DOC First-Year Trips / Info for Leaders / Being a Leader

Being a Leader

Hi Trip Leaders! We are so excited to welcome you to DOC First-Year Trips! Your role is at the heart of what Trips is about: building community and personally welcoming new students to Dartmouth. We are the Trip Leader Trainers (TLTSs) and we are responsible for pretty much everything to do with the incredible group of students who serve as Trip Leaders! A lot of our work is behind the scenes, but we are psyched to work together over the next few months to prepare you to be an awesome trip leader.

Along with the rest of the Trips Directorate, our role includes:

• Writing and assessing the leader applications
• Organizing and facilitating the Trip Leader Training sessions
• Managing the TLT blitz account and answering any questions from YOU!
• Planning and running the Gilman Island Training Refresher Session...the final portion of your training (and trip leader bonding) that occurs the day before your trip begins.

This page has a LOT of good information for you, so be sure to check it out. We will update it periodically with the latest information you need as a trip leader. But first, we want to introduce ourselves! If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, we want to hear them! Feel free to reach out to any of us personally if there is anything we can do to better support you. If you have scheduling or training questions, please send an email to the TLT account.

Trip Leader Updates

Meet The TLTs

	Robin Costello '13 Hometown: Tampa, Florida Major/Minor: Biology Campus Involvements: I've been involved with the Dartmouth Organic Farm, the Tucker Foundation, Ledyard Canoe Club, the Thugz Institute of Science, and research in the biology department. Prior Trips Experience: I went on the whitewater kayaking trip as a freshmen. Since then, I have led two trips. My junior year I led flatwater kayaking and my senior year I led whitewater kayaking. Favorite Dartmouth Memory: One of my favorite Dartmouth memories was convincing my freshman floor to join me to wake up at 3am to watch a meteor shower on the golf course in November. Fun Fact: I have slept with the same stuffed animal monkey since I was two.
	Alex Wolf '14 Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio Major/Minor: Neuroscience & Pre-Med Campus Involvements: I have been involved with Mentors Against Violence (MAV), Outreach Peer Mentors, and the Inter-Community Council (I-CC), and I am an ORL office intern as well as an Admissions Tour Guide. Also, I am a member of AXA fraternity and do research at the DHMC. Prior Trips Experience: As a freshman, I went on the Magalloway Canoe Trip (E-192!). Since then, I have led two trips; sophomore year I led the Stoddard Art Trip (D-791!) and junior year I led the Dartmouth Organic Farming Trip (G-902!). Favorite Dartmouth Memory: Hard to choose, but cliff jumping at the copper mines is definitely up there. Except for when my friend dislocated his shoulder, that was less fun. Lesson for future leaders, do not let your trippees jump off of things. Fun Fact: I can sing (out of pitch) almost every major Disney song in French!
	Annie Laurie Mauhs-Pugh '14 Hometown: Poultney, Vermont Major/Minor:Math & Education Campus Involvements: I play percussion and have played with various campus ensembles, including the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble. I have worked with various sustainability initiatives on campus and am currently very involved in Divest Dartmouth. I'm involved in the Dartmouth Outing Club, through Cabin and Trail, and the Woodsmens Team. I have also been involved with faith organizations like Multi-Faith Council, and I bake for the Collis Cafe bakery! Prior Trips Experience: Last year I was lucky enough to lead I-48, hiking the Kinsmans and Mount Moosilauke, in addition to being one of the DOC Trips Sustainability Coordinators. In 2011, I was a member of Vox Croo, and freshman year, I went on a trailwork trip. Favorite Dartmouth Memory: Oh man ... well, all the times I've been up waaaaaaayyyy too late doing problem sets with friends have actually been some of the best bonding times. I wouldn't suggest sneaking into Wilder at 4am to cover the chalk boards with fake physics equations, but there's something to be said for trudging through classwork and getting sillier and sillier. Fun Fact: I can drive a team of oxen!

Trip Leader Training

Our excellent Leader Training Program consists of three distinct sessions, which can either be taken separately or all together during an All-In-One session. In addition, each Trip Leader must be First Aid and CPR certified for the duration of his/her trip (both the Trips program and the Dartmouth EMS offer courses to complete these certifications). Lastly, each trip leader must complete one Outdoor Experience pertinent to the type of trip you are leading. We will contact you with the details about this portion of training.

• Risk Management Session (RM): Here you will learn everything you will need to know about how to make your trip as safe as possible. This session will teach both concrete practical skills (e.g. how to prevent blisters, where to go during lightening, etc.) as well as safe decision-making skills for any potentially risky situations (moose attack?!?!).
• Community Building Session (CB): While half of being a trip leader is getting your trippees safely through the wilderness, the other half is building a community and forming relationships within your trip that will last long after your return back to Robo lawn. Together we will discuss topics such as how to make your trip as welcoming of an environment as possible, fun and creative activities to make your trip memorable, and the continuation of your trip leader role back on campus. Finally, we will explain the logistics of Trips from your start on Gilman to your time at Moosilauke!
• Wilderness Skills Session (WS): During WS you will learn the basic hard wilderness skills you'll need during your trip. Depending on your trip, you will focus on various topics such as map reading, using a Trangia (it is okay if you do not know what a Trangia is, that's what the trainings are for!), and setting up a tarp that will keep your trippees dry. This seminar will be mostly outside and on the move, so please wear appropriate footwear.
• All-In-One Session: This day-long (fun!) session gives you the opportunity to experience all three sessions consecutively. For your convenience, you may also attend the All-In-One session for just one or two of the session components (for example, you can do CB as an individual session, and then attend the All-In-One for the WS and RM requirement).

See the Leader Calendar for the dates each session is offered.