Katie Nelson

Katie Nelson is the Director of Program and Safety at the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, where she oversees organization-wide risk management systems, program quality, and staff development. She has over 20 years of experience in outdoor education, including 18 years with Outward Bound. Her background includes course directing, expedition program management, staff training, and more than 1,000 days in the field leading backcountry expeditions. Her work is grounded in a commitment to strengthening risk management systems, expanding equitable access to the outdoors, and reducing barriers for young people. Katie has served for over a decade as a Safety Director within the Outward Bound USA system and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Outdoor Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth.