Field Trip Participant Guidelines
In order to make our field trips as fun and safe as possible we need our participants to adhere to the following guidelines.
Guidelines for participants:
- Completely fill out registration forms and always provide the names of other attendees (i.e., spouse and if allowed
children – along with children’s ages). - Have required liability waivers completely filled out, signed, and notarized (as required) before arriving at the
rendezvous point. - Inform field trip leader of any serious physical limitations or health problems prior to registering for a field trip.
- Understand that participation in club field trips involves inherent risks that may include – among others – sun exposure,
inclement weather, biting/stinging insects, unstable footing, steep slopes, soft ground, and sharp rocks/fossils. - Obey rules set by property owner, MSHA, OSHA, and field trip leader(s). Examples: do not stand on edge of a quarry
wall, climb to the top of spoil pile, climb on excavating equipment, or wander off by yourself. - Dress appropriately for the type field trip you’re attending (boots, hat, long sleeves, and long pants are appropriate).
- Bring/wear proper safety equipment as required (i.e., safety glasses, hard hat, safety vest, life preserver).
- Bring sunscreen and insect repellant (as needed).
- Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.
- Pay attention to the weather.
- Be mindful of when it is time to return the vehicles.
- If transportation is shared, always ride in assigned vehicle. NEVER switch vehicles without notifying field trip leader.
- Look out for the safety of your fellow field trip participants.
- NEVER dump on the ground materials from other collecting spots, because it contaminates the site with material from
different ages/formations. - ALWAYS takeaway trash that you or your group generates and pick up trash others may have left behind.
Guidelines for Drivers:
- Ensure that you have documents required by law – license, registration and insurance.
- Have cell phone numbers of field trip leader(s) before the caravan departs. If you get stuck behind a slow-moving vehicle, get a flat tire, or have to deal with an ill passenger, there must be a way for you to reconnect with the group.
- Before you begin, make sure you have enough gas to make it until the end of the day (or at a minimum, without stopping before the first destination). Coordinate with the field trip leader if you need to stop.
- Ensure you have directions to each field trip stop.
- Designate a navigator and communicator who is familiar with operation of your cell phone.
- Participants who know the field trip route should be in the first and last vehicles in convoy. If someone’s vehicle has a breakdown or other problems, they will not be left behind without knowledge of what happened.
- Drivers should always check to make certain your vehicle has all its passengers before leaving each stop. This ensures no one is left behind.
- Except under emergency conditions, no caravanning vehicles are to EVER pass another vehicle in the caravan.
- If you want to report a problem, call the field trip organizer on his/her cell phone.
- When traveling, all vehicles are to maintain reasonable spacing; do not speed, lag behind or tailgate.
- Never leave the field site earlier than the rest of group without first clearing the departure with the field trip leader.
- Require that all passengers fasten their seatbelts.