Becoming a COP Leader

There are many rewards to leading a COP trip, including getting to choose when and where the trip goes, meeting new friends, having some of your expenses paid, and the warm feeling of knowing that you are giving back to the outdoor community.

We do have some requirements for our leaders, including that they:

• Be a member of COP
• Support the mission of COP
• Have the appropriate skill level for the activity, or have a co-leader with those skills
• Read the COP Trip Leadership Manual
• Be trained in first aid to the degree appropriate to the activity, or have someone on the trip with appropriate training
• Have a signed Liability Release from each tripper AND return it and all trip related paperwork to your activity, c/o COP office within 30 days
• Use the Incident Report Form when needed
• Do not accept or place guilt at time of occurrence
• Follow up with injured trippers, and use the Occurrence Follow-up Form
• Ensure that all participants are equipped with the necessary safety gear / equipment as described in the Activity Guidelines
• Implement mandatory helmet use policy on bicycle and whitewater trips
• Meet specific activity leadership requirements if they exist

COP Trip Leadership Training is highly recommended for day trips, and required for overnight trips. You are responsible for knowing the information covered by the class even if you do not take the class.

At a minimum, all Columbus Outdoor Pursuits leadership training covers the risk management and safety content of the manual, plus the paperwork section. The current training program consists of five elements: Risk Management, Paperwork, Trip Planning, Participant Screening, and Leadership. This is offered by way of a one, full day class that covers all five elements or through a series of evening workshops. Each evening workshop covers one topic. Members may take the Risk Management and Paperwork modules by attending the morning session of a full day training.

For particular details about leading for an activity, contact the activity chair. You will find their contact information at the beginning of the schedule section in this newsletter.

More Leader Information  --  COP Home Page