*Leader's Corner*

Welcome to the Leaders' Corner!  Whether you're a new co-leader or a seasoned winter leader, we hope this section will provide you with helpful information and documents for trip listing, planning, reporting, and more. If you haven't found what you're looking for within the Leader's Corner, or if would like to see some additional information posted here, please contact us.  Note that you may also find some useful information in the H/B Committee Documents section of the website.

 

What You Need for Your Trip

Before the Trip

Best Practices

The below documents are resources that we hope our leaders and co-leaders will find useful when planning and running trips:

After the Trip

Others

 

Get Involved With Leading Trips  

Attend the next trip planning meeting:  next date is TBD

Details will be sent to all leaders and co-leaders before the meeting via the H/B leaders list.

Email the H/B leader list

If you expressed interest in co-leading with the H/B Committee, you will be added to the H/B leader email list. This email group is for H/B leaders and co-leaders to discuss hiking and related topics, to post trips looking for additional leaders or co-leaders, as well as Committee announcements. 

Volunteer with our instructional programs

The H/B Committee runs annual Spring and Winter Hiking/Backpacking instructional programs. These programs have classes that take place in Boston and provide opportunities to get involved with instruction, lectures, demos, trip co-leading and more. Be on the lookout for emails on the H/B leader list to get involved.  

 

Lead a trip to Harvard Cabin

If you are leading a trip to Harvard Cabin, these two forms will help with the setup, shutdown, and financial planning for the weekend. For more information about leading Harvard Cabin trips, contact Mark Warren, the Harvard Cabin Coordinator, at . 

How to lead a Harvard Cabin trip - this explains how to start the heater, handle the finances and in general how it all works from a leader standpoint

General cabin info - this is from the Harvard Cabin Committee itself and covers some of the more recent renovations and improvements to the cabin.

 

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Requirements

wfa_small.gif

WFA currency requirements are waived through the end of 2021. The Chapter is exploring its options to resume training as soon as Club policies allow for larger group activities. The H/B Committee will continue to assess the availability of training and communicate updates to leaders as information becomes available.

As of April 2014, all H/B 3-season and winter leaders must be WFA certified. H/B leaders must re-certify their WFA within 3 years after their first WFA certification, then once every 5 years after that. WFA classes are offered by AMC Boston through SOLO. For help regarding your WFA status, reach out to Alex Nedzel, H/B  Leadership Coordinator.

 

Skills Development (including WFA) & Reimbursement

The H/B Committee encourages its leaders and co-leaders to continue to develop new skills and will subsidize up to two of the following AMC sponsored training courses per year:

Please review the the Boston Chapter's eligibility requirements for training reimbursement. To submit for reimbursement, fill out the Trip Reimbursement Google Form. 

 

Apply for H/B Leadership

Front Country Leader status

A Front Country Leader can lead any H/B event year-round that is wholly within an hour (from medical event to care) of definitive emergency care and/or is inside I-495 or on Cape Cod.

To apply to be a Front Country leader, you must:

  • Be an AMC member in good standing
  • Participate in at least two AMC Trips as a participant
  • Complete the Boston Chapter Single Day leadership traning program or equivalent
  • Complete your Co-Leads:
    • Co-lead a minimum of two trips including at least one under the supervision of an active H/B Leader. The other trips must be completed with the AMC including the 20s & 30s Committee and Local Walks and Hikes
    • You may only count one program hike (e.g., a spring hiking program or winter hiking program) as a trip on your application. Multi-day trips, including front country weekends, only count as one co-lead
  • Fill out a self-evaluation form for each trip that you led, ask your Leader mentors to complete trip evaluations, and
  • Fill out an application (Apply Online)

Although first aid skills have some value even in a front country setting, they are not a requirement at this level of leadership.

Three-Season Leader status

To apply to be a Three-Season Leader, you must:

  • Be an AMC member in good standing,
  • Complete the Boston Multi-Day leadership training program or an equivelant
  • Complete your Co-Leads
    • Co-lead a minimum of 4 trips with at least 3 different H/B leaders
    • At least 2 of the trips must occur outside winter-like conditions
    • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and until further notice, at least 2 trips must take place within 24 months of submitting an application. Previously, 2 trips needed to be completed within 12 months of the application.
    • You may only count 1 program hike (e.g., a spring hiking program or winter hiking program) as a trip on your application. Multi-day trips, including front country weekends, only count as one co-lead.
  • Fill out a self-evaluation form for each trip that you led,
  • Have current WFA certification status, and
  • Fill out an application (Apply Online)

While leaders should automatically fill out a leader evaluation for the co-leader after the trip, it’s a good idea for the co-leader to double check that the leader filled out the form.

Winter Leader status

To apply to be a Winter Leader you must:

  • Be an AMC member in good standing
  • Already be an experienced Three-Season Leader, having led 2 or more H/B trips
  • Complete your Co-Leads:
    • 5 winter trips with at least 3 different H/B winter leaders
    • All trips must be as winter trips where winter conditions are expected and in effect
    • At least one co-led trip must be materially above treeline
    • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and until further notice, at least 2 trips must take place within 24 months of submitting an application. Previously, 2 trips needed to be completed within 12 months of the application.
    • You may only count 1 program hike (e.g., a spring hiking program or winter hiking program) as a trip on your application. Multi-day trips, including front country weekends, only count as one co-lead.
  • Fill out a self-evaluation form for each trip that you led, and
  • Fill out an application  (Apply Online)

While leaders should automatically fill out a leader evaluation for the co-leader after the trip, it’s a good idea for the co-leader to double check that the leader filled out the form.

Applying with Leadership experience beyond H/B or AMC

Recognizing it has been difficult gaining specific co-leadership experience in the past year, for those considering applying for 3- or 4-season leadership, please be aware that experience may be considered by the committee that demonstrates H/B-compatible skills in trip planning, posting, screening, technical hiking/backpacking skills, field leadership, and reporting. Relevant experience beyond the Boston Chapter may also be considered by the committee as an alternative to experience co-leading trips. Applicants are encouraged to include this information in their application or discuss this with the committee prior to applying by emailing .

Leadership Reciprocity across the AMC

We’d also like to remind individuals that if you are currently a hiking leader with another Chapter and are interested in leading with Boston’s Hiking & Backpacking Committee, please contact the Chair at to talk about next steps. Depending on the types of trips you have led, how long you have been leading, and other factors, we may ask that you co-led a few trips to get a feel for the differences between Chapters. The Chair will also contact the Chapter or Committee Chair from your current Chapter for a recommendation. Current COVID Club guidance about leading cross-state trips will still apply - please read all Volunteer Newsletter updates issued by the Club to stay informed of changes.

Questions

If you have questions about filling out the three season leader and winter leader applications or for the review status of your application, send an email at .

  

REGI Feedback

In January 2018, we launched a new version of REGI that encompasses other activities besides hiking that the entire AMC Boston Chapter can use.  If you suspect that REGI is not operating the way that it is intended to or have a suggested improvement, please email . 

 

Perks: ProDeals on Gear!  

images.jpgAre you an active H/B Leader?  In recognition of the influence you have on outdoor enthusiasts whose lives you touch, do you want access to great purchase deals (typically 40% off) on almost 200 brands of great outdoor gear?  Participation is on an annual basis, and eligibility is as follows:

  • You need to be a 3 or 4-season H/B leader with the necessary AMC and WFA status to lead trips (co-leaders: this is further incentive to move ahead and achieve leadership status!); and
  • You need to have had a significant leadership role (as a leader or co-leader) in 3 trips/programs over the past 12 months, in at least one of which you had the top role -- i.e., you were the activity’s principal organizer and on-site leader (joint is fine, if it was truly so). Alternatively, you can look back over the past 24 months for 6 trips, in at least two of which you were in the top role.

To apply for the coming year, send an e-mail to including your latest WFA date and your qualifying 3 trips with dates and the associated trip leaders.