The club is always looking for leaders. If you are interested in becoming a leader, or know someone who might be interested, encourage them to talk to some of our leaders to determine if it is right for them. The Leadership Training Committee has an excellent web site with lots of information on becoming a leader, similar to the Angeles chapter's site on becoming a leader.
The next Leadership Training Program Seminar will be held in April, 2008. For more information, contact the LTC Registrar.
The Sierra Club is enacting the following requirements for maintaining “currency” as a leader: Every four years from the date a leader first met all requirements to lead an outing, regardless of level, OLT 101 must be refreshed and any lapsed first aid certifications must be renewed. Further, if a leader has not led a trip at a given level in the previous four years, then the leader must repeat the requirement to Provisionally Lead at that level or higher before leading an outing at the given level, or otherwise satisfy the entity's Outings Chair that the leader continues to possess the requisite skills.
Each fall the Chapter holds an Outings Assembly. This assembly is open to all, and addresses outings policies and objectives. Details can be found in the Schedule of Activities, Southern Sierran, and Tidelines, as the date of the event approaches. For more information, try this link. We encourage all leaders to attend. The Long Beach group typically meets at the MTA parking structure at Long Beach Blvd. and Willow St. before proceeding to the event. See either the Schedule of Activities, Tidelines, or the Current Outings listing on this site for the meeting time, or ask the Outings Chair.
Tidelines inputs due for the identified issues:
January/February issue – Nov. 15
March/April – Jan. 15
May/June –Mar. 15
July/August –May 15
September/October –Jul. 15
November/December – Sep. 15
Did you know you can update your Schedule of Activities information, on-line?
Long Beach Red Cross offers First Aid Classes.
Wilderness First Aid: Information is here. Note the new site.
Web-Based First Aid Course Providers (from Phil W, May 2008)
There are several web-based first aid, CPR and first aid/CPR combination courses (basic first aid is the minimum requirement) available on the web. The Outdoor Activities Governance Committee (OAGC) recommends face-to-face first aid classes due to their interactive nature. However, the OAGC has reviewed web-based first aid courses and accepts them only as a renewal for an existing face-to-face basic first aid class (alternating each renewal cycle with a face-to-face training).
CPR Today - CPR Today offers a Standard Basic First Aid Certification for about $29.95. This course includes information on bites, poisons and environmental issues, however it is lacking pictures for the visual learner.
Professional Training Institute - First Aid Certification Training costs about $24.95. The course included very good written and visual training materials. The material did not cover information about shock, bites, poisons, or environmental issues. However, in order to pass, trainees must also complete a blood born pathogens training (which the Sierra Club doesn't require).
First Aid Web - First Aid Web offers a free first aid class. Training materials are limited and text based but are clear.
Pro First Aid - Pro First Aid offers a free first aid and CPR recertification tests. The focus of the course is on CPR and targets medical professionals (CNA, EMT and RN) which doesn't meet the outings leader needs. The course does a really good job with written materials and video.
While in-class renewal is preferred (and required every other four-year renewal cycle), this web-based option may be attractive to some of your leaders.
Safety first, per Outings Training it's good to identify the closest Ranger Station and medical facility when planning an outing. Here's my attempt to identify Ranger Station and Hospital locations for some common areas.
Mt. Baldy Village/Manker Flats: Mt. Baldy Visitor Center, San Antonio Community Hospital
Mt. Baden Powell: Big Pines Information Center, Desert Valley Hospital
San Jacinto (Palm Springs): Idyllwild Ranger Station, Desert Regional Medical Center
San Jacinto (Idyllwild): Idyllwild Ranger Station, Hemet Valley Medical Center
San Gorgonio (Mill Creek District): San Gorgonio Ranger Station, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
The Clubhouse local site has lots of information for leaders, including forms, insurance information, and information on areas requiring special approval or permits. I've included direct links to those sites below
National Location Advisories, narrowed down to just California Locations.
Areas requiring special permits.
Insurance information can be found here.
These forms are handy for outings leaders:
Conditioning hike sign-in form.
The Angeles Chapter's site with standard forms for outings leaders.
The Clubhouse also has a site with all the Forms we may need.
National Geophysical Data Center declination calculator.
A quick link to the National Training resources site on Clubhouse.
National's LEADERS site (password protected) contains lots of information on our leaders, including membership status, first aid status, and contact information. It may be out of date on some items.
The Angeles Chapter's Leader's site (password protected) contains limited information (membership and first aid status), but should be current in regards to first aid. It may be off on membership status.