The Trail Companion

Winter 2002

A Day in the Life of a Crew Leader

...continued

The Start of the Day

Crew leaders try to get to the meeting area about half an hour before the official start of the workday so they have an opportunity to catch up with fellow crew leaders, finish breakfast, put on sunscreen and boots, and organize gear.

Crewleaders at Gazos Creek (click for larger image)

Photo by Richard Allsop

Then comes the important step of chatting with the workday supervisor (AKA Supe du Jour) and find out as much as possible about the day's work: pin down the trail specifications, the potential hazards, the type of work to expect and the assortment of tools need, and the approximate work site. Will it be building a switchback? Removing brush so a new stretch of trail can go in? Cutting a bench in the hillside? Making a rock retaining wall? Filling ruts and knocking down berms?
      Crew leaders also help get the regular volunteers organized as they arrive, set tools out, or whatever needs doing before the workday supervisor decides to get the day rolling. He or she will get everybody's attention and give a brief talk, describing the Trail Center and the project of the day. A crew leader usually gives a brief safety talk. Then the crew leaders spread out and the volunteers divide themselves into crews. As this goes on, crew leaders need to make sure their new crews have all they need for the day and (usually) check their susceptibility to poison oak. The crew leader provides more details on the crew's work and once everyone in the crew is ready, leads them to the worksite. On the way, crew leaders may learn more about crew members, point out good and bad sections of the previously built trail, reemphasize safety and point out PO to neophytes, and make sure the whole crew gets to the worksite.

Arriving at the Worksite

When the crew first arrives at the worksite, the crew leader orients them, demonstrating how to set the tools down properly, how to avoid putting the pack and tools in poison oak, and giving an overview of the work to be done. The crew leader explains how the structures the crew will build fit into the entire trail, what tasks need to be done to build the structures, and the tools they'll need to complete the tasks. If the crew is inexperienced, the crew leader demonstrates proper tool use. Finally, she or he assigns each crew member a task, taking into account the skills, abilities and interests of the crew.

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