Maryland Chapter

Anne Arundel County Group

What Is Involved In Becoming A Leader?

Every Group sets its own standards and procedures for designating new outings leaders. The Sierra Club has general guidelines and a few mandatory qualifications (membership, first aid training). Here is the Anne Arundel Group's guidance.

Membership: You must be a member of the Sierra Club.

First Aid: You must maintain a Red Cross Standard First Aid card. Here is a link to the Red Cross.

Desire: You have to want to do it. It takes commitment and effort to go out there, rain or shine, and take a group of strangers on an outing.

Pay: No such thing! Sierra Club leaders are all volunteers. Not one of us takes a single dime for doing it.

Why: Good question! And the answer is....?

Approval: Generally, the outings leaders work as a group to ensure that the outings program continues. We welcome new leaders, but we are also responsible to ensure that they are trained and able to handle the responsibility. We try to answer the questions: "Will people be safe with this person?" and "Will this person represent the Sierra Club well?" We sometimes ask people if they are interested in leading outings.

Volunteer: Still interested? Don't wait to be asked. Next time you are on an outing, ask the leader about it? Why does he or she do it? Ask if you can help with some outings. Don't be shy -- volunteer!