this information could be indispensable in the event of an emergency.
We include more information about healthy traveling in our logistics packet, emailed to students several weeks in advance of the program start date, and the Student Program Manual.
It’s true. We spend the entire program outdoors conducting field activities, hiking, backpacking, snorkeling, camping, canoeing, experiencing the wonders of nature first-hand. Students often tell Wildlands Studies that the physical challenge of our programs is one of their greatest sources of personal empowerment and accomplishment.
Many students may find aspects of this program to be physically demanding, especially when we are at altitude, in the rain, under the hot tropical sun, or trekking through a recent snowfall. We spend long days in the field conducting observations or group research and may have to walk long distances to do so. We also walk short and long distances with our large backpacks to access a field site.
Physical conditioning is a critical part of planning and participation in our programs. As a measure of physical fitness, we expect students to be able to hike five to eight miles easily while carrying a thirty pound backpack, and enjoy living and working in the outdoors. It is essential you are well-prepared both physically and mentally.
Emotional well-being.
Studying in a wilderness setting, and internationally, can be a wonderful, eye-opening, empowering experience. It can also present a number of challenges, including adjustment to a new culture and routine, different cultural norms, new relationships, and an absence of familiar support systems. In addition, our programs typically take place in remote environments with delayed access to medical care and limited or absent mental health resources.
We ask students with emotional health concerns to discuss these with your physician, mental health provider and the Wildlands Studies office prior to participating in a program. Further, it is important you identify a support system while traveling with us. It is essential that you are emotionally—as well as physically—prepared to participate on our program.
Doctor’s note requirement for
significant health concerns.
Our application asks for a significant amount of health information. If we see a medical or emotional concern we are not certain we can accommodate, we may ask for a doctor’s clearance. We then provide you with a letter describing the program requirements in detail and ask you to gain support of your doctor for participation. We’ll discuss this with you in detail through a personal phone call.
Dietary needs and preferences.
We make every effort to accommodate most dietary requests. Of course, with international travel, food choices will be different, and potentially limited due to availability, cultural practice and cost. Dietary needs and restrictions should be noted on your application. We will discuss dietary preferences and their feasibility on the program of your choice with you over the phone during our interview.
We try to accommodate but we go remote.
If you are eager to hike, camp, backpack, snorkel, canoe, and be physically active in the remote wilderness, we are the perfect program for you. And while we strive to accommodate all students, these physical elements are essential components of our program, and may make it too challenging to accommodate specific disabilities. Our remote setting also means that medical care is not always easily accessible, and it can take twenty-four to forty-eight hours to access a doctor. If you have a disability or chronic illness, please contact us to see if we can accommodate you.
Student responsibilities.
As a part of our risk management strategy, we require standards of behavior from participants intended to maximize the safety of our students, our staff, our organization, and the local communities in which we visit. These are outlined in our required Participant Agreement, and detailed in our Student Program Manual. We provide more information in the student resources section of this site.
