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AMC Leadership Weekend
You’ve been a member of AMC for a while and ready to take on a different role
By Caroline Bennett and Tom Ebersold
You’re a member of AMC for a while and ready to take on a different role. Perhaps you want to give back to the Club or take on some responsibility. You think you want to be a leader or a co-leader and wonder …
How do you become an AMC leader?
What do you need to know?
What kinds of leadership opportunities exist?
What makes a good leader?
What about liability issues?
How do you deal with accident scene management?
These and many other questions were answered at this year’s AMC Outdoor Leadership Training School. The Connecticut Chapter conducted the event the weekend of November 21st – 23rd, 2003, at the White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center in beautiful Litchfield, Conn. Located in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the foundation and center is comprised of 4,000 acres of fields, waters and woodlands, 35 miles of trails, a museum, campgrounds, boating facilities, meeting houses, dormitories and outdoor gathering areas. The various aspects of the facility made it a perfect location for the indoor and outdoor activities of the Leadership Training School.
There were eighteen participants in this year’s class. People came from near and far. One participant, a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter, came from Newtown, Bucks County, Penn. Partakers in this year’s training are avid hikers. Some are bikers; several have a keen interest in backpacking. There are a few paddlers, and one or two rock climbers. All share the love of the outdoors and the desire to experience it with others.
Connecticut Chapter Chair, Dale Geslien, and Chapter Education Chair, Leo Kelly, really know how to organize and conduct a training event. The agenda ran from Friday night through Sunday afternoon and was packed full of interesting topics and experienced and dynamic speakers. Introductory activities on Friday night included a segment on compass reading. Afterwards, some went for a night hike. There were lots of big smiles and rosy cheeks upon their return.
With breakfast at 7 a.m. and class starting at 8:15a.m., the early start helped everyone make the most of each day. Leo started Saturday with introductions followed by Eric Stone’s talk on “How to Become a Leader and Reporting”. Next, Dale explained all about “AMC Leadership Opportunities” followed by an introduction to “Leadership Styles” from Leo.
Katherine Byers, AMC Outdoor Leadership Coordinator, made a special appearance to discuss “AMC Leadership Liability” (do you know about the Federal Volunteer Protection Act?) followed by the informative multi-media presentation by Bill Russell on “Day Hike Planning and Management”. After lunch, Leo talked more about “Leadership Styles”, Merri Fox talked about “Group Dynamics” and Dale spoke on “Screening Hike Participants”.
A social hour followed by dinner and an evening hike closed out the first night. With a new moon not visible in the sky, the stars were especially bright. The group hit the trail for an extended evening hike along trails and over the boardwalk through a large wetland area.
What would you do if someone got hurt on a hike? Jeff Hogan offered some useful insight into this area in his Sunday morning presentation “Accident Scene Management.” Key points about accidents: handle the situation with the expectation that the group will get the person out of the woods. Waiting for the helicopter to swoop down from overhead is not realistic. The leader should manage the scene to make sure that other people do not become victims due to unnecessary panic in response to the situation. Leo Kelly gave an expansive view of “Leave No Trace,” which went well beyond the debate of “Is it okay to throw my apple core into the bushes?” Leave No Trace centers around the idea that hikers should not create any disturbances as they pass through the woods, including stacking up rocks to create a landmark, building a campfire, and yes, tossing their apple core into the bushes.
Leaders had the opportunity to put these lessons into practice when they hit the trail with some hikers who challenged their leadership skills during some role-playing events. With lessons fresh in their minds, leaders had to find a “lost” hiker who wandered away from the group, convince a “frightened” hiker that it was okay to cross a rushing stream, and mediate a dispute between a tired hiker and a hurried one as sunset loomed.
The lessons learned can be applied by all hikers, even those who never plan to lead a hike. Everyone is responsible for the safety of the entire group on a hike. A hiker who comes unprepared can potentially endanger the safety of everyone. Had the one role-play been a real situation, a hiker who overestimated his abilities could cause the entire group to finish the hike by twilight. A leader who turns away a hiker in the parking lot may be doing that person a kindness by preventing him from undertaking a hike he probably cannot safely complete.
Jeff Hogan gave leaders some interesting things to think about in his safety presentation. At one point he had the entire group take off their coats and lay down on the ground. Within minutes everyone was shivering, even though the temperatures were in the mid-forties, as the cold ground sucked warmth from everyone’s body. This event simulated an injured hiker who might have to lie on the ground while waiting for help. The solution: carry a foam pad (like one used in a tent) to provide some shelter from the ground. A bivy sack or space blanket can insulate the person on top. Jeff also mentioned that if he asks the leader to take out the map (at a randomly chosen point on a hike) and point out the group’s location, the leader would often be incorrect!
Bill Russell offered some useful tips to help make the hike a more pleasant experience for others. This includes the following: greet people in the parking lot, give everyone a nametag, and select a scenic spot for the lunch stop.
Copyright © 2004 by the authors, all rights reserved.
Compilation Copyright © 2004, Connecticut Chapter AMC