Forms

The forms described below are subject to periodic updates. Please check the Forms website for the most current version.

Participation Agreement

To participate in a Sierra Club outing, you must sign a participation agreement/waiver. To read a copy before the outing, go here, and check the Forms website. 

Medical Form / Information

If you have a medical issue that the leader should know about to insure proper care if you have a health-related incident during the outing, you may provide that information on a confidential form. The form is available here and on the Forms website. Leaders are expected to review the form before an outing. Leaders and emergency responders will refer to the form if you have an emergency during the outing. You can keep the form after the outing so you have it ready next time. When you register for an overnight outing online on the Sierra Club website, you may be prompted to enter medical information then.

Back Country Outings

If the outing is designated a “back country” outing, a completed Sierra Club medical form is required to participate in the outing. You can download the form and fill it out ahead of time. If you register online for an overnight outing, you may be prompted to enter medical information then.

10 Essentials

What should you bring with you on a hike? For information, go here.

COVID-19

No COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirement and no face covering requirement for adults to participate in most GLS outings outdoors. Expect to be hiking with people who have been vaccinated and people who have not. Children under 12 on outings must wear a mask. Please stay home if you are sick or have COVID-19 symptoms. If you test positive for COVID-19 within a week after participating in a GLS outing, contact the outing leader to let them know.

Rating Codes

These codes indicate the technical difficulty, not the strenuousness.

• O Applies to uncomplicated outings such as hikes on trails or the equivalent (with minimal navigation skills).
• I Includes outings that involve cross-country travel where navigation is necessary. Rougher ground than “O” outings may be traversed, and use of hands for balance may be necessary. Climbing level: 2nd class terrain.
• C Events under external control of a non-Sierra Club entity, (such as a ranger, guide, or a concessionaire).
• SE Social event.

Dogs

For most people, the presence of a well-behaved dog can be entertaining, or at worst a mild annoyance. However, this is not true for everyone. Some people suffer from various levels of fear of dogs. Because of this, and the potential intrusion on wildlife, the Sierra Club policy is that dogs are not allowed on Club outings unless the write-up states “DOGS OK.” Bring adequate food, water, a bowl, cleanup bags, and a long leash.

Adventure Pass

National Forests in Southern California (Los Padres, San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and Cleveland) require parked cars to display an Adventure Pass. The pass is available from ranger stations, sporting goods stores, and other local merchants and costs $5 per day or $30 per year. Plan on getting it before your outing, as most outlets do not open early.

Carpooling

To facilitate the travel logistics for outings, participants often make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride-sharing, or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

Seller of Travel

Notice CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Chapter Support for First Aid

In 2023, the Angeles Chapter Outings Management Committee allocated money (given to the Chapter to support the outings program) to support leaders taking first aid classes to meet the club’s leadership requirements. Please check the First Aid website for the status of first aid courses offered.

First Aid/CPR/AED

The Chapter has scheduled free first aid/ CPR/AED classes for leaders and leader candidates. When more classes are scheduled, you can find them by searching in the Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities page by the phrase “first aid”.  If you cannot find an available free class scheduled by the chapter, please go here for more information about the first aid requirements for leaders, including a provider list. 

Wilderness First Aid

Recent (2023) guidance from the Angeles Chapter:

Wilderness First Aid -- Wilderness First Aid will be reimbursed up to $300 as per the following policy. The chapter will reimburse leaders up to $300 for the cost of a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or higher. This is open to any active outings leader or prospective outings leader in the chapter whose Sierra Club membership is current. The course must be approved by the Leadership Training Committee. Note that to become an I-rated leader a 24 hour course is required. However, 16-hour WFA courses will also be reimbursed, and O-rated leaders are encouraged to invest in their skills with either 16 or 24 hour courses. To be reimbursed for any WFA course in 2023, the leader shall complete the course and then email their receipt to the chapter director (morgan.goodwin@sierraclub.org) and copy the Sierra Club outings chair of their relevant entity, who will need to confirm that the person is an active leader (or the Leadership Training Committee chair(s) to confirm that the person is a prospective leader). Or you can check with your outings chair before the course. If fronting the money is a hardship, the leader may contact Morgan in advance. Go here for a list of approved Wilderness First Aid classes; note that only two are the 24-hour classes required for an I-Rating.

More info about first aid requirements can be found here.

Updated Policies

The Sierra Club is updating goals and policies as it strives to be more inclusive. These changes are reflected in changes to the club’s guidance to outing leaders. Outing leaders are asked to review two updated documents, which are linked from the Rules of Conduct page on the chapter website.

• Equal Opportunity Policy
• “Affirmative Standards of Conduct” section of the Standards of Conduct document.

Once you have read these, let the Outings Chair know, and they will note that in the leader information database.

Are you interested in becoming a leader, or are you already a leader looking to refresh your rating? The Angeles Chapter Leadership Training and Outings Management website provides information related to becoming a leader, outings chair database training, refreshing existing leader requirements, information about the First Aid rules, forms, policies, and Trip Planning. The Angeles Chapter Leadership Training and Outings Management website can be accessed here.

GLS has been publishing a newsletter since 1987. The last issue of GLS TRACKS in a printable format has been issued. Upcoming outings, trip reports, and other GLS content will appear online at GLSTRACKS.ORG.