Organizing & Leading Trips 

Sure it's a bit of extra work and responsibility, but paddling trips are one of the things that make the club work.  Leading a trip is a chance give back to the paddling community and support the club's mission by introducing new paddlers to the sport in a safe, supportive and fun environment.   As a trip leader you get to select the stretch of river you'd like to run and when you'd like to run it.

You don't have to be an expert class 4 or 5 paddler to lead a trip; you can be the trip organizer and tap other, more experienced, club members to show you the ropes and help you guide and run safety on the trip.

Club Trips vs Private Trips

Club members run both club sponsered and private trips.  Club sponsered trips require that trip leaders meet Sierra Club standards.  In exchange trip leaders receive liability insurance.  Private trips are common adventures not sponsored by nor covered by the Sierra Club.  We list both types of trips on our club schedules and which type you lead is up to you.

Organizing Your Trip

Some people plan out their paddling trips for the season each spring.  Others plan trips on a week by week basis.  

To get word out about your trip you can talke to the trip scheduler and get it on the official schedule.  You can also talk it up at the pool and club meetings and send out an email via the list server.

On The River

Trip Leader Requirements

The Sierra Club has a small list of requirements for the leaders of all club trips. In past years this has not been an issue, but with the 2009 paddling season we need to follow these requirements. Remember, you can always lead a private trip, you just won’t be covered by the Sierra Club insurance policy.

  1. Active Sierra Club Membership.
  2. Current basic first aid certificate (CPR not required).
  3. Complete the Sierra Club online Outdoor Leader Training course (OLT 101).
  4. Be registered as a qualified leader by the LPP scheduler.
  5. Be at least 18 years of age.

In addition, for each trip there are these requirements:

  1. The maximum allowed Leader:participant ratios are: Class I 1:16, Class II 1:10, Class III 1:8
  2. No class IV or above club trips.
  3. No overnight trips away from vehicles.
  4. Leader must have the training, experience and rescue skills appropriate to the anticipated conditions and hazards.
  5. Leader must have be familiar with the river and recently run it.

Club Trip Forms

When you're running a club trip you'll need to have everyone on the trip sign the release form before the trip begins.  Carry the form with you on the river and use it to make sure everyone is off the river at the end of the day. 

Completed forms need to be returned to the club trip scheduler after the trip is completed.

Assignment of Risk Form (pdf)

Sample Safety Talk