ICS Action Lab

ICS Action Lab™

Flagship Program of the Sierra Center for Readiness

ICS Action Lab™ is an interactive, discussion-based educational program developed by the Sierra Center for Readiness to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world incident management. Through facilitated scenarios, participants apply Incident Command System (ICS) principles to realistic emergencies, strengthening decision-making, coordination, and leadership in a collaborative learning environment.

Course Overview

Traditional ICS courses teach the structure of incident management. ICS Action Lab™ develops the confidence to use it. Participants work in small groups through progressive scenarios that require them to organize an incident, establish command, manage resources, coordinate with Emergency Operations Centers, address medical surge, and solve operational challenges while receiving coaching from experienced faculty.

Learning Objectives

• Apply Incident Command System principles in realistic scenarios.

• Establish and expand an incident organization.

• Coordinate field operations with an Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

• Prioritize resources during periods of limited availability.

• Manage medical surge and multiagency coordination.

• Practice operational decision-making in a low-risk learning environment.

• Strengthen communication, leadership, and teamwork.

Target Audience

• Healthcare leaders

• Emergency Managers

• EMS

• Fire Service

• Law Enforcement

• Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinators

• Healthcare Coalitions

• Public Health

• Government Agencies

• Tribal Nations

• Private Industry

Course Format

Length: 4 Hours
Format: Facilitated, discussion-based education
Delivery: Classroom or hosted on-site
Class Size: Scalable for small groups or larger multidisciplinary audiences

What Makes ICS Action Lab™ Different?

ICS Action Lab™ is designed around active participation rather than lecture. Every participant contributes to solving realistic operational problems, creating an engaging learning experience that reinforces ICS concepts through application rather than memorization. The course can also be customized to reflect local hazards, organizational structures, and jurisdictional priorities.

Host the Course

The Sierra Center for Readiness offers ICS Action Lab™ throughout the Western United States and beyond. Courses may be customized for healthcare organizations, emergency management agencies, healthcare coalitions, public safety partners, tribal governments, and private industry.