Alex Kosseff

"At the Yellowstone Association Institute we always enjoy working with Alex, and we are never disappointed in the results. I am particularly impressed with his ability to talk with staff throughout the organization, grasp key issues and constraints, and then recommend improvements which are realistic and achievable."
                                                  –Jeff Brown, Executive Director, Yellowstone Association

Alex is the founder of the Outdoor Safety Institute and author of both editions of the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership. The former Leadership and Volunteer Relations Director for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Alex developed risk management systems for that organization’s 9,000 annual professionally and volunteer led outdoor programs. He has conducted over 50 risk management reviews of outdoor education, outdoor recreation, and conservation programs.

In addition to his mangement experience with the Appalachian Mountain Club, Alex’s consulting work and his books are informed by his extensive field leadership experience. Beginning in 1991, and including six years as an instructor, staff trainer and course director with Outward Bound, he has instructed backpacking, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, backcountry skiing, canoeing, wilderness medicine and other skills.

Alex continues to be involved in the field as a climbing instructor/guide and outdoor leadership instructor. When he gets playtime Alex likes to climb, ski, paddle, fish and wander the wilderness in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and beyond.

Download a brief version of Alex's Resume.

Contact Alex, join him on LinkedIn, or get more information on his AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership.

America Outdoors	Montana Outdoor Science School
Appalachian Mountain Club	Montana Yellowstone Expeditions
BioRegions International	Outward Bound Mexico
Big City Mountaineers	Outward Bound USA
Big Sky Youth Empowerment Project	Pacific University
Camp Manito-Wish YMCA	Spokane Mountaineers
Chesapeake Bay Foundation	The Nature Conservancy of Canada
The Colorado College	Three Rivers Montana
Eastern Washington University	Western State College of Colorado
Kern River Outfitters	Whitman College
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools	Yellowstone Association Institute

Professional presentations on outdoor safety, risk management, program management, volunteer leadership, and outdoor leadership topics: Wilderness Risk Management Conference (1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011); Association for Experiential Education (2007); Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011); WEA National Conference on Outdoor Leadership (2007), America Outdoors’ Confluence (2004), Appalachian Trail Conservancy Conference (2001, 2003); AMC Leadership Training Institute Conference (2003); Association of Partners for Public Land Convention (2009), Montana Environmental Education Association Conference (2009) & more.