"A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done and his aim fulfilled, they will say, "We did this ourselves." -Lao Tzu

Much responsibility rests on the shoulders of Cascades Adventures trip leaders. Their role switches significantly from that of an active follower and a student of leadership and outdoor skills in the classroom, to that of a primary, responsible role model and leader while in the field with program participants. Not only do their technical skills and self care skills need to be dialed, but they also need to be able to teach them to a group, and meet all other participant needs.

Trip Leader Responsibilities (A general list)

The trip leader is responsible for:

Planning the entire trip, including curriculum, contingency plans, and general itinerary in accordance with Cascades Adventures policies.

The availability of First Aid equipment at all activity sites along with the expertise to use it.

Trip leaders will have at least a wilderness advanced first aid (WAFA) certification, with all trip leading teams possessing a WFR.

Managing group during outing.

Instructing a curriculum of skills and knowledge to participants during the outing.

Inspecting all gear of the participants.

Trip leaders must visually acknowledge the presence of the essential gear items for the outing.

Request and pick-up/drop-off Cascades Adventures Gear

Processingthe appropriate paperwork, inlcuding prre-trip infomration packets, trip plans, Incident reports, and Final Trip Reports.

Completing and handing in a monthly timesheet

If you are interested in becoming a trip leader, read here.