ALGONQUIN PARK EXPEDITION – AP5 · Web viewThe time has come to select the next cadre of senior students to serve in this capacity. I have attempted to formalize this process

ALGONQUIN PARK EXPEDITION – AP20

Senior Student ResumeINTRODUCTION

Dear Student, Parent or Guardian,

As you are aware, TOPS operates a major science expedition into the wild lands of Algonquin Park each May. The success of this trip has largely depended upon the logistical support of senior students who per -form many of the preparatory and logistical tasks of this expedition. Staff alone could never begin to accom-plish all that has to be done and so it is this alliance of staff and students that has fostered eleven very suc -cessful expeditions.

The time has come to select the next cadre of senior students to serve in this capacity. I have attempted to formalize this process to ensure its transparency and also to serve the needs of the expedition. The current model allows us to select 13-16 senior students. These people fall into three categories: managers, appren -tices and supernumeries. The managers who served as apprentices during the previous expedition will shoulder the greatest responsibilities for the trip. Apprentices are promoted after their first trip if their efforts and performance were deemed excellent. This year the managers will be the following:

Assistant to Mr. van Bemmel and Lead Senior (LSS): Caryn Qian

Assistant to Mr. Lang and Site Manager (LEM): Hari Ilangomaran

Scientific Equipment Manager (SEM): Hannah Lee

Scientific Data Manager (SDM): Hanlin Cheng

This leaves the selection process to the five to seven supernumeries and the four apprentices. I realize that back in grade 10, although some did not find this kind of adventure to their liking, many did. Thus, we are often confronted with 30 or 40 applications for these nine to eleven coveted positions. I am sure that you can understand how difficult the choices are. I would appreciate some consideration for me in this matter. The decisions are made by yours truly and Mr. Lang after a number of days of intense consideration. I realize that if a lot of you apply that the majority of news will be bad. I take no pleasure in this, but at least we can take 13 to 15 of you.

Some other considerations:

(i) You must apply (aside from the four above and any other holdovers from the supernu-meraries) or you will not be considered; no matter how well you know me.

(ii) Grade 11’s … any protracted histrionics if you are not selected, will ensure that you are not considered next year.

(iii) I will post the selected individuals on my web page at my earliest convenience.

2 v. Bemmel


Senior Student Resume

Name: ____________________________ Room in Period 1: _______________________

General Instructions DUE before 1630 – Wed 03 October 2018 – No ex-tensions – Please submit to Mr. Lang (SRC) or Mr. van Bemmel. Applic-ations must be WORD PROCESSED (using the forms at the end of this document) and printed on paper. No hand written applications will be considered.

To facilitate the activities of the Grade 10 TOPS trip to Algonquin Park, about 16 senior students will be selected to accompany the staff on AP19. Many tasks around the campground including equipment manage-ment and junior student assistance must be done by senior student helpers. In addition, if a staff member be-comes disabled or requires assistance, this cadre of students will be/ has been of immeasurable help. The se-lection process for this group of people is difficult with so many strong candidates historically applying. However, we must choose and the completeness and correctness of the information given on this form is of great value.

Please fill out the following form to the best of your ability. You must accept and complete ALL of the following steps in the application process.

1. Possess or agree to achieving, basic emergency first aid credentials (includes CPR) prior to 31 March 2019. I will verify your credentials and failure to accomplish this will result in you being dropped from the trip. (We will check)

2. Commit to ALL the dates as given below. Absences due to work, clubs (in and outside of school), minor family events and such like are NOT acceptable. The aim is to create a team feeling among the group members and to ensure adequate training. Some consideration will be given to culminating events, but these arrangements must be negotiated with Mr. van Bemmel as soon as you are aware of your schedule, not the night before.

3. Agreement to respect any time lines or due dates without reminders. This trip is rigidly sched-uled and students assisting in this effort must lead … not just follow this schedule. On training days and hikes, I expect you to be waiting for me out of respect rather than the converse. You are expec-ted to know how to (or find out how to) get to a hike and how to set an alarm clock. No excuses.

4. You must possess a cheerful spirit and a zest for hard work and getting things done. Any job is only finished if everyone is finished. I never expect to hear “That is not my job”. Voluntarily and / or volunteering to assist other staff members and seniors in their various tasks is an expectation not the exception. Your job, aside from your basic responsibilities, is the next thing that needs getting done. I expect you to go along and get along. This is a busy trip. The lead seniors will have a lot of responsibility and it is your duty to serve them and get along with the other group members. Per-sonal pettiness will NOT be tolerated

5. Respect for the Senior Managers. Simply put, within the reasonable constraints of this trip and my overall directions, Manager requests must be respected and acted upon in a timely manner. Simply: Caryn Rules.

6. Although at least half of you will possess camping experience, the rest may not . This is a school trip and part of its aim is to expand the horizons of those students who do not get out into the back -

AP20 – Senior Student Resume Package 3

country very often. In these cases, it is a character judgement that is required. Your history at our school will often tell the tale. So, do not be afraid to apply if you are new to camping as long as you understand what you are getting yourself into.

7. I require a complete endorsement of your participation in this effort by your parents. You will be required to attend hikes that are 60 - 100 km away from Toronto. Your parents will have to ensure that you have the means to attend these events. Some will not allow you to ride with other young drivers and such like. Check this out. Missing an event due to a parental permission problem will result in you being dropped from the trip. Aside from basic explanations, I will not argue or oth-erwise deal with this. You parent’s word is it. I will not provide any transport in this aspect of the trip. (Except the pre-trip and the main trip)

8. A commitment is expected that you will obtain the necessary personal fitness in hiking / walking prior to this event so that you can easily cover distances further than those assigned if an emergency were to occur. Evidence to the contrary (i.e. Performance during Senior Training Hikes) may result in you being dropped from the trip.

Selection of qualified applicants will hopefully occur prior to 11 Oct 2018 (Friday). The four students who attended last year as apprentices will be selected. This leaves five to seven open positions for Grade 12 (usually) students who did not attend AP19 (2018). However, in some years the number of grade 12 candid -ates is small or the quality of the grade 11 applicants may be impressive. While our first attempt will be to choose grade 12 students for these positions, we reserve the right to insert grade 11’s into these positions if the selection committee feel these choices would best serve the expedition. However, for these grade 11’s there is NO guarantee that they will be selected for the subsequent trip.

The selected students and their primary responsibilities will be effected in camera by Messrs. v. Bem -mel, Lang and Woods. The successful candidates will find their names posted on the appropriate node of Mr. van Bemmel’s web page. http://www.hmvb.org.

There will be at least 2 and hopefully 3 of either gender represented, but I reserve the right to select those students who are in my opinion best suited for this adventure with the above criteria carefully con-sidered. In addition, all students must meet the approval of Mr. Lang, Ms. Woods and Mr. van Bemmel and any subject teachers who are consulted.

Henri M. van Bemmel BSc.(Hons.), B.Ed., OCT

Expedition Leader AP20

http://www.hmvb.org/

4 v. Bemmel

General Senior Student Tasks

POS. TITLE BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES

LSS

Lead Senior Student

Caryn Qian

o Lead Senior Student. Will recruit students for help on tasks and schedule with the advice and consent of Mr. van Bemmel the tasks of seniors on an ongoing basis

o Assist Mr. van Bemmel with all paperwork prior to the trip including forms ac-counting and such like.

o Assist the scientific data manager with entry of marks and other assessment art-icles into the database.

o Liaise with and assist the Lead SSRF Markero Regularly liaise with the other Managers to always have a sense of the logistical

status of the trip. o Maintain the agenda for MMT planning and operational meetings. o Female Tent Inspection Coordinatoro Inform Mr. van Bemmel of any concerns regarding equipment, medical or emo-

tional of any member of the expedition. o Responsible for the training of the grade 11 student who will fill this position in

2020o Help keep Mr. van Bemmel on schedule and remind him of special tasks that need

completion.o Security of the AP20 database and SSRF’s from all foreseeable hazards.

Superior organizational and communication skills are essential for this positionExperience in backcountry an asset for this positionAdvanced first aid credentials an asset for this position.

POS. TITLE BASIC TASKS

LEM

Lead Equipment Manager

Hari Ilangomaran

o Assistant to Mr. Lang.o Responsible for the status and proper maintenance of all site equipment including the

APLS and all campground items. Litter control in the campground. Disposal of waste food items. Supervision of rain protection procedures including ditching or tent relo-cations.

o Responsible for the current status of the relevant equipment and for informing the AP20 Management Team of same. This reporting will be through meetings, docu-ments and perhaps webpage operations.

o Expected to attend meetings as announcedo Responsible for the campfire. Keeping the wood dry and the campfire being kept at a

reasonable level and being extinguished before sleep time. o Responsible for the dishwashing equipment and support of staff. This is shared with

the FPTo Support of busy staff members: dish washing, food prep etc.o Responsible for the training of the grade 11 student who may fill this position in 2020o Logistical support for the Expedition Office including generator (or inverter) main-

tenance and rain protection, cords and other paraphernalia

Experience in backcountry essential for this positionAdvanced first aid credentials an asset for this position.



SEM

Scientific Equipment Manager

Hannah Lee

o Responsible for the completeness, inventory and operational circumstances of all scientific equipment prior to departure.

o Supervision of the loading of same. o Responsible for and/or coordination of the inspections of ASEP’s after junior

student traverses including simulations exercises. o Expected to assist the LSS and Mr. van Bemmel on the revision of checklists

for the AP20 experiment suite. o Required to co-ordinate the training of the grade 10 students in this area. Will

not be permitted to miss excessive class time so able direction will have to be given to others who will be supporting this aim.

o Responsible for updating the ASEP status board in the APLS. o Expected to liaise with the LEM to ensure that a safe and reasonable storage

area is arranged in the APLS. Also responsible for the training of the grade 11 student who may fill this position in the following year

o Other seniors will be expected to assist in inspections and other aspects of this area under the direction of the SEM

o Responsible for relevant meeting participation. o Also responsible for the training of the grade 11 student who may fill this posi-

tion next yearTechnical skills an asset for this positionCommunication / Presentation skills an asset for this positionComputer Skills an asset for this position


SDM

Scientific Data Manager

Hanlin Cheng

o Renaming all scientific images to the AP20 nomenclature that are effected. AHP will rename automatic images that are required, but images of opportun-ity will require manual naming, which is still assisted by AHP

o Identification of bugs in AHP program as discovered.o Identification of area of desired increased functionality for AHP.o Complete familiarization with the AHP computer programo Supervision and/or execution of FDS scanning activitieso Supervision and execution of reading FDS data into AHPo Along with the LSS, controlling the entry of marks and other pertinent data to

the AP20 database. o Responsible for the reasonable redundancy and security of the database for this

and previous expeditions.o Preparation of the dataset to be shared with the SWG’s after we return. This

transfer can be to memory sticks or other media as agreed by Mr. van Bemmel. A copy of same must also be given to Mr. van Bemmel by the end of the week after we return.

o With advice and consent of the LSS, controlling the flow of suggestions and deficiencies offered or discovered during this expedition that can be used dur-ing the development work for the following expedition year.

o Also responsible for the training of the grade 11 student who may fill this posi-tion next year

Superior computer skills are essential for this position Strong organizational skills essential for this position.

6 v. Bemmel

Supernumerary Positions


LDT

Lead Documentation Technician

Russel Ijaya

o The recording of video during all aspects of an Algonquin Expedition is of in-terest for operational and historical reasons. It has been found that the adult staff inevitably get involved in any number of activities and the video effort languishes. To improve this aspect of the documentation, one Grade 12 stu-dent will be assigned the position of Lead Videographer (LVD).

o This position requires the student to be responsible for the circumstances of the video equipment including: charging of the batteries, security and docu-mentation of cassettes and their copying to DVD or other desired media.

o The copying of the media MUST be complete prior to the end of May. Mr. van Bemmel must be given a personal copy of same.

o This student should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the camera’s operation including: lighting settings, battery conservation techniques, camera security in the field and proper panning and other techniques.

o This person will liaise with Mr. Lang to acquire the required training and prac-tise prior to the event. It is expected that video documentation of the practise hikes and other training will also be accumulated.

o Aside from the foregoing, this individual does NOT have to be the only person who takes video on this trip. The actual taking of video can be shared among any qualified students (Mr. Lang’s permission). However, the LDT is always responsible for the equipments status and the other aspects described above.

ADTAssistant DocumentationTechnician

o Assists the LDT with all tasks described above.


LRM

Report Marker (s)

Emma Wai

o With the advent of the AHP manual marking of the SSRF’s has been largely re-duced to marking the quality of the drawings pursuant to the instructions that stu-dents have been given during the training period in early April.

o Marking Site Maps

o Marking Watercourse Maps (SS permitting)

o Entry of said marks into AHP or supplying a copy these marks with appropriate details to the SEM/LSS.

o Training of the grade 10 students on the accepted methods of site map and water-course map preparation.



FPT

FoodPreparation Technician

o The duties of many seniors and staff often preclude a leisurely dining hour.

o This person will prepare a communal meal for senior students or specific items as reasonably requested during mealtime.

o Washing of Mr. van Bemmel’s dishes and return of same to the appropriate con-tainer.

o With the advice and consent of the LEM, supervision, setup and cleaning of the dishwashing area.

o With the assistance of Mr. Lang and other staff and the LEM, management of the expedition’s fresh water resources.

o Assist the LEM with the supervision of the cooking area. All seniors are still re-quired to bring and maintain their own food supply.

o With the advice and consent of the LEM, the lighting of stoves and organization and safety of the fire table.

UHP

Universal Helping Persons

o This person is responsible, with the advice and consent of the SDM, to assist in the data reduction tasks as required on site, the following Sunday until the junior students have been issued their expedition data software and database. This should be on the Monday following our return.

o This person will agree to learn how to use the AHP software as well as the scan-ning software integral to our data reduction process. As directed (required) by the SDM

o Assist with the construction of the APLS

o Assist the SEM in times of stress

o Other general tasks during preparation and during the expedition.

Some tasks may overlap. More details on these positions can be obtained by asking Mr. van Bemmel and/or the students identified above.

8 v. Bemmel

Dates Requiring Compulsory Senior Student Participation

All Dates 2019 except for Mono Cliffs.

DATE TIMES ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTSDISTANCE / DRIVE

TIME

20 Oct (Sat) 2018 0900 – 1600 Hike 1 – Mono Cliffs

Mr. van BemmelSeniors (Compulsory)

Staff (voluntary)

100 km N of Toronto

30 Mar (Sat) 0830 – 1630 Hike 2 – Silver CreekMr. van Bemmel

Seniors (Compulsory)Staff (voluntary)

80 km NW of Toronto

06 Apr (Sat) 0800 – 1700 Hike 3 – Hockley ValleyMr. van Bemmel


100 km NW Toronto

09 – 17 Apr Period 4/5 Junior Training (Tests on Last Day)

Mr. van BemmelMs. HermanovskySelected Seniors

MGCI and Valley

17 Apr (Wed) 1400 – 1630 Sim 0

Mr. van BemmelSelected Seniors - 6

Juniors (Compulsory)Staff (voluntary)

Don Valley

13 Apr (Sat)14 Apr – Rain 0830 – 1900

Hike 4 – Hilton FallsSimulation 1Simulation 2

Mr. van BemmelMr. Lang

Seniors (Compulsory)Juniors (Compulsory)

Staff (voluntary)

70 km W of Toronto

25 Apr(Thu) 1415 – 1600 Sim 3



Don Valley

01 May(Wed) 1415 – 1600 Sim 4



Don Valley

26 - 28 Apr

Depart (Fri) 900

Return (Sun) 1800

Pretrip



Algonquin Park(Transportation

Provided)

30 Apr (Tue) 1530 - 1800 Shelter Prebuild –Weather Permitting

Mr. van BemmelSeniors (APLS CC)

Staff (voluntary)Soccer Field/Shed

29 Apr – 06 May As required Equipment Preparation



SRC or as assigned

02 May (Thu) 0730 – 0830 Grade 10 Equipment In-spection



SRC / Studio


DATE TIMES ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTSDISTANCE / DRIVE

TIME

07 – 10 May

0600 Depart (Tue)

1800Return (Fri)

Main Trip


Seniors (Compulsory)Juniors (Compuls-

ory)Staff (Compulsory)

Algonquin Park(Transportation

Provided)

13 – 17 May As required Assistance with post trip issues



N/A

03 – 05 Jun Period 5 and Period 6 Seminars

Juniors (Compulsory)Mr. van Bemmel

Ms. HermanovskySeniors (Voluntary)

Library

Final Thoughts

Seniors are expected to have a RESTFUL weekend on the weekend prior to the trip. I need ALL of you during this time. Furthermore, due to the number of injuries suffered by seniors participating in vigorous sports (Frisbee football, rugby, contact hockey, lacrosse and such like) the expectation is for them to desist in such activities following March Break until the trip is over. Failure to respect this rule will almost certainly result in your being replaced on this trip.

10 v. Bemmel

During the training sessions for the grade 10’s, which are held in class, it would be useful to have some senior student experts to assist. However, I do not want you to miss too much class. Hopefully the timetables of most seniors will permit this on a rotating basis or during fortuitous period 4/5 spares. The LSS will or-ganize this aspect. Furthermore, the expedition will continue the strategy of specializing the grade 10’s in certain experiments rather than have them all be generalists. It is hoped that the quality of the data returned, while much better in recent years, will continue to improve during AP19 regardless of the weather.

Concern has been raised over the number of classes missed by students training the grade 10’s. This will be similarly restricted for AP20. However, specific policy for same will not be effected until the timetables of the AP20 team are known.

The seniors may also be involved in the updating of the APTM or Technical Manual that is used as the guidebook for this trip. Authored by Mr. van Bemmel, this 300-page tome describes this entire event. Period-ically, it requires updating and revising to reflect on the lessons learned and any new realities.

During AP5 (2004), the seniors elected to go on a 2-½ day backpacking trip along the Highland Trail and this experience continued during AP6, 7 and 8. This activity while enjoyable and team building, pre-cluded the accomplishment of other logistical tasks which ultimately resulted in Mr. van Bemmel having to undertake another trip to the park on the week before called the Inspection Trip. All of this incurred great ex-pense and it was felt that the appropriate team building could be effected in other ways. Consequently start -ing with AP9 and continuing this year, the pretrip has returned to its original form of camping at Whitefish and day hiking trails. Regardless of the logistical work that needs to get done, Mr. van Bemmel will guaran-tee access to 30 km of hiking on this weekend barring exceptionally inclement weather.

In addition, during the pre-trip and with weather permitting, we may be using or testing probes and/or procedures to sample and otherwise test some of the Algonquin ecological parameters. This will permit the markers of the SSRF’s to have a sense of reasonable values

This is our 20th trip effecting this expedition. We have not had a lost time injury so far (Ryan was not in-jured, he had just never worked hard enough to have sore muscles before!). While some accidents are simply bad luck, we have kept this impressive record by due diligence. We can never allow our previous experi-ence to create an atmosphere of complacency. We need to remain as vigilant as we were 19 years ago dur-ing AP1. With your help, I am certain this can be done. I have put a lot into this effort and I am honoured that so many of you would consider applying. As many of you know, working with me while hopefully stim-ulating and exciting can also be exhausting on occasion. I see it as a measure of our character that this is not a deterrent to you.

Sincerely,

Henri M. van Bemmel B.Sc. (Hons.), B. Ed., OCT

AP20 Expedition Leader



Due 1630 - 03 October 2018 – No Extensions

All Information below to be WORD PROCESSED or we won’t read it

Senior Student Application Form - Attach additional information as required.

Name: ____________________________

Room in Period 1: ___________________

Grade: ____________________________

Student Number: ___________________________

Please Attach photo here

12 v. Bemmel

CAMPING, HIKING AND OR BACKCOUNTRY EXPERIENCE

Please Check one

I have NO backcountry experience other than the Grade 10 Algonquin Trip I attended.

I have other backcountry experiences described below.

I have some interior camping / canoeing experience

The number of interior or back country trip have you participated in? ___________

Average Length of each trip? Distance ________ km Time _______ days

Typical Location of these trips __________________________________________

With whom did you go camping with? ________________________________________

FIRST AID TRAINING

I have no FORMAL first aid training, but agree to be certified in basic emergency first aid and CPR by 31 Mar 2019

I currently carry the following certified first aids credentials and agree to keep them current during the entire duration of the Algonquin expedition

FIRST AID CREDENTIALS

EXPLAIN WHY YOU FEEL YOU ARE SUITED FOR THE POSITIONS TO WHICH YOU HAVE APPLIED.


APPLICATION

Please rank the various jobs (for which you are eligible) in the following manner (Mr. Lang wrote these …)

1 – I’ve never wanted anything more 2 – It looks like a cool job3 – If saying “yes” will allow me to go, I’ll do it. 4 – I would rather do an AP Physics Assignment

APPRENTICES - GRADE 11 ONLY

JOB RANK JOB RANK JOB RANK

JOB RANK

LSSLead senior student assistant to Mr. van

Bemmel- AP20 LeadCaryn Qian

LEMLead Equipment Man-

ager and assistant to Mr. Lang

- AP20 LeadHari Ilangomaran

SEMScientific Equipment

Manager- AP20 LeadHannah Lee

SDMScientific Data

Manager - AP20 Lead

Hanlin Cheng

SUPERNUMERIES - GRADE 11 AND 12

JOB RANK JOB RANK JOB RANK JOB RANKFPT

Food Preparation Technician

LDTLead Documentation

TechnicianRussel Ijaya

ADTAssistant Documenta-

tion Technician

LRMLead Report Marker

Emma Wai

JOB RANK JOB RANK ARM

Assistant Report Marker

UHPUniversal Helping Persons(3 Total)

Please note. Rank numbers can be used more than once. For example. FPT-1, UHP-1, LDT-2, LRM-3. You will only be considered for jobs that you indicate a preference.

Community Service Hours

Within the spirit of this adventure and with the advice and consent of the Principal, hours of community service will be offered to successful candidates. Typically, I give 100 hours to supernumeraries and appren-tices and 200 hours to managers.

Equipment Support

Students accepted for this adventure are not expected to purchase expensive camping equipment. They may acquire a sleeping bag rated at – 10o C or colder and any basic personal items. You are permitted to bor-row (free of charge) any camping equipment owned by TOPS (tents, sleeping bags, bug jackets etc.) Stu-dents unsure of their gear situation should discuss this matter with Mr. Lang at a time of your mutual con-venience

14 v. Bemmel

Expedition Expenses

Senior Students will NOT be asked to pay any additional monies to participate in this expedition. How-ever, it is expected that all have paid in full into the Enrichment Fund for the current school year. Fail-ure to do this without a prior arrangement with Mr. McMaster will result in non-selection. Although transport and some gear are provided for the pre-trip and the main trip, senior students are responsible for the cost of their own food and personal items. Furthermore the families of these students are expected to drive these stu -dents to the respective events without compensation.

Parental Consent

I, _________________________________, am (a) the legal guardian of the student named at the top of this form, have read this form and accept the conditions upon which my child/ward is competing for the senior roster in this year’s Algonquin Expedition. I hereby consent to their full and complete participation in this expedition, pursuant to the conditions (specific and implied) set forth in this document. Furthermore, I will undertake to ensure that my son / daughter/ward will be provided with adequate personal transport to the various training activities listed in the covering letter that accompanies this form.

Signed: _______________________________ Date: _______________________

Documents

ALGONQUIN PARK EXPEDITION – AP5 · Web viewThe time has come to select the next cadre of senior students to serve in this capacity. I have attempted to formalize this process