It is through outings that many people gain their first appreciation of the wilderness and natural environment. Because of this, outings are an integral part of the Sierra Club and why qualified outings leaders have an important role in achieving the Sierra Club's overall goal, ‘to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.’
The Falls of the James Group typically offers to our members both sanctioned Level 1 Outings by a certified Sierra Club Leader, and non-sanctioned group urban walks, bike rides, and commercial canoe trips which may involve fees. The FOJ will ensure that the trips are advertised as Sanctioned or Non-Sanctioned. The Sierra Club bears no responsibility or liability and provides no guarantees for non-sanctioned events.
A Sierra Club outing is a sanctioned Sierra Club activity in which a significant component is to take participants into the out-of-doors and meets one or more of the following criteria:
Group Management: It is conducted as a group activity in which participants cannot come and go as they please or on which missing persons would be the Club’s responsibility. Note: If there are no participants, only the outing's designated leader(s), the outing is considered cancelled.
Remoteness: It occurs in places where public emergency services cannot be obtained as quickly as in an urban area.
Responsibility for Safety:
Group safety is dependent on the competent leadership and emergency performance of the leader.
A Level 1 Outing is an outing, commonly referred to as day hikes, day trips, and car camps, which do not include an overnight stay away from cars.
A Level 2 Outing is an outing that includes an overnight stay away from cars. Virginia Chapter/Group outings are offered by a number of different groups. Groups are responsible for administering the outings scheduled by their membership through their newsletters/websites. The Chapter is responsible for the outings scheduled by its membership through its ODS Newsletter or Chapter Website. The ratings at which trips are led and other information for each type of outing are provided below; these ratings represent the sum of all gains in miles and elevation for the day. In most cases of elevation gain, there will be an equal amount of descent.
Grade 1: up to 5 miles
Grade 2: > 5 to 10 miles
Grade 3: > 10 to 15 miles
Grade 4: > 15 to 20 miles
Grade 5: > 20 miles
Class A: up to 1000 feet elevation gain
Class B: 1001 to 2000 feet elevation gain
Class C: 2001 to 3000 feet elevation gain
Class D: 3001 to 4000 feet elevation gain
Class E: over 4000 feet elevation gain
The Group Outings Chair provides leadership, direction, and oversight to the group outing program. The Group Outings Chair works to make outdoor activities an integrated and vital element of group efforts. The Group Outings Chair responsibilities are:
Maintains current Sierra Club membership.
Is familiar with the Outings Leader Training - Basic (OLT 101) and all Club policies and procedures (national as well as local) that pertain the group's outings program.
Ensures group outings are run in accordance with Sierra Club Policies and Guidelines.
Manages and minimizes the risk of group outings.
Maintains training and first aid certification requirements for outings leaders, and ensures that all active leaders have met these requirements.
Outing Leaders Standards
To be approved as an outings leader in the VA Chapter⁄Group outings program, a person must meet the following standards:
Sierra Club Member:
Each leader must be a current member of the Club in good standing. Failure to maintain membership automatically disqualifies a person from leading any Club outing without any action being necessary on the part of his or her approving entity.
18 Years of Age: To be approved as a Club Leader, the person must be 18 years of age or older.
First Aid Training:
Have the equivalent of American Red Cross First Aid Basic or higher. Leaders must update their certification before the expiration date. Leaders are encouraged to pursue advanced First Aid training and CPR.
Expenses: With the exception of fundraising outings, groups and sections shall not assess any fees for outings designed to produce income in excess of field expenses of the outing, which shall include: consumable food and equipment used on each such outing; durable equipment, reasonably amortized, utilized by such outing; reimbursable expenses of the leadership staff of any such outing; the prorated expense of advertising such outing in communications; the paid expenses to any concessionaire providing permissible services by way of either transportation or other expertise (e.g., packers whose services are part of such outing); and lodging. In accordance with standard accounting procedures, checks should be made out to the Sierra Club rather than to individual leaders. Money received should be deposited with the VA Chapter⁄Group, treasurer, and expenses should be submitted for reimbursement.