Planning a canyoneering trip for a youth group
From CanyonWiki
Contents |
[edit] Tips for Youth Group Leaders
Taking your buddies into the canyons or the mountains is fun. Taking a large group of scouts or other youth group is a serious responsibility. Canyons offer a beautiful space to explore a new world and to test one's stamina and skill. In many ways they are very attractive to youth groups and scouts. Unfortunately, some of the worst canyoneering disasters have occurred to youth groups.
I worked with a scout troop for a couple of years and ended up being the trip planning guru. After a number of great trips (Yosemite, Buckskin Gulch, Angels Landing, Evolution Basin, San Gorgonio) and some not so good trips, I tried to articulate ideas for other youth group leaders. Maybe you can add some thoughts too.
[edit] Know the route
If at all possible, hike the trial before taking kids there. Know where water is and double check with rangers that it is flowing at those locations. Think about camp sites well in advance. Bring a topo map and a compass. Xerox the map for the kids and let them answer the annoying, 'How far is it?' question themselves. Bring extra road maps to the trail-head for each driver.
[edit] Know your adults
A long trip with many kids should have no fewer than three adults and ideally at least four. This leaves two to stay with an injury and one or two (maybe one with a strong youth) to go for help. Adults also can be great liabilities. You spend a lot of time teaching the youth backpacking basics and reviewing their supplies for a trip. When you have a parent coming along, make sure they are not as clueless as their child was when they joined the group. The worst blisters and greatest suffering on my trips have almost always been a parent.
[edit] Know the weather
Double check weather conditions. Be sure everyone has a poncho if it will rain. Larger (3-4 man) tents are easier to stay dry in when there is wet weather. If car camping in the rain, bring extra tarps and rope to string them up over the fire/cooking area and over the tents to keep them a little dryer. Lots of dry newspaper and magnesium or gasoline may be required to get the fire started in wet conditions. Be sure everyone has access to 2-3 L of water per day if hiking in hot conditions.
[edit] Know First Aid
Emergency phone numbers and medical release forms for every kid and adult should be on hand. Know how to get to the closest hospital. Know who uses inhalers and make sure they have one. Group first-aid: moleskin, scissors, tweezers, Neosporin, Tylenol (don't give kids aspirin), Tylenol PM, Pepto-Bismol, Imodium AD, first-aid tape, ace bandage, band-aids, sterile gauze, splint, snake bite kit (if applicable), alcohol wipes, Q-tips, sterile absorbent cotton, pencil and paper (for writing vital information about emergency situations when sending for help).
[edit] Planning Distance
With backpacks 8 miles is a good day, 10 miles is a long day and 12 miles is really tough. When hiking rivers and canyons 8 miles is a long day and 10 miles a very long day (thus the Zion Narrows can be done in a long day, but get an early start). Maintenance/rest breaks need to happen every 30-45 minutes. Everyone needs to eat a snack and drink water. Breaks should be kept short and efficient or you'll never get anywhere. 10 minutes should be sufficient. 2,000-3,000 vertical feet gained is a strong day of hiking. 4,000 vertical feet with a backpack will make for a very tough day. Typical youth hiking speeds are 1 mile/hour with backpacks and 2 miles/hour with daypacks.
[edit] Watch for Hypothermia
This is a danger whenever people get wet or cold. Presents as the fumbles: mumbles, grumbles, fumbles, stumbles, tumbles. May also involve uncontrollable shivering. Get the person into dry, warm clothes and feed them warm food. Get them out of the weather.
[edit] Easy things to carry that can make a big difference
- Food: powdered Gatorade for emergency re-hydration, extra ramen noodles, extra hot chocolate/tea. Trail snacks that can be handed out (e.g. starbursts).
- Clothes: extra pair of thin socks.
- Useful stuff: 50' parachute cord, superglue, small sewing kit with buttons. A collapsible bucket to pump water from and a collapsible container to pump group water into.
[edit] Keeping kids out of trouble
Boys will be boys and scouts have the ability to get themselves into a lot of trouble before you know it.
- Enforce the buddy system. There have been a couple of scouts lost in Utah who clearly were not with their buddy. All adults should know how many kids are on the trip and which kids are in what groups.
- Make frequent "nose counts." This helps so you are sure you have everyone and so you are familiar with the group. This way, if you need to make an emergency count you will be more likely accurate and quick.
- Actively think of stupid things that you would have done as a kid and that your kids might do. Try to prevent these things from happening.
- Know what every kid has in their pack. Certainly on overnighters you can let some kids hang out to dry, but on long trips there should be pack checks and pack weights before the trip. Help kids get everything they need. What they don't have becomes your liability. Keep tabs on group water and know all potential water sources. If the group gets really low, you may need to get creative.
