Leading a Trip

Every member of the Outing Club can organize and lead a trip. It's good if you are an expert in some outdoor activity and can pass on your experience. However, you do not have to be one to lead a trip. A trip can be guided by a professional guide or a company that can provide gear, training and facilities. Usually, they are willing to train both beginners and intermediate level participants. Examples of such trips include windsurfing, water-skiing, ice climbing, hang gliding, sky diving, paintballing, etc. You just have to find a place, make reservations, prepare the information, get people to sign up and coordinate transportation to the place. It means YOU CAN LEAD A TRIP!

How to organize a trip
1. Decide when and where you want to go and what you want to do. There are guidebooks, maps, manuals, directories, etc. available in the OC locker. Information is also available from activity coordinators, officers and other club members.

2. Click here to post a new trip, hit submit, and within a day or so your faithful webmaster will post it on the Upcoming Trips page.

3. Prepare a message for those interested in participating. In this, try to include following information:
a. What kind of activity
b. Location
c. Date and time of departure from Durham. Place of meeting.
d. Planned time of arrival to the place
e. Time of departure for Durham
f. Planned time of returning to Durham
g. Description of planned activities
h. Required minimum level of expertise (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
i. Needed gear and its availability from the club locker
j. Cost
k. Availability of transportation (for official trips, it is required that vehicles be rented from the Club Sports office.)
l. Other (additional meeting for participants, etc.)
m. Contact information

4. Make transportation arrangements.

5. Make reservations if needed.

6. Be at the Outing Club meeting (officers or general) immediately preceding the trip

6. Make sure that every trip participant has paid the dues and signed the waiver form. This is very important for your protection against possible problems.

7. Go and have fun.