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:

1. 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).
2. Have required liability waivers completely filled out, signed, and notarized (as required) before arriving at the
   rendezvous point.
3. Inform field trip leader of any serious physical limitations or health problems prior to registering for a field trip.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Dress appropriately for the type field trip you’re attending (boots, hat, long sleeves, and long pants are appropriate).
7. Bring/wear proper safety equipment as required (i.e., safety glasses, hard hat, safety vest, life preserver).
8. Bring sunscreen and insect repellant (as needed).
9. Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.
10. Pay attention to the weather.
11. Be mindful of when it is time to return the vehicles.
12. If transportation is shared, always ride in assigned vehicle. NEVER switch vehicles without notifying field trip leader.
13. Look out for the safety of your fellow field trip participants.
14. NEVER dump on the ground materials from other collecting spots, because it contaminates the site with material from
    different ages/formations.
15. ALWAYS takeaway trash that you or your group generates and pick up trash others may have left behind.

Guidelines for Drivers:

1. Ensure that you have documents required by law – license, registration and insurance.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Ensure you have directions to each field trip stop.
5. Designate a navigator and communicator who is familiar with operation of your cell phone.
6. 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.
7. Drivers should always check to make certain your vehicle has all its passengers before leaving each stop. This ensures no one is left behind.
8. Except under emergency conditions, no caravanning vehicles are to EVER pass another vehicle in the caravan.
9. If you want to report a problem, call the field trip organizer on his/her cell phone.
10. When traveling, all vehicles are to maintain reasonable spacing; do not speed, lag behind or tailgate.
11. Never leave the field site earlier than the rest of group without first clearing the departure with the field trip leader.
12. Require that all passengers fasten their seatbelts.