Responsibilities > Behavior Guidelines
Behavior Guidelines
Behavior at Huts, Lodges & Hostels
It is important to remember that we are all guests at AMC huts and lodges, at Cape Cod Sea Camps, and at hostels on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. All participants should be respectful of other guests and of staff. Parents are responsible for monitoring the behavior of their child (and any child in their care) and for keeping an eye on the children of other SHS families.
Parents must ensure that children are NOT:
- running inside the hut/lodge
- making too much noise
- making a mess at the dining table
- causing chaos in the bunkrooms
- interfering with the enjoyment of other guests in any way
- ignoring any instructions from the Hut Croo/ Lodge Staff
Hiking & Safety Guidelines
1) Route: Before departing from a trailhead or a hut, the Trip Leader should:
- review the trail route and weather forecast with all participants (adults and children) using a map
- make sure everyone knows how to identify trail blaze(s)
- register using the trailhead roster
- review the “leave no trace” guidelines of a good hiker: carry your trash and stay on the trail
2) Subgroups: Before departing the trailhead, the Trip Leader should ensure that each hiking subgroup has at least one participant who:
- is an experienced hiker
- has an adequate trail map, knows the route and the weather forecast
- knows how to reach help in case of an emergency 911 (or 800-852-3411 if in NH)
- takes responsibility for making sure that everyone in his/her subgroup makes it safely to the destination, and is willing to accompany the slowest hiker in his/her subgroup
3) Children Subgroups: As children get older, they may want to hike separately from the adults– this is OK as long as the Trip Leader ensures that at least one member of each subgroup of children:
- knows the planned route well
- has an adequate trail map
- agrees they will all wait for an adult at all major trail forks.
4) Equipment: The Trip Leader should make sure EACH PERSON in each subgroup has the following:
- a copy of these “CHOuting Club Behavior Guidelines“ (Downloadable PDF)
- adequate water/food for expected trail meals, plus 50% in case of emergency
- warm hat, gloves, fleece, raincoat, and leg protection (depending on season), and at least one sleeping bag for an emergency.
- a headlamp or flashlight.
And that at least ONE person in each subgroup has with them:
- an adequate trail map
- a first aid kit that includes blister repair beyond Band Aids
- matches in dry container, compass, whistle, knife.
5) Trail Junctions:
- When hiking, each subgroup should WAIT for their subgroup members at every significant trail junction.
6) Adjust for poor weather, low visibility (fog or loss of daylight), unexpected trail conditions, or a fatigued or injured hiker. It’s okay to turn back! The mountain will be there another day.
7) Lightning:
- Get below the treeline as quickly as possible
- If that isn’t possible, lie down and stay low until the danger passes.
- Sometimes this means hiking down off trail and waiting in the pouring rain until the storm has passed.
8) Unaccompanied Children:
- Any parent bringing along another parent’s child on the trip is responsible for hiking with that child (or for knowing with whom that child is hiking), and for monitoring the child’s behavior at the hut.
9) What to do if you lose the trail:
- Try to retrace your steps.
- If this fails, stop and use a whistle to alert other members of your group or other hikers. Stop, Whistle, Wait for rescue.
- If you are truly lost and there is no rescue apparent, call 911 or the local state police. If you do not have a means of communication, you can follow a streambed downhill and you will eventually hit civilization. Avoid dangerously steep terrain.
10) What to do in the case of serious injury:
- Leave one adult with injured person
- Send one adult on ahead to get help
- Have one adult get the rest of the children down.
- Leave injured person with extra clothes, food, lights, matches, sleeping bags.
11) Leave no trace:
- Whatever you bring onto the trail, bring out.
- Stay on the trail to avoid damaging the plants and causing erosion off-trail.
