OUTLINE – GCA TRIP COORDINATOR TRAINING CLINIC
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Pre-Trip Planning
1. 1 Evaluate your Skills and attributes as a trip coordinator.
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Hard skills – padding ability, rescue skills, first aid, CPR, etc.
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Soft skills – leadership, organization, communication, group dynamics, etc.
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Consider supplementing your skills by specifically inviting someone to assist you that has strengths in areas where your self-evaluation discloses weaknesses
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Resources on the Web site to assist you
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Rivers -River Database
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River length
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USGS River Gauges in real time
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Min Flow Suggestions
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Gradient
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Hazard Information
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Dam release phone numbers or website links
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Trip reports
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GPS Data to Put-in and Take out
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Directions to put in and take out
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Parking information
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Strainer updates
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River Access issue updates
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Main- GCA Information
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Trip Waiver Package (Available in PDF and DOC formats)
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Waiver
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Pre-Lauch meeting check list
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Incident report
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Trip Coordinator Information Page
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Outlines of all the things we are covering in the clinic
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Coming Soon
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Caller sign up check list and sign up form
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Select a location (river, lake, estuary, etc.)
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Knowledge of river
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Paddling skill level requirements
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Season, weather conditions, water levels, winds and tides
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Distance/travel time
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Length of trip
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Day trips – available daylight, etc.
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Overnight/multi-day – available daylight, campsites, etc.
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Applicable rules/regulations
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Trip size limitations
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Reservations, advance permits required?
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On-site registration required?
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Equipment/boat type requirements
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Environment/scenery
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Accessibility (put-in, take-out, portages)
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Available outfitter support
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Choosing a time
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Season – likely water levels, weather, wildlife, scenery, insects, etc.
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Weekday v. weekend
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Day trip v. overnight
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Lead time to list in newsletter
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Miscellaneous logistics
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Meeting place, shuttle, parking, car pools, etc.
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What participants should bring – lunch, water, camping gear, etc.
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Know location and phone number of area medical facilities, evacuation routes, etc.
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Plan the shuttle now, not on the river bank
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Screening trip participants
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Skills
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Paddling
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Rescue
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Special, such as medical
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Experience
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Paddled this river before?
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Years of paddling
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How frequently
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What rivers
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What kind of boat? Change boats lately?
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At what water level, season, etc.
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How long since you paddled?
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Formal training
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GCA Member?
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Equipment and clothing
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Appropriate for season/weather
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Appropriate for location (river, lake, etc.)
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Throw rope
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First aid kit
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Spare paddle
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Bringing anyone else along?
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Special conditions trip coordinator should know about – medical conditions, allergies, physical limitations or handicaps, etc.
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How and when to gently so “no”
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What to go over before hanging up after qualifying the caller for the trip
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Date of Trip
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Time of Meeting
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Place of meeting
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Expected Weather
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River condition
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Shuttle information
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Driving directions if needed
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15 minute rule
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At the river
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Shuttle
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Get waivers signed before shuttle
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How to get to the start point of the shuttle if not meeting there
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Tell everyone the shuttle plan you have developed
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Reliable vehicles
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Drivers all know route
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Leave most vehicles where most parking exists
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Dry clothes, tie-down ropes, drivers license, keys, etc. should be at take-out
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Spare keys and location
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Permission of land owners to park on private property
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Park clear of right of way if parking on highway
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Security
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Vehicles visible to traffic and local residents
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Stow valuables out of sight
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Always lock vehicle
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Final check before the shuttle departs that everybody has all their gear that belongs in the boat in the boat and what belongs in the shuttle car in the car.
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Pre-launch screening
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Boats-suitability, outfitting
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Equipment and clothing
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PFDs
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Helmets for skirted Kayaks
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No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs
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It is not too late here to uninvite someone from a trip if you conclude that he or she will be hazardous to themselves or the trip
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Confirm that everyone has signed a waiver
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Pre-launch briefing
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Introductions of paddlers
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Discuss the river
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Rapids
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Scouting
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Ropes
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Recovery conditions
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Hazards
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Strainers
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Evacuation
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Trip structure
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River signals
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River Etiquette
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Location of ropes and first aid kits
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Identify resources – medical, rescue, etc.
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Trip plan – expected hazards, scouting portages, lunch stop, campsites, take-out location, etc.
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How to swim in the river
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Self-rescue
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Group rescue
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Time schedule for trip – stick to it
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Lunch
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Trip structure
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Lead, sweep designated, maintain contact, spacing, etc.
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Be sure sweep boat has rope and first aid kit
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Designate a “point person” who will be the first boat down the river – may be trip coordinator or someone else
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Sweep boat should be skilled in rescue, first aid etc.
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Pre-launch check of river conditions, weather indicators, etc.
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Have alternate river in mind if unsure of safe conditions
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Wear ribbons or other identifying markers of busy rivers
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Keep alert for unexpected hazards or bad situations – adopt “what if” attitude – anticipate the unexpected
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Scouting
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What to scout
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Unfamiliar drops
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All class IV and up drops
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Any big drop you have not run lately
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Any drop that one or more of your participant may find challenging
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Talk over the run, routes, rope placement, what order to run in, etc.
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Scout from both sides if possible
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Plan your run in detail, use landmarks
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Portage when in doubt – encourage others to portage
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Identify and deal early and effectively and sensitively with problem paddler
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Assign river buddy
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Put him in a boat with someone else
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Get him off the river
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Changing Conditions
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Rapidly rising water
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Surprise conditions at the scheduled river
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Weather
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Injury, illness, hypothermia
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Equipment failures
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PEER PRESSURE:
Hand someone else the keys and leave.
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Post trip and administrative matters
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Logistics
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Head count – make sure everyone is off the river
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Be sure everyone gets his boat and car shuttled and everyone has a ride
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Make sure everyone’s car starts before leaving
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Talk over with the group any problems that occurred on the trip and how they could be avoided
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A group meal is always nice –invite everyone along
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Risk Management Plan.
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Trip coordinator responsibilities
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GCA Trip Guidelines
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Waiver
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Incident reports
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Write a trip report for publication in Eddie Line and on the Web Site
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Entertainment
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Description of river for the benefit of whoever may run the river in the future
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Water level
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What other river would you compare it to
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Problems or challenges encountered
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Strainers
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Hostile land owners
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Put in/Take out
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Shuttle
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Document for posterity that river is run regularly – legal ramifications
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Questions, comments, suggestions and recommendations.