WOR Trip Coordinators

Posted on Posted in Announcement

By this point everyone should be aware that WOR is run 100% by volunteers.  Everything from setup to breakdown, and all the trips in between – all volunteers.

WOR is all about kayaking trips. Trips run by volunteers. Every year there are the people WOR depends on, offering to coordinate trips. But the CCC has had a lot of growth in the past couple of years (membership, stable for over a decade at ~550, just topped 8oo). We need YOU to be a trip coordinator.

Coordinating a trip does not mean you have to be an expert at anything (shuttle, lines, where to find dinner) (also a factor to consider when you’re joining a trip – the trip coordinator might not be the expert you’re hoping for). Coordinating a trip is also a lot like playing Solitaire when stranded on a deserted island  (someone will usually show up to tell you to play the red 8 on the black 9); you can solve logistics as a group effort.

You used to at least need to know where the rivers were. But with the advent of the GPS and fun apps like rivers.run, much of those logistics are taken care of.

Do you want a trip  with only a few people? That’s going to pay every eddy, wave, and hole? That’s not going to leave until noon? That’s going to run multiple fast laps? That’s going to focus on skills practice? The best way to get the trip you want is to coordinate it yourself!

Last year I tried something new. “Hi everyone. I’m Rick Steeves. I’m coordinating a trip on the Middle Pigeon. I’ve only run it a few times. I think I can find the put-in and take out. I don’t know the lines, so I’d prefer a small group. I’m fine with running a second lap. I’ll be over at the Pigeon sign.” I had 3 people join me, and we had an awesome day.

Things to mention when coordinating a trip:

  • Your name
  • The river name (key)
  • Your experience with the river (e.g., “I’ve heard of it before”, “It’s my home river”, “run often but it’s been a few years”)
  • Planned group size
  • Style of boating (e.g., play, river running, skills building, etc.)
  • Experience required (e.g., MUST have a reliable combat roll, No first-timers, etc.)
  • Where you will be meeting to discuss trip logistics

Things to tell your trip coordinator:

  • Have you run this river before (and how did it go)?
  • What’s the hardest river you’ve run (and some context, we have members coming in from all over, so they might not know the river you’re talking about)?
  • How reliable is your roll?
  • Do you have your own transport?
  • What conditions might you have on your day (e.g., “Must be back by 4 pm”, “I paddle a SUP”, “I”m bringing my 5-year-old”)?