Leader Recognition
Thank You, Leaders and Instructors!
All club trips are led by members who decide they want to go somewhere, announce the trip details to the group and coordinate trip signups and other logistics of the trip or lesson. Not all trip leaders are experts in the outdoors or particular activities! Trip leaders might find someone to lead the river portion of a whitewater kayaking trip, for instance, but take care of all the details of food, camping, and transportation. Every member is encouraged to try leading a trip. The club has equipment, facilities, and other resources to help you make the trip a success, in addition to the combined expertise of a number of seasoned leaders.
As a small token of thanks, the club recognizes members when they lead their first trip and their tenth trip (although, everyone's thankful for any trips you lead, of course!). This is a way to encourage members to take that first step to leadership, but also gives leaders a chance to show pride in their club accomplishments. You must enter your trip on the club calendar to be recognized (select the option that says I'm leading this trip or teaching this lesson.). Currently, first-time trip leaders receive a leader patch and ten-time trip leaders receive a special edition leader t-shirt.
The following Outing Club members are recognized for leading trips and teaching lessons:
First-time trip leaders and instructors
Charles Allhands taught FireCraft on May 4, 2008
David Biel led Hiking at Governor Dodge State Park on April 21, 2007
Rebecca Cramer led SAC Attack! on May 3, 2007
Ruth Genger led Sea kayak Lake Mendota on June 10, 2007
Sean Geygan led Nov 2nd-4th - Camp/Hike Devil's Lake on November 2, 2007
Tanya Hein led Porcupine Mountains Hike/Camp on May 17, 2007
Ellie Kosmalski led Horseback Riding on May 17, 2008
Doug Lipinski taught Kayak Lake Lesson and Swim Test on June 12, 2007
Andrea McMillen led Bikepacking to Blue Mounds State park (or drive and meet us there) on May 9, 2008
Jeff Noltner led Upper Dells Wisconsin River on May 17, 2008
Desmond Oathes led Backpacking Nicolet Natl Forest on May 24, 2008
Zach Ramirez led 64-mile and 9-mile Road Biking Trip on May 13, 2007
Christophe Stoelinga led Paddling the Yahara on November 4, 2007
Katherine Von Hoff led Biking the Military Ridge State Trail on June 3, 2007
Dan York led Wausau whitewater course on August 12, 2007
Leaders who have completed their 10th trip or lesson
Doug Stone led Telemark skiing at Tyrol on February 15, 2007
Carl Zimm led Sac trip, rolling lesson and cookout at Devils Lake on July 16, 2005
Lisa Cavern led Concert on the Square on July 18, 2007
Kennedy Rubert led whitewater work party on February 10, 2007
Robert Paolino led X-C day/night Blue Mounds trip; additional transportation option on February 2, 2008
Kerem Akartunali led Wyalusing Sea Kayak Trip on July 23, 2005
Patrick Rault led Canoe Lake Lesson & Swim Test on September 27, 2005
Gary Sinkler led Elroy Spate trip on August 18, 2007
Connie Lane led Kayak lake practice on August 15, 2006
Leader Recognition Criteria
The Outing Club wants to encourage everyone to lead trips and teach lessons, regardless of their difficulty level or degree of preparation. At the same time though, we want you to feel like your Leader Recognition award was earned. To that end, here are a few guidelines to help you determine if you should designate yourself as the trip leader or instructor:
1. Your trip or lesson should include advance preparation, announcement, and, preferably, participant signup. Getting together with a few fellow Hoofers after a meeting is encouraged but not considered a trip.
2. You should be the primary coordinator of the main trip activities. Co-leading is a great thing, but if you're following along and observing more than leading, wait until next time to count yourself as the leader.
3. When in doubt, trust your judgement! We want you to be proud to consider yourself an Outing Club leader. If you think something's more a 'General Announcement' than a trip, it very well might be. If you're organizing a practice session rather than teaching skills, maybe it's not necessarily a lesson. Or, maybe it is...if you're totally confused or still unsure, contact the President or Vice President.
The Leader Recognition awards are intended to recognize personal accomplishment and express gratitude, not fit a strict mold of criteria. Regardless of whether you receive a patch or t-shirt or some other token of esteem, you're efforts are greatly appreciated. Thank you for being an Outing Club member!
