Leaders

Leader training

The Club always requires new leaders of all abilities. You don’t need to be an incredibly seasoned hiker as there is always strong demand for leaders to take easier walks.

Learning to become a leader involves being taught basic map-reading and navigation skills by more experienced leaders. These include skills such as reading grid references, taking and following compass bearings, aiming off, route-planning, visualising terrain and group management.

The assessment involves leading a basic walk with an experienced leader while showing the ability to put your skills into practice. Once successful you’ll become a ‘Leader Provisional’ able to lead walks approved by an assessor. You can later complete a second assessment in less favourable weather conditions. Upon completion of this you will be able to plan your own routes without necessarily needing them to be approved.

Leaders are valuable members of the Club and as such we’ll do out best to develop your skills. Experienced leaders sometimes run training events, such as night-time walks and navigation practice exercises.

We’ll also contribute money when LUSU is running First Aid courses. Each year we also try to send a couple of Exec members to attend a training weekend in Wales held by the British Mountaineering Council.

Ordnance Survey have created some very useful leaflets that describe the main skills:

Introduction to maps | Map reading made easy | Advanced map reading

Drivers

Driving a minibus

As important as leaders are drivers. Without drivers availble trips simply cannot take place or take as many people as there are interested.

We’re fortunate to have a handful of wonderfully dedicated drivers but we can always use more to help us out. You don’t have to drive to Scotland or take part in trips regularly if you don’t wish. We’re grateful just for the odd trip here and there or to have you as a back-up driver.

Drivers claim the 90 minute test is super easy and your volunteering is not overlooked – as a driver you will get Sunday trips for free and weekend trips for half price!

If you’re interested, over 21 years of age and have a clean license of two or more years please express your interest to our Safety Officer.