Frontcountry
From WildWiki
Introduction Return to General Policies and Procedures
This section describes policies and guidelines for the following activities associated with Wilderness Program courses: Pre-Trip Policies and Guidelines, Post-Trip Policies and Guidelines, Frontcountry Camping (“Car Camping”) and Driving.
Definitions
Pre-Trip activities include required program paperwork to be on file prior to departure, gear check-out, and program pre-trip meetings.
Post-Trip activities include evaluations and other program paperwork, gear check-in, and course de-brief(s).
Frontcountry camping includes any overnight stays on program. This includes private campgrounds, motels, and public lands.
Driving. These policies and guidelines apply to all drivers of vehicles on ECWP business. This includes emergency procedures when vehicles are involved, airport shuttles, trailhead shuttles, and use of personal vehicles for ECWP programs.
Contents |
Pre-Trip Policies and Guidelines
Policies
1. A Pre-Trip Meeting (PTM) must be held prior to all ECWP courses.
2. As part of the PTM, participants should receive a “safety talk” prior to the completion of the assumption of risk forms (see Pre-Trip Meeting format).
3. A waiver and assumption of risk form must be completed by each participant before they leave Earlham College on their course.
4. Instructors should medically “screen” participants by looking at waiver forms and verbally confirming any issues to help insure the safety of the group. Questions regarding trip fitness of any participant should be addressed with the ECWP administrators.
5. Every field course should have the following paperwork on file prior to departure: off-campus trip info sheet, trip logistics sheet, trip itinerary/calender, group gear sheet, and individual gear check-out sheets.
Guidelines
1. The logistics of the course should be explained in detail during the pre-trip meeting.
2. A course info sheet (syllabus), detailing the logistics and components of a course should be handed out to students.
3. An itinerary should also be given to students
4. Instructors are ultimately responsible for the food and its packing on every course.
5. Likewise, instructors are ultimately responsible for the equipment packed for their course.
6. It is the instructors responsibility to obtain a cash advance from the Wilderness Program Office if one is needed for your course.
Post-Trip Policies and Guidelines
Policies
1. Instructors should contact the on-call person from ECWP as soon as possible after group is out of the backcountry.
2. Instructors are expected to facilitate the cleaning and returning of group gear in coordination with the Outdoor Ed Center manager. Any damaged or lost gear must be noted and appropriate charges attributed (see equipment section in backcountry policies).
3. A trip de-brief is often scheduled with the ECWP administrative staff.
4. The following paperwork must be completed as soon as possible after the trip (prior to trip de-brief): cash reconciliation form, group gear check-in, completed daily logs, any incident/accident documentation, actual itinerary/trip calender, changes to trip logistics form/road log, post-program assessment form, and any/all evaluations.
5. It is expected that vans and trailers are left in reasonable state of cleanliness and that any and all maintenance issues are reported to ECWP.
Guidelines
1. Have students complete evaluations prior to departing from vans- it is difficult to retrieve forms after everyone has left.
2. Make it clear that group gear clean-up is everyone’s responsibility and schedule time into your return schedule to facilitate this process.
3. Make notes throughout the trip to bring up at the de-brief or on the post-program form. If we don’t know about it, we can’t change it.
4. It is helpful if instructors take the time to transfer route notations onto program “Master Maps.”
Frontcountry Camping
Policies
1. “Lost and Alone” policies apply in the frontcountry. Group participants should wear whistles when away from their tents.
2. It is recommended that close-toed shoes be worn at all times campsites- they must be worn while cooking.
3. The stove and kitchen area should be set up in a safe zone away from the main traffic areas in camp.
4. It is expected that ECWP groups adhere to the posted rules and regulations of campgrounds and public areas where we camp.
5. It is expected that ECWP campsite locations are “dry” locations. That is, no alcohol or other illegal substances are permitted on-site.
Guidelines
1. In general, backcountry policies apply in the frontcountry (e.g. lightning procedures). Use your judgment and err on the side of safety. Most accidents occur in the frontcountry and are the result of carelessness and/or roughhousing.
2. Keep track of people. Create a sign-out list if folks want to explore with estimated time of return and locations.
3. In general, solo travel should be discouraged (e.g jogging). When feasible, have participants travel in at least pairs.
4. Food should be stored with local wildlife in mind. If in Bear-problem areas, food should be hung away from camp. Mice, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels etc. are prevalent in most areas. Inside a closed vehicle is often a good place to store food when problem bears are not present.
Driving
Driving is statistically the most dangerous aspect of outdoor programs nationally. Maintain a responsible, serious and professional attitude while in the driver’s seat. You are expected to hold other drivers of your vehicle to these same standards
Policies
1. Observe the speed limit.
2. Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt at all times. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that everyone wears a seat belt.
3. Always drive with headlights on.
4. Driver should maintain two hands on the wheel in the 10 and 2 O’clock position.
5. Drivers should not eat food and should be cautious while drinking water etc.
6. Arrange gear and people in the van to maintain clear sight-lines to the rear and the sides.
7. Do not drive between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM (make sure you are well rested).
8. Drivers should not drive for more than 3-4 hours at a stretch and no more than 8 hours a day.
9. Drivers must complete the appropriate driver training before driving a vehicle for the Wilderness Progam. If towing a trailer, Trailer Training must be completed.
10. A safety check, utilizing the safety check form, is to be conducted daily before driving.
11. Roof Racks are never to be used on Earlham vehicles
12. The number of people in a vehicle should never exceed the number of seats with seatbelts in the vehicle, nor exceed the number of passengers that the vehicle manufacturer designed for its use.
13. 12 passenger vans may have 12 passengers but should not exceed load limits of the vehicle including gear.
Vehicle Accidents
1. If you are involved in a vehicle/trailer accident, first make sure that everyone involved is okay, and treat for medical injuries as needed and to level of your training.
2. Never admit guilt in a vehicle accident. Often, specifics that led to the accident are hidden, even from those involved. It may not be your fault, even when it appears so.
3. Contact local authorities as well as the Wilderness Program office and or security, following the protocol on the Red Sheet.
Guidelines
1. Reduce speed if driving in poor conditions (wet roads, foggy, cross winds, winding roads, steep grades). Stop driving if you feel that the conditions are too inclement.
2. Leave radio controls to the co-pilot.
3. Be aware of cars around you
4. Signal and look for cars when changing lanes
5. Maintain a two second (or greater) following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
6. On divided highways, drive in the right lane using the left lane only as a passing lane. (It is a traffic violation to exceed the speed limit even while passing.)
7. When passing a vehicle make sure you can see the vehicle fully in the rear view mirror before pulling in front if it. 8. Make full use of rear view and side view mirrors.
9. Accidents- see emergency section/near miss
10. If traveling in more than one vehicle, each vehicle should be clear on directions etc. In case of separation, specific locations should be planned to rejoin (rest stops etc.)
11. If vehicle are unable to rejoin, the on-call contact can be used as a resource to help relocate the other vehicle(s). This is a last resort
12. When Driving in hilly or mountainous terrain:Turn off the overdrive. This is better for the engine (in many of our vans overdrive is always on unless turned off). Do not ride the brakes! This will overheat them and potentially cause them to malfunction. Slow the vehicle by braking firmly and then releasing and then braking firmly again (pulse braking). This allows the brakes to cool. Shift down to a lower gear (usually second gear) for steep grade descents. This uses the engine to slow the vehicle and prevents over use of the brakes. In General, 2nd gear is safe to use if traveling at or under 45 mp.
