What is the FieldFutures Training?

The FieldFutures training prepares participants to prevent, intervene in, and effectively report incidents of sexual harassment and assault in field settings. Through a series of practical intervention scenarios led by a skilled facilitator, participants will learn and practice tangible prevention skills via positive organizational climate-setting.

Grounded in the latest evidence-based research on harassment prevention and organizational psychology, each session is designed to help participants build knowledge, competency, and self-efficacy so they can set and enforce positive norms in fieldwork settings. 

As a result, trained participants report greater knowledge about and confidence in intervention, prevention, response, and reporting after taking the workshop (Cronin et al. 2024).

Originally developed in 2018 with support from the Thoreau Foundation and CAMINO at UC Santa Cruz, the FieldFutures training draws from our founders’ decades of expertise in scientific fieldwork and equity programming.

Participants will learn to:

  • Identify incidents that meet legal and institutional definitions of harassment and assault

  • Implement field-ready protocols and tailor them to their own field setting

  • Safely intervene in incidents using a suite of bystander tools

  • Recognize risk factors in their individual field settings

Key components include:

  • Identification of reporting requirements and channels while in the field

  • Tangible template field safety guides, community agreements, and field safety checklist

  • Skills training through hands-on scenario practice, peer feedback, and group activities

FieldFutures training

4 hours, available online and in person

This training draws on the latest cutting-edge industrial psychology techniques to prepare field teams, classes, and organizations to prevent, intervene in, and report harassment and assault. Participants will discuss a range of field-based scenarios, and receive best practices tools and protocols. The facilitator will lead the identification of designated working groups to build tangible, field-ready safety plans, community agreements, and prioritize action plans for future work. All participants receive a 20-page Participant Guide with detailed notes, recommendations, and resources.

Condensed FieldFutures training

90 minutes, available online and in person

This condensed training session deploys key industrial psychology techniques to equip field teams, classes, and organizations with essential skills for preventing, intervening in, and reporting harassment and assault. Participants will engage in interactive discussions and role-playing exercises to explore common field-based scenarios. The session will cover best practices and recommend existing protocols participants can use when planning for safe and inclusive fieldwork. All participants receive a 20-page Participant Guide with detailed notes, recommendations, and resources.

Additional options

Climate Survey and Evaluation

We offer a validated pre- and post-training climate survey to gauge your organization's climate and readiness for addressing harassment and assault. This survey has been used in scientific publications to evaluate organizational climate, and provides valuable insights into current conditions and areas for improvement. Following the survey, you'll receive a detailed report that highlights the results and outlines priorities for future directions.

Customized Training Content

Our training programs can be tailored to your specific needs, including a variety of content options. We provide a slide deck for presentation, a participant guide for reference, and offer both standard and intensive training sessions. Each content package is designed to ensure that the training is relevant and impactful, aligning with your organization’s unique requirements and objectives.

FieldFutures training series

Many organizations want to institutionalize the practices in our training. For institutions, we offer discounts for series of trainings. These trainings can be tailored to an organization’s needs, with unique scenarios and interventions designed to meet the particular risks of a fieldwork setting. This approach not only enhances the safety and inclusion of fieldwork environments but also fosters long-term cultural change within the institutions we serve.

What does your organization need?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between in-person vs. online FieldFutures training?

We understand busy schedules, time zone differences, and budgets can create challenges when scheduling group events. We offer two modes to complete our trainings, but our materials, content, and activities remain the same which allows you to pick the best mode of delivery for your organization. While the in-person training offers the benefits of live interaction, we use breakout rooms and interactive activities to make online trainings collaborative and engaging.

What makes FieldFutures trainings different from other harassment and assault prevention trainings?

Our focal audience is professionals, students, practitioners and anyone else who conducts fieldwork including a wide range of environments with unique risk factors and hazards. Unlike other training modules, our training prioritizes prevention through the development of positive organizational climates.

Is there a maximum number of participants that can be included per training?

Our trainings are generally limited to 30 participants. We seek to create a safe environment that allows for constructive peer feedback and group brainstorming. Due to the sensitive nature of our work, we strongly believe participants are more active and comfortable in discussion groups small enough for everyone to interact with each other and the facilitator.

Can the FieldFutures training be tailored to the unique needs of my field setting?

Yes, we often provide tailored trainings that include resources, protocols, and other specifics of your organization’s fieldwork conditions.