Trip Screening…and enjoying your trip!

Trip Screening One challenge of organizing a trip that involves outdoor physical activity is to form a group with participants who have relatively equivalent ability/experience.

What is Screening?

A process to ensure that everyone seeking to participate on a trip is a good fit based on:

o Prior Experienceo Physical Abilityo Gear

Why Screen?

• Ensures that participants are educated about:

o Trip itineraryo Proper required gear

Allow participants to self-screen • Allows you to:

o Weed-out those who do not qualify o Better assess those who are marginally

qualified • Why leave group formation completely to

chance if you don't have to?

Screening Methods• Passive screening

o Participants assess own compatibility with level of trip difficulty based on available Info.

o Allows participants to self screen-out • Active screening

o Leader queries participants about experienceo Leader assesses participants' experience and formulates response

Screening Issues• Participant defensiveness• Is it really necessary?• Screening not a science

o Does not eliminate variation between abilities of participants on trip o Only sure way to screen someone is to do

activity with them o Many other factors effect trip experience

• Conflict between leader's desire to fully enroll trip and need to screen

Preparing for ScreeningScreening begins with trip listing Before listing a trip, know:

• What level of experience is appropriate?• What level of physical ability is appropriate?• What gear is required? What’s optional?• Include this information in trip listing as best as

possible: mileage, elevation gain, H/B Hiking Rating Key, Full-winter gear

How to Screen Initial Contact• Phone contact is far preferable to e-mail• A participant contacts you via email saying: "I want

to sign up for you trip." • You respond: “Great! Please give me a phone

number and a good time that I can call you. I want to tell you more about the trip, ask you a few questions and try to answer any questions you might have. "

The Screening SheetAfter the initial phone call, send the prospective participant a screening sheet by e-mailWhat to include:• Trip description/specs.• Screening questions:

Experience, Physical Ability, Gear- Ask open ended (not y/n) questions - Ask follow up questions • Gear List • Participant’s info:

o Contact Infoo Emergency Contact Infoo Medical Info/Food Allergieso Carpooling Info

To Screen for:1. Experience Level• Look for comparable experience

(except beginner trips)• Less experienced participants tend not to know

what they don't know; ask more detailed questions Sample Questions

o Tell me about the a few trips you went on in the past 12 months - please describe the mileage, speed, intensity level, dates, and brief description of each trip?

o Have you participated in AMC trips before? If so, which ones? Who were the leaders?

To Screen for:2. Physical Ability• Physical ability is relative, can be difficult to determine• Ask about recent activities & exercise regimen• Get details!

Sample Questions

o What types of exercise do (running, weight training, spinning, swimming) for how long (30 min, 1hr), and how often (1x week, 1x month)?

To Screen for:3. Appropriate Gear• Create a gear list for each trip and include it on

your screening sheet• Ask about any items they don’t have • Inform applicants (especially beginners) of

available rental options

Sample questions:o Are you comfortable reading a cue sheet on a bike ride?o When did you last use/test your backpacking stove?o Is there any gear on the list that you don’t have?

Assessing Responses• Listen to responses carefully – do not interrupt• Take notes• Self-screening

o Discouraging a doubtero Encouraging a doubter

• Substituting enthusiasm for experience?• Make a decision to accept or decline* * If you’re not sure about an applicant, ask the

leader for advice

Screening Review• Contact by phone and Email screening sheet • Review/listen to answers, ask follow-up questions • Answer their questions

• Do not hesitate to consult with leader

• Make decision to accept/decline:o Accepting applicants

Send Trip Info Sheet (Poop Sheet) Get payment for confirmation

o Rejecting applicants Explain why this trip may not be the best fit for them Recommend alternative trips that are a better fit (keep AMC Outdoors or MUD handy)

Screening Practice Using your trip listing homework…• Break into groups and screen someone for your trip.

Everyone should practice screening and being screened.

• Screening will be by phone (imaginary) • Use handout as a guide, if needed• When being screened, be yourself, whether you

have the experience, ability, gear or not.• Questions?

• What was difficult or easy about screening?• Were you able to make your decision using the

questions mentioned?• Questions, thoughts, comments about screening?

Screening Practice Review