If It Involves the Outdoors and Learning, It Also Involves Risks - and There's Insurance for That
By Ted Fedyk, Vice President, Outdoor Educators Insurance / PFG
A day camp in the woods. An overnight camp. A raft trip. A nature walk across the fields. A bicycle tour group.
For the participant, these all share the possibilities of fun, adventure, camaraderie, new knowledge and understanding, new places to explore.
For the nature center, outdoor school, museum, wilderness program, nonprofit conservation group, environmental awareness office, school-sanctioned group and others, these activities all share the opportunity to teach - to share knowledge and passion for the natural world and physical activity in it.
From the insurance industry perspective, all of the above share the common denominators of outdoors/environment, education and possible (expensive) hazards.
Insurance specifically geared to protect the outdoor educator is available. It's not typical and it's not commonplace, but there is serious expertise growing here at Payne Financial Group.
We work with you to learn all we can about your business, the services you offer and the places you go. With that full understanding, we then look at about 50 different possible risks (think of a 50-item a la carte menu) to first determine exactly what's needed and what A-rated national insurance carrier or carriers to use. As part of this PFG package, outdoor educator clients go through a thorough risk assessment survey and analysis; the idea here is to understand existing sources of potential risk and remove those that can be eliminated upfront.
There's no "blanket coverage" about it. Just as each museum or nature center or conservation group works to differentiate itself, what specifically needs to be insured and protected is unique to each client.
In addition, because program lengths can range from an academic year to a two-week trip to a three-hour hike, effective policies need to factor student days - how many students for how many days - and not just go by calendar years.
Here are some points any outdoor educator should start with:
- Anyone could break an ankle on a nature hike. Third-party liability protection?
- Major or minor injury or illness experienced by a volunteer or any staff member who is not covered under the organization's workers' compensation insurance. Accident/medical coverage?
- Medical treatment is provided in the field by a staff member, a volunteer or a student participant with medical training and certification (such as wilderness EMT training). Because they have some official training and certification they could be outside of Good Samaritan legal protections - do they need medical malpractice coverage?
- Staff, volunteers and participants mix. Do you have sexual misconduct or harassment insurance coverage? Are background check protocols followed?
- Transportation between the meeting place, such as the museum center, and the outing location: Are vehicles used? Museum-owned with CDL-licensed drivers or private cars?
- Are boats, zip lines and other equipment used by students, volunteers or staff?
- Are animals actively and purposely involved (such as a horseback pack trip)?
- Are your teachers protected when they are acting as instructors but are hired as temporary staff/third-party contractors?
- Any public statement whether verbal or written, formal or informal, made by volunteer, staff member or paid lobbyist could possibly be thought to be slander or libel.
- Do you print educational books, brochures or maps? Do you need "publisher's errors and omissions" coverage?
Ted Fedyk, CPCU, hikes, skies, is a parent, and is an expert in insuring those involved in outdoor education. He enjoys solid relationships with the full range of A-rated national carriers, as certified by rating agency AM Best, and is endorsed by the Association of Partners for Public Lands. Located in PFG's Bozeman office, Ted can be reached directly at tfedyk@pfg-insurance.com.
