The Ski Committee fully supports its leaders and hopes this page provides a useful resource of information for trip leaders and co-leaders. The Ski Committee wants to help you with problems or questions about your trip.
Trip Leader Checklist
- How do I become a Ski Leader or Co-leader?
- Trip Planning
- Announcing And Publicizing Your Trip
- Sample Poop Sheet
- Equipment Checklist
- Clothing Checklist
- Trip Report Template
- WMNF Trip Report
- WORKSHOP REPORT form (for Workshop coordinators)
- Release Agreement
How do I become a Ski Leader or Co-leader?
Requirements for leaders in the SkiCom are two co-leads with an approved Ski leader, or one co-lead and one instructional at a Boston Chapter Workshop. Anyone may become a Ski co-leader by asking the Ski Chair; however, we recommend first taking the Boston Chapter Leadership Training Workshop. This workshop emphasizes group safety and dynamics, and decision-making skills.Co-leaders applying for leadership status do so by sumitting a "resume" to the Ski Chair. Your resume should include the following:
- Brief description of yourself and your favorite places to ski.
- List the trips you've co-led with the SkiCom or workshop you taught. Be sure to include dates, location, and leader's name.
- References from the leaders you've worked with.
- Leads or co-leads for other AMC committees. Please include leader contact information.
- Other trips or groups you've organized or helped managed outside the AMC.
- Description of the what types of trips you are interested in leading with the SkiCom.
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Trip Planning
The first step to a successful trip is planning. These are required and recommended tasks for all leaders and co-leaders to keep in mind when planning out their trips.
- Trip Listing: List your trip in Outdoors, the Mud, the On-Line Trip Listing System and the amc-ski Yahoo Group. There is a lengthy lead time for publications; see the table of publication dates below for Outdoors (~2 months) and the Mud (~1 month).
- Money: There is a $2/person/night fee for overnight trips that goes to the Ski Committee. This is to reemburse the committee for training, workshops, expenses and planning costs. There is no fee for day trips. As leaders, you are entitled to have reasonable expenses covered out of the cost trip.
- Screening: As people contact you to sign-up, describe your trip itinerary, difficulty, and necessary equipment. Describe any
hazards they will face during your trip. Allow them to select themselves out of the trip. Verbally talk with each participant with regard
to their ABILITY, EXPERIENCE, FITNESS, MEDICAL problems, and their EQUIPMENT. Although email is convenient, you need to talk to everyone
on the phone prior to the trip. Questionable/Marginal skiers don't know their equipment and are vague about their experience. Be particularly
careful with last-minute sign-ups and those signing up friends.
If the person meets your requirements, obtain their Name, Phone #, Email. You should also obtain their town for car pool info, but you don't need their specific address. - Checklist:Leader and Coleader should carry FIRST AID kit, MAP & COMPASS, extra CLOTHING and FOOD, and extra EQUIPMENT or TOOLS. (See Leader Equipment checklist). Leader should discuss equipment with coleader prior to trip.
- Poop Sheet: Leader needs to send out POOP sheet at least one week prior to departure date. This should contain the trip objective, meeting place and time, itinerary, necessary equipment and ability, back-up plan, costs, cancellation policy, and other specific info needed. An example poop sheet is shown here, and a more complete equipment check can be found here.
- Weather Forecast: Before leaving town, obtain a current WEATHER forecast and snow conditions. Forward this info to participants if you have an email list.
- At the trailhead:
- Ensure everyone is properly clothed and equipped.
- Take a total headcount of participants; make sure all sign-ups are present.
- Describe the itinerary, lunch stop, and weather forecast. Describe any known hazards and where. Introduce the Coleader, and ask for questions.
- A sweep should be designated; the trip coleader or leader is preferred. The sweep should know the overall route and equipped to handle problems or emergencies.
- During the trip: Pause frequently to shed clothing, admire the view, and keep the group together. Take a headcount during these breaks and at lunch. Watch and talk with each participant during the trip; identify participant problems early and assess their ability to keep up or continue with the group.
- Group Decisions: Final decisions are up to the leader. Coleader and participants should suggest ideas or options, but the leader makes any final decision. The coleader's role is to assist the leader and support his decision.
- After the trip: Account for all participants at the end of the trip. In the interest of group enjoyment, it is best to start the trip together, stay together, and leave together.
- Enjoy Yourselves: Beyond safety, the most important responsibility of the leader is that everyone has a good time. The success of the trip is measured by the enjoyment that the participants derive from it. To a large degree, it depends upon the enthusiasm, tactfulness, sociability, and good sense of the leader and coleader.
- Trip Report: File a trip report even if the trip is cancelled. This report should describe number of participants, any accidents or problems, recommends new leaders, and other useful comments.
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Announcing and Publicizing Your Trip
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Trips should be submitted to the AMC On-line Trip Listing (OTL) by using the AMC Trip Planner, a tool that allows leaders to post their trips to the AMC Outdoors Magazine and AMC website (outdoors.org) simultaneously. These trips will also be added to the next possible Mud Newsletter and Ski Committee Email Announcements. The SkiCom website will contain a link to your trip under "Trips". For a step-by step guide, download the Full Instructions (Word Doc). Listing A Trip
Editing Saved Trips
Viewing Current Trips
Deadlines for Online Submission As of September 2009, the Outdoors Magazine is published bi-monthly, 6 times a year.
Return to Top Trip Reporting RequirementsFOREST SERVICE TRIP REPORT The Forest Service requires all AMC trips to the White Mountain National Forest be reported. The information they need is: Date(s) of tripThis report can be emailed to the Forest Service directly.
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