Review: In the previous lesson, we suggested that the best leaders put the ‘interests of the participant first’.

This suggestion is an ‘ethic’, and buying into an ethic is optional.

Question: Why is putting the ‘interests of the participant first’ also a ‘rule’, and so not optional?

Answer: Because this strategy maximizes quality and safety (and creates happy leaders).

Trip Planning

A ‘Quality’ trip increases ‘Safety’

The next 3 lessons cover ‘pre-trip planning’ in 3 stages:

a) The ‘Vision’ stage

b) Hazard assessment and mitigation

c) Team building

and requires:

a) Systematic, complete, and appropriate ‘pre-trip planning’b) Good execution of your plan in the field

Trip Planning

Every event starts with a ‘Reason’ or ‘Purpose’ or ‘Intention’. In this course, we will use the word ‘Objective’

to refer to these. An ‘Objective’ could be:

• An experience

• A community building goal

• An educational goal

• A health goal

• Etc.

Trip Planning

Activity

Venue

Participants

For an ‘Objective’ to become a ‘Quality Plan’, we need to create a ‘Vision’ where Participants, Venue, and Activity

work together

The Vision

An Objective which influences…

Jane teaches Grade 9 Physical Education and is teaching a unit focused on exercise alternatives. Today she has 5 hours in the field to introduce her students to hiking at ‘Lost Lake Circuit’, which is a 4 km hike with 100m of elevation gain.

Will this be a Quality Event? Will this be a Safe Event? How Jane improve the quality by changing either:

a) The Venue

b) The Activity(s)

The Vision

Bill teaches Grade 12 Biology and Physical Education. He wants to run a field trip that combines hiking skills and looking at plant diversity in the alpine meadows. His choice of venue is a hike to ‘Mountain View Meadow’. Total distance is 12 km with an elevation gain of 300 m elevation gain. He has five hours in the field.

Will this be a Quality Event? Will this be a Safe Event? If this venue is the only one available, what would you suggest

to Bill.

The Vision

John wants to take his grade 5 class on a nature awareness trip focused on wild flowers. The meadow he scouted yesterday is in full bloom and is 5 km from and 300 m higher than the parking lot. The trail is wide and well defined, with some nice rest spots. He has five hours in the field.

Will this be a Quality Event? Will this be a Safe Event? What strategies might John use to create a safer and higher

quality ‘nature awareness event’ for his students?

The Vision

A ‘Quality’ trip increases safety

Both are created by

‘Participant Centered’ Planning

But you can only build a program around your participants if you know who they are!

The VisionEvaluating Your Participants

‘Identifying’ your participants includes knowing:

• Their skills and abilities

• How they work together as a group

• Why they should be interested in your event

Look at it from their point of view

The VisionEvaluating Your Participants

How does your choice of activity supports your objectives?(Is your activity directly supporting your objective or do you need to make it fit?)

Do the activities work together?(Are the timelines realistic? Do they transition well into each other?)

Is the ‘scale’ right?(Right level of challenge)

The VisionActivity

You Need to know: • How physical• How long (time, distance, elevation gain)• What features• How to find your way• Where do you want to have rest stops, lunch• Decision points• Contingency planning (Plan ‘B’)

The VisionVenue

Activity Participants

Venue

Trip PlanningThe Vision

An Objective which influences…

The Cave1. Was this a suitable trip for 12 year old boys? (List pros and cons)2. What psychological factors amongst the boys made this situation

worse?3. What role did an unfamiliar environment play in this incident?

Could this have been anticipated?

The Other Trail1. This case study is written from the Leader’s perspective. Comment

on how the lost student saw things differently from the leaders?2. What role do you think over-familiarity with this hiking trail might

have had?3. Comment on how the wide difference in student ability led to the

decision to spread out and what strategies might have been used to provide the right level of challenge to both the stronger and weaker students?

The VisionCase Studies