IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR LEADING A FRESH AIR FAMILY HIKE
As a leader for Fresh Air Family, you must present yourself professionally at every hike you lead. Here are some basic guidelines you must follow when leading a hike.
The evening before your hike, Kim will email you a list of who has registered. We take registrations up to 6 p.m. the night before a hike although it's okay for walk ups for most of our hikes. This list will give you a general idea of who is coming and what kind of crowd to expect. It is your responsiblity to check you email the night before and print your list.
Arrive at the meet-up/rendezvous point 30 minutes before the publicly scheduled meet-up time. This is because some people show up early. This is your opportunity to meet and greet them. Talk to them and get to know them if you don't already.
As people are arriving and telling you their names, you check them off of your list.
Have with you when you arrive; printed waivers, evaluations and sign up sheet (roster). Also, it is necessary for you to have a basic first aid kit. See our list for a detailed description of what should be in your kit.
We will hope that most folks have already pre-registered online but there will always be that one person that shows up. For most of our hikes, that is okay. They can fill out a waiver and participate.
There should be a ten minute grace period before you officially begin your hike. This will allow you to get everyone signed in and introduced.
It is important to announce to your group who you represent. There is no set "speech" although you need to make it clear who we are, state our mission and a brief history of Fresh Air Family. State the objective of the hike. What are you or your naturalist planning on teaching your group that day?
There is no shame in asking for cash donations. We are a nonprofit and thrive on private donations from our participants. Take a hat or box or something that you can pass around. If someone chimes in, "I have no cash", make it clear that we have a Paypal donation button on every page of our website.
If you are leading a hike on a trail, it's important to get a head count before embarking and deciding who is going to be your "sweep". The sweep should be an adult. If you have walkie-talkies on hand, give your sweep one of them so you can communicate. Explain to your group that there should never be a gap so large that you can't see who is in front or in back of you.
At the end of your hike, you should pass out event evaluation forms. Explain to them why it's important to our fundraising and grants. It only takes a few minutes to fill out. If someone insists they must leave without filling one out just remind them that the form is available online and they can submit one anonymously that way.
Never leave the property until everyone else does. Unless they have decided to continue on to do something else within the park boundary on a non Fresh Air Family related activity.
After your event, waivers, roster and evaluations are due to Kim Waites within 5 business days of the event. Waivers must be mailed or dropped off at the Fresh Air Family office. Rosters and evaluations can be submitted electronically through our website. We encourage you to submit rosters and evaluations online but we still need the actual copies to be turned in with the waivers. Mail waivers to; Fresh Air Family, P.O. Box 321038, Birmingham, AL 35232
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in counseling and possibly a written warning from Fresh Air Family.
Remember; we are a non-profit with a business model. We must present ourselves professionally and take matters seriously.
If you have any questions or suggestions, your voice is welcome!
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