Sierra Club  Woods & Wetlands Group Outings Leader Program
	Handbook

W&W  Outings Needs Your Leadership and Help

The Sierra Club began as a few people who found the magnificent wilderness areas they loved threatened by deforestation. They decided to win protection for it by showing others its beauty. W&W continues that proud tradition with hikes to special places. Sierra Club group outings provide low-cost environmental experiences intended to help participants appreciate the extraordinarily bountiful natural environment in which we live.

The Woods & Wetlands Group Executive Committee approves group Outings Leaders. Qualified volunteer leaders organize and run all outings, and must be appropriately prepared. Leaders are in charge of both pre-trip planning and decisions during the outing itself. Leadership skills are essential to engage the cooperation of all participants in making the outing a well run and enjoyable event. A qualified Sierra Club W&W Outing leader must first obtain experience as an assistant leader, and then complete and maintain leadership training and requirements:

• All leaders and assistant leaders must be Sierra Club members.
• Leaders and assistant leaders must have an interest in sharing outdoor interests and skills with trip participants. Current types of acceptable outings include: canoeing, biking, hiking, backpacking, orienteering, birding, cross-country skiing, educational clinics, stewardship and clean-up events.
• Assistant leaders qualify for approval as a leader after assisting on at least two outings with an experienced Sierra Club leader to learn organizational and outdoor skills, and provisionally leading one of them. It is best if the potential leaders assist in the type of outings that they intend to lead to learn to screen participants for appropriate skill level and negotiate with outfitters who provide trip facilities (such as canoe equipment or campgrounds).
• Assistant leaders must also attend a leadership training class that covers safety, tips for running a successful outing, and understanding Sierra Club policies. At least one training session is scheduled and advertised in the Chapter outings publication each year.
• Leaders must review the leadership training materials published on the Sierra Club extranet, and submit evidence of their review to the Group Outings Chair once every three years.
• Leaders must maintain personal First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years. First Aid training is usually offered annually through one or more of the local outing groups at a discount to Sierra Club leaders.
• Leaders must be prepared to apply First Aid and carry an appropriate first aid kit.
• Qualified leaders will be given access to submit outings on the Sierrans Outdoors website, where they can be approved by the Group Outings Chair.
• Leaders must require participants to sign a waiver prior to the start of a trip. The sign-in waiver form (PDF format - Word Format), along with trip fees must be sent to the outing chair.
• Leaders must annually attend at least one Outings Committee meetings and one meeting of another Group committee to help integrate the Outings Program into the success of the W&W Group.

The W&W Outing Committee welcomes Helper members willing to help us conduct more outings by helping with organization and logistics. We also welcome new Assistant Leaders interested in helping leaders and/or gaining the experience to lead trips themselves. If you would like more information or are ready to volunteer on outings with the W&W Group, contact Outings Chair, Evan Craig, at 847-680-6437 or evan.craig@illinois.sierraclub.org .

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