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How to become an outings leader
Leading outings is fun and it keeps GLS going. If you would like to become an outing leader, you need to fulfill a few basic requirements:
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You must be a Sierra Club member and subscribe to the GLS newsletter.
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You must have current Basic First Aid certification that meets the adopted standards of GLS/Loma Prieta Chapter
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You must first colead two GLS outings
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You must then 'provisionally lead' one outing and receive a positive evaluation by a Mentor Leader (a qualified and objective leader).
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You must complete Outings Leader Training 1 or 2, either online or in a chapter-sponsored class.
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Once approved by GovCom, you should make an effort to lead at least 3 outings each year
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You must renew your first aid every three years and renew your OLT training every 4 years to maintain your leader qualification.
You should also join the leaders email list which is used to organize hikes, find co-leaders for hikes, and any other leader business of the section.
When you have completed the requirements, just fill out an application and mail it to the Outings Chair. The Mentor Leader who evaluated your Provisional Outing must complete an evaluation form and mail it to the Outings Chair. The application will be voted on at the next Governing Committee meeting: once it's approved, you are an official GLS outings leader.
Outings sign-in sheets
Need a sign-in sheet? Print out a copy of this one online. It's two-sided. Contact the Outings Chair if you have any trouble printing it. Please mail sign-in sheets from all of your events to the address shown on the form as soon as possible.
You'll need Adobe Acrobat on your computer to view it. A free viewer for Acrobat PDF files can be downloaded here.
Leaders email list
Please join the leaders email list so that you can be in touch with other outing leaders and prospective leaders. To join the list, just send an email to the Sierra Club list server with the message
subscribe lomap-gls-leaders FirstName LastName
substituting of course your own first and last names.
First aid policy
GLS Outings Leaders are required to have current Standard First Aid Certification and to carry a first aid kit on all outings they lead. There are many kinds of first aid classes, from half-day Standard First Aid to Wilderness Rescue. It's entirely up to you what class you take, as long as it's National Safety Council approved. Some classes certify you for two years, others for three. The Loma Prieta Chapter usually organizes a class once every quarter, which is announced in the Loma Prietan. The GLS section accepts a first aid certificate with a 2 year expiration date as being good for three years in terms of maintaining qualification as a leader.
Outings leaders are encouraged but not required to get Wilderness First Aid training. The Loma Prieta Chapter often organizes WFA classes . Ask the Outings Chair if scholarships are currently available to help underwrite your training costs.
Outings Handbook
You can find useful information about leading outings in the handbook published by the national Sierra Club. Contact the outings chair for the password to the clubhouse site.