| The
Role of Leaders
The Inner City Outings program exists because of the merit of our
leaders. Two Sierra Club leaders must accompany each Inner City
Outings trip. At least one of these leaders must be specially certified
as an Inner City Outings leader.
Since
requests for outings exceed our capacity, ICO has a continuing need
for new leaders. A leader can sign up just to be available to lead
or co-lead scheduled hikes, but usually leaders also act as a liaison
with a school or agency, staying in touch with the school or agency
about when they would like hikes and helping to prepare them for
hikes.
Your
energy and imagination can help create exciting opportunities for
the people ICO serves!
Planning
a Hike
Two
months in advance:
- Schedule
the outing with the school or agency contact person. Descriptions
of possible hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains.
- Schedule
the bus, if required, by submitting the Bus Request form to the
Bus Coordinator. Outings in the Santa Monica Mountains require
an eight week lead time from the week of the monthly meeting. Other
buses require two to three weeks.
- Make
sure the outing is included in the ICO newsletter by attending
the monthly meeting or by notifying the Secretary.
- Recruit
a second leader to serve as a co-leader on the outing. If unable
to lead the outing yourself, recruit a leader to take your place.
Meetings are a good place to recruit a co-leader. A phone list
of leaders is available.
The
week before:
- The
week of the outing, confirm the outing with the school or agency
and the co-leader. Recruit additional volunteer assistance. A
phone list of volunteers is available.
- If
possible, visit or call the school or agency to let the participants
know what to expect. Discuss the trip length, meeting place and
time, Planning for Your Trip, and The Rules on the Trail.
(view a printable version of lists in English
or in Spanish)
-
Download either Trip
Permission Form - English
(PDF, 38K) or Trip
Permission Form - Spanish
(PDF,
38K). Print these PDF (Portable Document Format) forms to pass
out to participants.
-
Check with the school or other agency to find out if children
who will participate have asthma, an allergy to bee stings, or other medical problems that might cause difficulties during the
outing and request that they bring needed medications.
Planning
for your Trip!
-
Get a good rest the night before
- Eat
a good solid breakfast
- Wear
light-colored clothes (T-shirt and jacket)
- Wear
a cap or hat
- Wear
long pants, unless your teacher indicates shorts are appropriate
- Wear
socks and sturdy comfortable, closed shoes suitable for hiking
- Put
sunscreen on face, neck, and arms
- What
to bring:
- Waiver
and permission slip (either the participating agency's
or ICO's)
- A
jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt
- A
medium or large plastic bottle of water (no soda)
- A
simple lunch
- Daypack/bookbag
(ICO has daypacks available on loan for the day of the
event. Contact your ICO leader in advance if needed).
- Sunglasses
- Optional:
camera, whistle
- What
not to bring:
- Radios,
tape players, cell phones
- Pets
- Do
not burden yourself with too many things to carry (you
will get too tired)
The
Rules on the Trail
-
Follow leaders' instructions at all times
- Stay
between front and rear leaders on the trail
- Stay
on the trail; do not cut across switchbacks
- Do
not throw rocks or pick plants
- Do
not litter
- Take
only photographs; leave only footprints
- Have
a good time!
- Call
the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for bus confirmation
at (310) 858-7272 x 117. Tell them you are leading a hike for
the Mountains Education Program, the date, destination, and name
of school.
- Call
the park to make sure your trip from the Mountains Recreation
and Conservation Authority (not "Sierra Club" or "ICO")
is expected and that the bus parking fee will be waived. Confirm
the date and name of school.
-
Malibu Creek State Park (818) 880-0367
- Topanga
State Park (310) 455-2465
- Solstice
Canyon (805) 370-2300
- Temescal
Canyon (310) 454-1395
- Will
Rogers (310) 454-8212.
-
Changing the date or destination of a hike requires 10 days advance
notice. Please contact Dan Butler
, Bus Coordinator.
- Watch
the WEATHER REPORT
(click for ten day report) in order to make an informed decision
regarding cancellation. A cancellation must be made at least 72 hours in advance.
Discuss the cancellation with the teacher.
In deciding to cancel, remember the interests of the children
and use common sense.
(To cancel a bus, call (310)858-7272 x117 and talk to Robin Smith or pager (888)562-1116 (attention Robin Smith), at least 72 hours in advance. Please immediately reschedule for a new date
with Dan Butler
the ICO Bus Coordinator, as this eliminates the 8 week waiting
period.)
The
day of the hike:
TOP
- Things
to Bring
In addition to wearing and bringing the same supplies as the participants,
your backpack should include an accident report form, first aid
kit, extra water, a plastic bag to pick up litter on the trail,
and the school’s phone number. You may also want to bring
some extra water bottles, hats, and backpacks for kids who may
have forgotten them.
- Arriving
at the Park
On the day of the hike, be at the park before the bus is expected.
Tell the ranger you are leading a school group hike for the Mountains
Recreation and Conservation Authority. They usually waive your
parking fee; if not ICO will reimburse you (keep the receipt).
-
Bus Arrival/Setting the Tone
When the bus arrives, it is important to set an exuberant mood
for an exciting hike. Talk with the teacher about initial plans
for the hike and get the children immediately to use the toilets
and retrieve their lunches and belongings from the bus. (If the
bus was quite late, determine the driver's name and bus number
and when it actually arrived at the school, and report these to
the ICO Bus Coordinator, who can report driver problems and lateness
to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.)
Only adults with waivers and students with waivers and permissions
slips should be allowed to hike.
- At
the Trailhead
Have the teacher count the participants (categorize them for yourself
by students, agency personnel, and volunteers/parents for your
report). Introduce yourself and the co-leader, as well as volunteers.
Check hikers’ and adults’ packs, store unmanageable
sacks on the bus, and redistribute loads as necessary. Make sure
everyone has water or access to it. Make sure shoes are laced
properly! Encourage use of sunblock, as appropriate. Quickly review
the rules and talk briefly about the park being visited.
- On
the Trail
Keep the group together and wait at all forks in the road until
everyone can be seen. Be mindful of limitations of weak or heavier
persons. Tell the fast ones to slow down and the slow ones to
speed up.
Find interesting things to point out. Discuss plants, animals,
and terrain, mindful of age group considerations.
- Lunch
Find a spot for lunch that allows everyone in the group to have
a place to sit. Set the boundaries within which everyone is allowed
to walk and sit. Have the teachers make another head count after
the lunch break and be punctual getting back to the bus, especially
on weekdays. Allow 15 minutes for toilet time before the bus leaves.
- Ending
the Hike
Before the bus leaves, thank everyone for coming and encourage
them to come again on their own with family and friends to enjoy
the park again.
After
the hike:
- After
the trip, complete the Trip Follow-up Report within two weeks and
mail to the ICO Treasurer, required for insurance purposes. You
can use this online Trip Follow-up Report form.
-
If any incidents occurred, fill out other forms as appropriate.
Become
a Leader
TOP
There are a few simple steps to becoming a leader.
- Join
the Sierra
Club.
- Participate
on at least five Sierra Club sponsored outings. These may be ICO
outings or any other Sierra Club outing.
- Obtain
current First Aid and CPR certification.
The Red
Cross offers First Aid classes (fees can be reimbursed by
ICO). The Angeles Chapter also schedules free classes annually
for potential and current leaders through the Leadership
Training Committee.
- Attend
an Angeles Chapter Sierra Club leader training.
A one-day leadership training workshop is held twice a year (spring
and fall). The Leadership
Training Committee has details posted on their website.
- Lead
a provisional hike.
You simply plan a hike with an experienced certified ICO leader
along to evaluate you.
- Submit
your paperwork to the Angeles Chapter Safety Committee Chair.
You will be notified by mail when your application has been approved
and receive a patch indicating you are a leader.
- Since ICO leaders work with children, a few extra steps are
required to ensure the safety of our trip participants. You will be asked for three references. For details, please speak to
John Abel, the Certification Chair. You can contact him at 310-456-8384 or jabel13@netzero.net
Forms
for Leaders
Three forms for leaders are available online:
Trip
Permission Form - English
Trip
Permission Form - Spanish
Print these PDF (Portable Document Format) forms to pass
out to participants.
Outings
Information Form
Bus Request
Form
Trip Follow-up Form
Contact
ICO
View the About ICO page for contact information.
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