Trip # Assigned: ___________
Leader Name: Wenig/Gordon
Destination: St. John VI
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
If possible, please fill this form out electronically so that it can be distributed by email. Type on
or over lines and directly into the appropriate sections of tables. When responding to Yes/No
questions, please 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.
I. TRIP PROPOSED
A) Trip Title: Eco-Camping at Maho Bay
_________________________________________________________________
B) Type of Trip: Backpacking Day-hiking Cultural Skiing Other:
Camping, hiking, snorkeling and day hikes.
C) Date: Feb. 17-Feb. 24, 2004
Length of Trip 8 days, 7 nights
D) Participants: (not counting leaders) Minimum # 24 Maximum # 40
E) Brief outline of trip and trip activities. You may write or type below or attach as a
separate sheet. A complete itinerary with all available contact information must be provided
before departure.
Based at Maho Bay Campground, activities include hiking, snorkeling, swimming and trips to
other parts of the island, cultural programs and special group activities such as get acquainted
BBQ and game night. Activities will be structured so that all members of the family can
participate. There will also be free time to enable people to schedule personal options such as
sailing, scuba, trip to BVI etc.
F) Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands)? No
Equipment: Does the trip require special technical equipment? No
G) Educational Aspect: What are the specific education, conservation, or recreation
components of this trip?
We will learn about the ways that Maho Bay camps has provided leadership to the National
Parks in the area of conservation, using recyclable materials and protecting the earth from
impact of large number of travellers. On St. John, we will learn about coral reefs and the efforts
made to protect and re-establish the natural formation .We will learn about local flora and fauna
while hiking through a tropical forest from a naturalist. We will meet local people and learn
local lore. We will hike, snorkel and create community.
3/8/02
H) Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter? No
II. LEADER INFORMATION
A) Contact Information
Leader: Melissa Wenig
Co-Leader: Joel Gordon
Address:44 Langdon St.
Address: 44 Langdon St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
Cambridge, MA 02138
Home Phone: 617 868 5296
Home Phone: 617 868 5296
Work Phone: 617 373 5435
Work Phone: 617 492 6395
Email:melisjoel@aol.com
Email: melisjoel@aol.com
B) First Aid Training – To lead a Major Excursion, you must have current CPR and
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or its equivalent at the time of your trip.
Course
Leader
Exp. Date
4/2002
4/2004
Copy Attached
Other cert.:
Course
Co-Leader
Exp. Date Copy Attached
4/2002
4/2004
Other cert.:
If copies of CPR and WFA or equivalent are not attached, please detail your specific plan to
obtain this certification.
We are re-certifying CPR and will send a copy
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.” Please attach a copy of that form.
Experienced Major Excursions Leaders: Please list below the last three trips you have led for the
AMC including destination, 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. Maho Bay 2002
34 participants
2. Maho Bay 2001
36 participants
3. Maho Bay 2000
38 participants
3/8/02
D) Scouting: Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area? Yes, have
been doing this trip for the past 13 years.
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?
Ability to work with a large and very diverse group of people of all ages, capabilities, interests
and needs. Ability to work effectively with airlines and camp ground. Need to be attentive to
details and have good planning skills. Knowledge of island, residents and resources helpful.
F) Couples: If leader and co-leader are a couple or have some other close personal relationship,
what are your back up plans if one if you cannot go and the other must stay behind as well?
Or if you are in the field and both of you must return?
Marlene and Jerry Schultz are approved MEC leaders and will either be back up or co-leaders
G) Medical History: Both leader and co-leader need to have a recent copy of the AMC
Confidential Medical Form on file at 5 Joy St. This form can be obtained online at
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/ or call Katherine Byers at 617-523-0655 x333 to receive a
hard copy by mail.
On file at 5 Joy St.
III. RISK ASSESSMENT
A) Please assess the risks/hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it
may affect your trip with specific potential hazards. Then, devise a plan to attempt to prevent
each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary.
Areas of Risk
Climate/Terrain:
trail conditions,
weather, etc.
Potential Hazards
HEAT
Foreign Countries: NONE
political concerns,
crime, language
translation
Transportation:
NONE: We hire a driver
vehicles, drivers,
insurance
Participants:
skill level, health,
group dynamics
3/8/02
Ability to climb many stairs
Ability to be part of a group
Prevention/Response
Constant reminders re heat exposure
including use of hat, suntan lotion and
body covering.
Use local driver
Medical form and pre-screening
Pre-screening, but can't always tell
Other:
B) Emergency Action Plan
Before you leave for you 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. Please use as much detail as possible and
attach additional sheets if necessary.
Emergency Communication (phone contacts, language, documentation)
We keep cell phone with us at all times. The medical center is located 3 miles from the
campground and within any of our areas of travel. We can get helping using 911.
Medical Care (local medical facilities – location and quality)
St John has a reasonably good Health Center and Drs. are easily available. And for serious
emergencies St. Thomas is 20 minutes away by ferry..
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 # 1500 with maximum # 1350
Airfare
$700
Maho Bay Camps
$475
Transfers
$ 30
Ground Transportation
$ 40
AMC 7%
$ 30
Misc.- phone, postage,
pretrip meeting
$ 85
Leaders
$ 50
TOTAL:
$1375
Cost per participant to be listed in AMC Outdoors: $1375
3/8/02
B) What deposits are required in advance? $100 pp/ $200 per family We have to give
campground a $300.00 non refundable deposit in May
C) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? 120 days out from trip for full
refund and then 60 days to get refund of all monies not committed to campground, trip
expenses and airlines.
D) What are your plans if you do not get the required number of people? We won't go
V. PRIVATE TRIPS
Are you currently (up to and including the time frame of this proposed trip) leading trips that are
“private,” i.e. not sponsored by the AMC? We may be leading a religious study group in
December
VI. AMC OUTDOORS INFORMATION
Detailed instructions on trip listings available at http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
A) Request month for trip to first appear in AMC Outdoors : September
Date to be pulled January
B) Please provide an electronic copy of both the long (150 words maximum) and short form (50
word maximum) announcements. Note that the word count stops at the phrase “For info.”
This notice is part of the Caribbean Camping list. Please make sure that it head with Maho Bay.
Tuesday, February 17 -Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Maho Bay Campground Trip St. John USVI
A week for the entire family of swimming, snorkeling, hiking and relaxing in one of the most
spectacular locations in Caribbean-Maho Bay Camps. Accommodations in spacious tentcottages with all basic amenities. Fee includes airfare, accommodations, ground transportation,
all scheduled activities. Boston/NY (some) departures. Trip Fee: $1375 per person. Trip fills
quickly. For more detail information, check out trip on website:
<http://members.aol.com/melisjoel/mahobay.html> and/or email melisjoel@aol.com . No email?
Send SASE to: Wenig/Gordon, 44 Langdon Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Tel: 617-868-5296
VII. TRIP PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Trips cannot come before the Major Excursions Committee for approval unless the forms are
completely filled out and received three weeks prior to MEC meetings for review. Please make
sure you have filled out all appropriate sections of this form completely and included any
necessary attachments.


First aid certifications
Leader Qualification information
3/8/02


Detailed cost information
AMC Outdoors listings

AMC Medical form for both leaders
By turning in this proposal, you are agreeing to the following:
I have read the Major Excursions Leader Handbook and I agree to follow all policies and
procedures of the Major Excursions Committee and the Appalachian Mountain Club in
preparing for and conducting my major excursion.
Thank you for completing this form!
 Copies of first aid certifications and medical forms should be submitted in hard copy only.
These can be faxed (marked attn: Katherine Byers) to 617-523-0722 or mailed to the Major
Excursions, 5 Joy St. address below.
 Email submissions of this trip proposal form are preferred.
Email should be sent to both of the following two addresses:
T. Walley Williams, Major Excursions Committee Chair at twalley.williamsiii@verizon.net
Katherine Byers, AMC Outdoor Leadership Coordinator at kbyers@amcinfo.org
Or, if you unable to send electronically, please mail a hard copy to the following two addresses:
T. Walley Williams, III
Chair, AMC Major Excursions Committee
71 Orchard St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3509
Major Excursions
Appalachian Mountain Club
5 Joy St.
Boston, MA 02108
Questions? Call T. Walley Williams at the above email or 617-484-1877.
He can put you in touch with an experienced MEC mentor who can help you with trip planning.
3/8/02