We all want to have a good time paddling together. In order to provide those great paddling opportunities, we have people who volunteer and train to become trip leaders. Our leaders want to have a good time too.

With the tremendous growth of the group in the last two years, paddlers need to make every effort to help the trip leaders job as easy as possible.

You can help them enjoy the trip too. That means making it easy for them and holding up your responsibilities.

• As soon as you know that you are interested in a trip contact the leader to tell of your interest. Call no later than Wednesday for a weekend day trip. The leader may cancel the trip if there isn't enough support or people to participate on the trip.
• If the trip leader doesn't know you, you must PHONE the trip leader so the trip leader can tell you about the trip and determine if the trip is appropriate for your experience and skills. It’s also your responsibility to determine that you have the skills necessary for the trip.
• If an email address is listed for the trip, paddlers who are known to the trip leader may contact the trip leader in that manner.
• If you are an experienced paddler who can offer help and support on the trip, please make an effort to contact the trip leader as early as possible so that the trip leader knows they have enough support on the trip to allow some of the newer paddlers on the trip. If you don't contact the trip leader early, then the trip leader may have to turn away paddlers or put them on a wait list until you decide to call, making more work for the trip leader.
• Don't make the trip leader do the calling. Remember they are volunteers and the cost of the phone calls should be yours.
• If you decide to cancel, tell the leader ASAP and don't be a no show

Talk with the trip leader about the trip, what skills are necessary, what equipment is necessary, how far and how long the trip is and what to be prepared for. Inform the trip leader about any medical problems. Please understand if the trip leader is uncomfortable with your skills and suggests another trip for you. It is in your best interests.

Ask the trip leader if there is anything you can help with such as food, special equipment, medical kits or other planning.

• Be on time for the trip. It is very impolite to be late for the trip. The trip may leave without you.
• Greet the leader and then get ready to paddle by getting dressed and your boat ready to paddle. Help others unload and carry boats. We don't want anyone to pull a muscle before being warmed up.
• Follow the leaders instructions cheerfully and quickly.
• Volunteer to shuttle. It is unfair for the leader always to be the one to shuttle. During the shuttle, always keep 2 cars behind you in view and stop and wait if you lose them.

• Keep a positive attitude. No one likes a complainer
• Follow the trip leaders suggestions and help keep the group together and moving at a reasonable speed.
• Realize that uncontrollable conditions such as weather, river levels, seas, equipment failures, and participants capabilities may limit the extent of the trip.

• Remember that everyone wants to get into warm cloths
• Immediately offer rides to the shuttle drivers back to their cars. Do this before you change or load your boat. They are cold too and did you the favor of the ride at the start. Don't make the leader do the shuttle as they have other responsibilities at the end of the trip.
• Help others load boats and get ready to leave.

And last but not least: (With thanks to the Seattle, Washington Kayak Club)

"Trip leading is an often thankless job, but you as a trip go-er, can change this! Say “Hey, thanks for the trip!” once in a while. Offer to buy the trip leader a beer or bring his/her favorite cookies. Ask if there’s anything you can help with during the trip! It’s hard to keep trip leaders interested without a few positive strokes from trip go-ers!"

Also, it would be nice to have a quick meal or snack on the way home. It is fun and a chance to warm up and have a change to talk and get to know each other. Perhaps the group could chip in to pay for the leader's meal!