Be a Trip Initiator
What is an OP Trip Initiator?
In short, an OP Trip Initiator is a student of the U of O or any other community member who wishes to conduct a cooperative trip through the OP.
To become an intiator everyone must go through the Trip Initiator Clinic (see below). Unlike many outdoor leadership clinics, the Trip Initiator Clinic prepares people to become a different type of leader.
Anyone can be an initiator, whether advanced or begineer at outdoor travel. The beauty of initiating a trip through the OP is that the trip initiator is an equal participant on the trip. Initiators are not liable for the other trip participants nor are they responsible for all the group decisions and logistics. The initiator’s job is to essentially get the ball rolling and then facilitate communication between trip participants.
Benefits to being an initiator:
- Plan trips when and where you like.
- Free Outdoor Program personal gear rentals (e.g. sea kayaks, clothing, snowshoes).
- Opportunity for personal growth and challenge.
- Pleasure of turning other folks onto the outdoors.
- Fantastic real job skills–looks great on a resume!
- Access to wholesale discounts on high-end outdoor gears from companies like Mountain Hardware, Patagonia, Metolius, Gregory, NRS and others.
OP Trip Initiator Clinic
To become an OP Trip Initiator, one must attend a two part clinic. Unlike many outdoor leadership courses that provide certifications and training, the OP Trip Initiator Clinic simply acquaints one to the OP cooperative philosophy, the unique leadership role of the initiator, and our facilities and procedures.
Both parts of the clinic are usually offered twice per term depending on the amount of interest shown. The OP announces the Trip Initiator Clinic in our newsletter that is published every academic term, and on the web under Term Events. Both clinics are generally held on the weekdays in the early evening (around 5:30 pm). If these times do not work with your schedule, notify the OP staff. Sometimes special arrangements can be made to offer clinics at alternate times.
In order to drive the OP vans a driving check must be performed and a separate clinic must be attended at another date. (Click here
to find out more about driving OP vans.)
Trip Initiator Clinic Part I: The OP Resource Room
The first part of the clinic is held in the OP Resource Room in the basement of the EMU. This part covers OP cooperative and leadership philosophy, liability, trip planning, conducting pre-trip meetings and how to obtain a Trip Notebook (different than the Trip Initiator Handbook). The first part generally takes one and a half to two hours.
Trip Initiator Clinic Part II: The Barn
The second part of the clinic is held in the Barn. The course familiarizes one with the OP’s gear, how equipment checkout procedures work and the faxing of a liability form. The clinic generally runs for an hour and a half. But if participants are interested in initiating rafting trips, they are encouraged to stay for another half hour to learn more specifically about rafts, making the clinic two hours.
