Trip Leaders Guide
This guide is to make it easy for trip organisers to run a great trip for WCG. The trip organiser may, or may not, lead the actual caving trips, but does have to ensure that an appropriately skilled and experienced person does take responsibility for the underground activities.
- The trip leader is a coordination and delegatory role.
The trip leader's main tasks are to
- be a point of contact for those interested in the trip
- publicise the trip (in SumpThink, at club nights, the website, and most importantly by email lists)
- determine what caves might be visited
- arrange permissions for land and cave access
- obtain cave location and access directions
- arrange accommodation
- facilitate coordination of transport arrangements
- look after trip financials
- ensure the club has a current emergency form for each participant
- ensure there is one or more holder of emergency forms and a summary participant form Δ
- check that people have the appropriate gear, SRT kit if necessary, and arrange for them to hire or acquire it
- encourage or ensure a SumpThink article is produced
- suggest that participants contribute photos for the website and SumpThink
If you are initiating or recommending a trip that is not on the calendar also select a few possible dates and check with the committee that it fits into the programme schedule.
A trip leader has the prerogative to decide who can take part in a trip. The trip leader does not have to accept late enrolments for a trip. Trips may be for members only. In general members get priority over non members for places on a trip. The trip leader can refer people to the committee initially through the Event's coordinator or President regarding trip participation.
Set a firm date (generally the Monday before the trip) after which anyone pulling out still needs to pay for their share of the shared food and if necessary transport. Make sure everyone knows about this.
See also
- First trip what to bring
- Getting started caving clothing and equipment
- SRT kit Single Rope Technique gear
- Accommodation Accommodation and transport for caving locations
- Transport Trip transport
Be the point of contact
People like to be able to plan ahead and will come on trips if there is sufficient information and they perceive it is well organised. Ensure your contact details are available, perhaps adding a profile to our members information page.
Publicise the trip
Publicise the trip in SumpThink by advising the editor of the trip itinerary, your contact details etc. Make sure the information on the website events page is correct, and updating it as required. Closer to the date email members using our email groups to tell them about the trip, and later to remind them.
- consider adding a page about the event to our events page, and link your trip to it (see previous examples).
Cavers, permissions, access, location, transport
The first port of call for information about caves, access, accommodation, and equipment required is our Database Officer. Talk to trip leaders or cave leaders who have been there previously, check out trip reports in SumpThink or on the website. The TomoTimes and NZSB
Also see, and update the accommodation and transport information on the website.
- Ensure that cave maps, directions to the parking area, and location of the cave are obtained.
To make trips economical, and in fact more friendly, the trip organiser can facilitate the sharing of transport. Sometimes this allows the driving to be shared which can make the trip safer. Find out from participants if they require or can supply transport. See trip transport for indicative costs that could be shared at the discretion of the driver. Remember that a lot of the places we stay don't have cell coverage, so make sure at least the driver of each car knows where to go as last minute directions may be impossible.
Trip financials
WCG prefers that fees for accommodation and cave access are paid to the trip leader who then accounts for them and makes sure they are paid appropriately.
Most trips will have trip fees. These include
- accommodation
- cave access fees
- food
- contribution to the trip kitchen kit
- trip organiser's expenses (eg toll calls)
- use of rope - this is a donation, either a gold coin or a beer / wine
Round trip fees up to the nearest $1, $2, or $5. Any excess is returned to the club for use in maintaining club gear, first aid kit, kitchen kit, etc.
Trip leaders can deposit trip fees into the club account and the club treasurer can write cheques as required.
Participants
Determine participants experience levels and if they have suitable gear for the trip. (Talk to the caving leaders to ascertain what this would be). If you don't know the person ask what other trips they have been on and if necessary check with previous caving leaders.
Catering
Participants self cater breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. On weekend trips the tradition is that the trip organiser supplies the Saturday night meal, including dessert, and are recouped as part of the trip fee. On longer trips trip participants or groups of trip participants may be asked to bring a meal for the party, with costs being divvied up. Some trips, such as the Easter trip to Paturau, are fully self catering. If your cooking something that needs grated cheese, be aware there probably won't be a cheese grater, so either bring one yourself or buy grated cheese.
WCG has a kitchen/brew kit which includes (to be supplied). The trip leader also often has to arrange or delegate the bringing such items as toilet paper, milk, even light bulbs. These items are venue dependent.
WCG has a first aid kit that should be brought on all trips. Ask trip participants if they have a current first aid certification.