Is the Scene Safe? Addressing Psychological Safety - Mountaineers Kitsap Program Center

6:00-8:00pm at the Kitsap Program Center

Following the death of a climbing student in 2018 (on a non-Mountaineers climb), Katja and a small group of climbers uncovered several contributing thinking errors and a need to better prepare and empower students to confront heuristic traps. Based on her presentation-turned-book, “Breaking the Halo", Katja presents a simplified approach to confronting complacency, assumptions, and communication breakdowns in outdoor education and beyond. Katja’s experience as a facilitator and speaker weaves together the story of the incident, personal anecdotes, and life-changing lessons that will inspire current and future leaders to “break every halo they see”.

Katjarina "Katja" Hurt is an outdoorsy nerdette with a penchant for volunteering and trying to make the world a better place. Following a call to serve the community, Katja’s path has taken her from a career as a state probation officer to an instructor-trainer and crisis responder. She is a proud graduate of Gonzaga University (Go Zags!), an emergency services chaplain in two counties, and a 14-year member of the National Ski Patrol. In 2018, Katja founded the nonprofit Wilderness Chaplains, a nondenominational organization that brings crisis intervention, training, and support to wilderness first responders. 

Copies of Breaking the Halo will be available for $10 at the event. For more information on the background, book, and presentation visit www.breakeveryhalo.com.