Here are some ideas for trips if you would like to lead one.
To start with, leading a day trip is the least stressful place to start if you don’t have that much experience leading. Once your skills and confidence grow you can move on to more complicated trips. One of the benefits of leading a trip is that you gain leadership and organisational skills as well as navigation and other bush craft skills. If you want to run a more advanced level trip, but aren’t sure about your skills, email the trips officer and ask if they can suggest an experienced club member to come along on your trip. Experienced club members are more than willing to assist you if you would like help.
If you are new to running a trip, or the type of trip you are planning on running, we advise having a chat to an experienced trip leader. It's also a good idea to talk to someone who has done the trip before, or something in a similar area, to give you a good idea of what to expect and plan for. The trips (trips [at] autc [dot] org [dot] nz) and alpine (for alpine trips, alpine [at] autc [dot] org [dot] nz) officers can help you or put you in touch with appropriate people. Coming along to the weekly quad lunches (during semester) is also a good way of meeting and chatting to experienced leaders.
To organise a trip;
a) Decide where you want to go. If don't have a map of the area, you can contact the trips officer (trips [at] autc [dot] org [dot] nz) and ask for a map (AUTC has topographic maps for almost all parts of NZ) and a compass to go with it. New Zealand topographic maps can be downloaded from http://www.nztopomaps.com/ or http://gis.doc.govt.nz/website/Internet_NZMG_2005/viewer.htm if you want to get a good to look at an area before you get hold of a proper map.
b) Decide what day and time you want to go. If it is an overnight trip, decide what you want to do for food, everyone brings their own, or will you provide dinner, in this case everyone should chip in for the cost. [Extravagant] recipe ideas can be found at http://www.autc.org.nz/wiki/tramping_recipes
c) Email the club list telling everyone about your trip, and advertise the trip on the website (if you are not sure how to do this, the trips officer can give you a hand). Tell people about how long it is, when and what time to meet (meeting place is usually the Tramping club notice board in the quad or in front of the library) what gear to bring, how much it will cost, and ask them to email you back if they want to come. Ask them to tell you about any medical conditions, their tramping experience and to give you an emergency contact. A template of what you need to include in this email/ on the website can be found at http://www.autc.org.nz/wiki/trips_information/trip_email_template.Email your trip advert to: autc_YYYY [at] lists [dot] autc [dot] org [dot] nz (eg for 2012, autc_2012 [at] lists [dot] autc [dot] org [dot] nz). The moderator will check that your email is OK, then once it is approved it will be sent to the entire club email database.
d) Fill out the intentions form, found here: http://www.autc.org.nz/intentions_form and email to the safety officer (safety [at] autc [dot] org [dot] nz). Give them a ‘panic time’ if you don’t turn up the following day, so they can ring search and rescue (Dial 111 and ask for the Police). Also give them your intended route and a list of the people you are taking. The safety officer can help with this and it is very important, even just for day walks.
e) Meet up at appointed time, and go on trip. For ideas on trips that you can lead check out these websites; Look up `tracks and walks’ on the D.O.C website: http://www.doc.govt.nz/index.html
http://www.tramper.co.nz/ The Auckland University Library also has many books with ideas for trip locations.
Always make sure that you let people know where you are going, that you take appropriate gear for the conditions, and that you and your party members are fit enough and equipped for the conditions. Good things to bring are; a map, a compass in rugged conditions, a cell phone (hopefully you will be in range if you need to use it!) a first aid kit, appropriate clothing, food, head-torch and shelter, even on a day walk in case you are unable to get out by sunset.
For more good safety advice check out; http://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/online_store/support/legal.asp http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/Safety.asp
It’s a good idea to check the weather before you head off too, info here: http://www.autc.org.nz/wiki/tramping_knowledge/meteorology_weather
Good luck!AUTC Trips Officer