How to become an Outings Leader

 John Muir, Sierra Club's first president, encouraged us to

"do something for wildness and make the mountains glad."

Lots of activities qualify as outings: a nature walk, a bike ride, skiing, a canoe or kayak trip, a scramble up a hill or mountain, a beach clean up, a tour of an area threatened by development, a bird survey...whatever you are interested in, you can be sure other people are too! Be creative and have fun.

Sierra Club Maine Chapter will conduct an Outing Leaders Training upon request. We really need outings leaders who are willing to lead outings north/west/east of Augusta. There is a 3-step process to become a certified outings leader:

1. one day of Sierra Club training (depending on the location of those interested in this leader training, we will travel to where the most people are located),

2. Red Cross or similar First Aid & CPR certification (which some people already have),

3.  and a supervised first hike by a certified Maine Chapter outings leader.   

For more information, contact:

Bill Briggs, Sierra Club volunteer at wdbriggs@verizon.net

Outings Leaders – Qualifications and Policies as of June 2004

• Outings leaders and assistant leaders will be Sierra Club members in good standing.

• Outings leaders and assistant leaders know and follow Sierra Club guidelines regarding minimal impact, safety, and conservation education and are competent to lead their proposed outings.

• Outings Leaders and assistant leaders shall have completed First Aid and CPR and maintain current emergency medical treatment knowledge appropriate to the location and type of outing being led.

• Outings Leaders and assistant leaders will not dispense over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

• Outings Leaders shall be appointed and authorized to conduct each outing by the Chapter Outings Chair. Leaders shall obtain trip approval in advance for each trip.
  Outings Leaders shall receive Chapter training and be supervised by a certified outings leader on their first outing.

• Outings Leaders shall carry a first aid kit appropriate to the outing & The Ten Essentials as specified in the Outing Leader Handbook: map, compass, flashlight, sunglasses, food & water, extra clothing, waterproof matches, candle, pocket knife, 1st Aid Kit.

• Outings Leaders shall sign in and carry the combined sign-in sheet/waiver form and have participants sign in, and notify participants in advance that they’ll be required to sign a waiver. File completed forms at Chapter office. Make sure to obtain an updated waiver form on web site.

There are two terrific Sierra Club outing leader email list-servs you can join to keep you in the loop, connected, and informed:

Discussion list serv

The discussion list serv delivers messages to your email from other leaders, while you can ask questions to the entire group and respond to the whole group, talking about issues and ideas.
 

Newsletter list serv
Delivers the GCOC newsletter to your inbox every month, keeping you informed of Club policies and more. Sign up by going to:

http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?XH=LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG.  

Scroll down to find OA-GC Outings Leaders (Chapter, Group and Section Outing Leader Discussion List ) & OA-GC GCOC Newsletter (Group and Chapter Outing Committee Newsletter Announcement List).