Trip # Assigned:_____________
__________________________
__________________________
Leader Name:
Kathy Didier
Joyce Minosh
Destination: Provence/Cote dÁzur/France
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
If possible, please fill this form out electronically so that it can be distributed by e-mail. Type on or over
lines and directly into the appropriate sections of tables. When responding to Yes/No questions, pleae
delete the answer you do not want so that only the appropriate answer remains. If you are filling out a hard
copy, please attach additional pages if you find there is not enough space to answer thoroughly.
1.
TRIP PROPOSED
Trip Title: Hiking Provence/Cote dÁzur
Type of Trip: Cultural - Hiking
Date: Start: September 10th, 2004 – September 19th, 2004
Length of Trip: 9 days
Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum # 14, 16 Maximum#
Brief outline of trip and trip activities: Hiking in Provence: We will be staying in the Suisse
Hotel Nice, overlooking the seaside, the mountains, the city of Nice and the surrounding medieval
hillside villages. The week will include 4 hikes; a mountain top medieval village hike, a hike from
one mountain top village to another, a hike from the top of a medieval village to the seaside, a
“French Guide’s Choice”, and also include a pleasant 6 mile walk along the Promenade Anglaise
in Nice. In addition, a self-guided Paris City Tour will be offered which will include hotel,
breakfast, metro map, museum map, airport transfers, The Paris Workbook and a Michelin Paris
Green Guide.
Permits: No permits are required
Equipment: No special equipment required:
Educational Aspect: Included in this trip is a “pre-trip” seminar on Provence fpr Participants in
the Boston Area. This interactive and fun seminar will be held in a central location. We will use
the Provence/Cote dÁzur Workbook, written by Joyce Minosh. We will be learning all about the
area, a bit about the French etiquette, some French vocabulary and phrases as well as some history
of the south of France.
Outfitters:
For this trip we are not using an outfitter, but will hire local bus and guides.
VIP Riviera Service – We have experience using this vendor and found them to be exceptional.
II.
LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information
Leader:
Kathy Didier
Address: PO Box C, Woodstock, NH 03293
Phone:
603-726-3553
E-mail:
kdidier@coopresources.net
Co-Leader: Joyce Minosh
Address:
19 Kirsi Circle, Westford, MA 01886
Phone:
E-mail:
978-692-2323
westfordconnect@aol.com
B) First Aid Training
Leader:
Course
CPR Yes
Exp. Date
Renewing AWFA in April, 2004
Yes
Co-Leader
Course
Exp. Date
CPR
Copy Attached
Yes
Leader:
Course
WFA
Renewing CPR in April, 2004
Yes
Exp. Date
Co-Leader
Course
Exp. Date
WFA
1/05
Copy Attached
Yes
C) Leader Experience and Training
New Leaders: If you are a new leader or co-leader, you must have submitted the form
“Application to Become a Major Excursions Leader.”…Copy Attached.
Experienced Major Excursions Leaders: Please list below the last three trips you have led
for the AMC including destinations, type of trip (backpacking, skiing, etc.), dates, and number
of participants. Feel free to list additional trips you have led, particularly if they demonstrate
experience related to the trip you are proposing.
1. Utah Hiking Major Excursion – August/September 2003
2. Guatemala Major Excursion – July/August 2003
3. Mexico Language School, ME – March 2003
D) Scouting: Have you or your co-leader let this trip before or traveled in the
area? Yes, Co-leader has visited this area 4 times, 3 of them in the last
three years. Co-leader has done 2 of the 4 hikes planned for this trip. Coleader has taken group to this area in the past and is planning another trip
to this area in April of ’03.
E) Special Experience: What special skills or experience are required to
lead this trip and how do you or your co-leader bring these skills and
experience? Co-leader speaks French. Co-leader has previous experience
with local tour bus and tour guide. Leader has no experience in France.
Leader has many years experience leading trips in foreign countries.
F) Couples: Does not apply.
G) Medical History: Co-Leader, Attached. Leader’s Medical form on file.
Check past Major Excursions.
III.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Area of Risk
Potential Hazards
Prevention/Response
Climate/Terrain:
Trail conditions,
Hills, rock, less used trails
Weather, etc.
Warm time of year
Require good shoes/boots
Guide & two leaders
Lots of water and appropriate
clothing
Foreign Countries:
Political concerns,
French dislike of Americans
Crime, language
Translation
Transportation:
Vehicles, drivers,
Insurance
Participants:
Skill level, health,
Group dynamics
Other:
Knowledge of area
Problems with language
Knowledge of area
Hired VIP Riviera Svs.
Used before.
Competent driver – used
Before – VIP has extensive
Insurance coverage.
Safe driver
Accidents?
Equal skill level/health
Group compatibility
familiarity with area
Train group well on proper
Etiquette with the French.
Guide and one leader speak
French
Good pre-screening
Good pre-screening
Experience of Leader and
Co-leader
French guide lives in area
Co-leader extensive
Knowledge of area.
B) Emergency Action Plan
Before you leave for your trip, you will need to provide a list of participants and their
emergency contacts in case something happens to someone in the field as well as an
itinerary with phone numbers (where available) in case something happens at home.
In the space below, please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies.
Emergency Communication (phone contacts, language, documentation)
Each participant will be provided with a laminated wallet card. On one side of the
card is the itinerary of the trip, day by day, including departure and arrival time of
daily tours and meals. On the back side of the laminated card will be emergency
numbers in Nice, at the hotel, through the tour company and the French guide
information. It will also include “911” type information for Nice. Lastly it will
include a ready contact in Boston to handle any communication between the US, the
leaders and the participants.
The beneficiary of each participant will receive, before the trip, a detailed itinerary, with all contact
information to include hotel, restaurant, tour company, Nice emergency contact number and cell phone
number of leader. At any given day, it will be possible to contact either the guide, the hotel, the
restaurant or one of the leaders.
Evacuation (out of backcountry location, out of foreign country)
Should the need arise, we will have walkie-talkies and a cell phone and be able to call for help during
our hikes. The French hiking guide will also have a cell phone and be in a position to call for help at
any time. We will never be hiking in an area so remote that it won’t be possible to make emergency
calls. Should we need to evacuate the country because of any emergency, we will all have our Air
France return tickets that include any evacuation that the State Department deems necessary. Our
group tickets include early or late return for a $75 charge.
Medical Care (local medical facilities – location and quality)
Medical care is readily available at the Nice hospital. The facilities are excellent and
English doctors are available should the need arise. The location of this facility is
well situation and should we be hiking in another area, there is also an excellent
hospital in Monaco/Monte Carlo. The quality of medical care in the south of France
is excellent as it is demanded by French people who have settled in this area.
IV.
COST INFORMATION
Your application to lead a trip will not be accepted if a detailed cost analysis is not
attached.
A) Estimated cost per participant with minimum # 14, with maximum # 16.
Cost per participant to be listed in AMC Outdoors. $1600, not including
air fare.
B) What deposits are required in Advance? Registration $600
March 1, 2004 - $500
May 15th, 2005 - $500
C) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund?
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be in writing. Prior to July 1 – all moneys
returned except: a) $50 non-refundable portion and (b) Any moneys paid out to vendors
and money necessary to keep the trip cost from increasing – causing an increase for other
trip members. If your airline ticket has been purchased, you own it. After July 1, NO
REFUNDS for any reason, including accident, illness, or any other type of emergency.
Note: Sometimes additional moneys may be returned at a later date, if a cancellee’s spot
can be filled from the waiting list. This depends upon two factors: 1. That the trip is
filled – 14 participants in addition to the leaders. 2. That there is a waiting list. This list
is compiled by the leaders through the application and screening process only. No one
may substitute another person for themselves.
Once a trip begins, there is absolutely no refund, partial or full, for any reason.
D) What are you plans if you do not get the required number of people? The
trip will take place regardless of the number of people. It is anticipated
that this will be a very popular trip and from “word of mouth”, the leader
has already received a large amount of interest.
V.
PRIVATE TRIPS
Are you currently (up to and including the time frame of ths proposed trip) leading trips that
are “private,”, i.e., not sponsored by the AMC? YES
VI.
AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION
Detailed instructions on trip listings available at
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
E) Request month for trip to first appear in AMC Outdoors___December, 2003_
Date to be pulled_ September, 2004
F) Please provide an electronic copy of both the long (150 word maximum)
and short form (50 word maximum) announcement. Note that the word
count stops at the phrase “for info.”
150 word advertisement for AMC Outdoor
Provence….Cote d’Azur…French Riviera…. Hiking and Sightseeing
September 10-19, 2004
Our hotel in Nice overlooks the seaside, the old city, the surrounding hillsides
and medieval villages of the south of France. Trip will include hikes led by a
local guide….Village of Eze to the sea, to top of Mt. Gourdon, between two
medieval hilltop villages. etc. We visit the cities of Cannes, Antibes, the
medieval villages of Tourrettes, St. Paul de Vence and Mougins and the
museums of Picasso, and Chagall. Free time to enjoy Mediterranean beaches
and market places. $1600 includes private tour bus in Provence, guided
hikes and sightseeing, 8 nights Hotel Suisse (double occupancy) , eight
breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Leaders will assist participants with
airline reservations. Also included, a local “pre-trip” seminar for those in
Boston area and a Provence-Cote dÁzur Workbook... For more information
contact: Kathy Didier, PO Box C, Woodstock, NH 03293, 603-726-3553
(kdidier@coopresources.net) or Joyce Minosh, 978-692-2323.
WestfordConnect@aol.com
50 word advertisement for AMC Outdoor
Provence….Cote d’Azur…French Riviera…. Hiking and Sightseeing
September 10-19, 2004
Seaside hotel in Nice. Hikes led by local guide. Visit Cannes, Antibes,
medieval villages, museums, Mediterranean beaches and market places.
$xxxx includes transportation in Provence, guided hikes and sightseeing, 8
nights Hotel Suisse (double occupancy) , eight breakfasts, two lunches, two
dinners. For more information contact: Kathy Didier, PO Box C, Woodstock,
NH 03293, 603-726-3553 (kdidier@coopresources.net) or Joyce Minosh,
978-692-2323. WestfordConnect@aol.com