Trip # Assigned: ___________
Leader Name: Kathy Didier
Destination: Cuernavaca, Mexico
APPLICATION TO LEAD AN AMC MAJOR EXCURSION
I. TRIP PROPOSED
Trip Title: “Immersion in Spanish Language and Mexican Culture”
Type of Trip:
Other: Spanish Language and Cultural Study - Study Spanish Language, learn about
social issues in Mexico, field trips to historic sites and museums, local walks
Date: Start - March 5, 2005 End – March 20, 2005
Length of Trip 16 days
Participants: (not counting leaders) Minium # - 5 Maximum # - 20….we should be
so lucky!
Estimated cost (attach form with cost estimate detail): $ 1650
$103 /Day
If group is larger than seven, the price of trip will drop. With eleven participants,
price will drop to $1565. Participants from March 2003 trip do not have to pay the
registration fee and will save $75.
Please note that airfare is not included in the cost of this trip. In order to get my
airfare covered, I am willing to handle the airline reservations for all trip
participants. Some will choose to use their frequent flyer miles.
I estimate that the airfare from Boston/NYC to Mexico City will run between $400 $600. I work with a couple of travel agents that offer reduced rates.
This is to be a one leader trip. There is no reason to have the participants spend
extra money on a second leader.
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.
Taxi from airport to our hotel (Holiday Inn) in Mexico City for first night’s lodging. Dinner included.
Private transport by bus or vans from Mexico City Airport to our lodging in Cuernavaca. We will also be
transported by private bus or vans on our field trips.
Two weeks of Spanish Language Study at Cemanahuac Educational Community ( www.cemanahuac.com
): 4 hours per day for ten days. Students are placed in appropriate classes depending on their knowledge of
Spanish. No more than five students to a class.
Afternoon activities available at school such as concerts, art classes, lectures….
In order to experience the immersion, participants will live with local middle class families. Each
participant will have a private room in the home. If anyone would prefer to stay at a hotel instead of with a
family, this can be arranged at an extra cost.
Kathy Didier will guide local afternoon excursions to Cuernavaca museums, markets, churches, gardens,
art galleries…etc.
Three full day field study trips to Mexico City, Teotihuacan, Cuiculco, The Templo Mayor, and the
Museum of Anthropology with instructors from the school.
Three half day field study trips….Probably Buenavista, Tepoztlan, and Taxco with instructors from the
school.
Two special Lectures on Social Issues in Mexico…..most likely subjects will be conservation and poverty.
Welcoming reception and dinner
Last night will be back in Mexico City at Holiday Inn Hotel. Dinner included.
Permits: Does the trip require special permits (required on all U.S. federal lands)?
If yes, please explain what permits will be needed and how/when they will be
acquired.
Equipment: Does the trip require special technical equipment? No
If yes, what equipment is needed and will any of it be provided by the trip?
No
Educational Aspect: What are the specific education, conservation, or recreation
components of this trip?
Study of Spanish Language 10 days @ 4 hours per day. Study of Mexico’s history,
culture, and current events.
Outfitters: Will this trip require an outfitter? Not an outfitter. But a language school
Why or why not? This is a language and cultural study trip. I need experts to do the
teaching.
Who are they? Cemanahuac Educational Community – www.cemanahuac.com
This is a repeat of the March, 2003 Major Excursion. Cemanhauac did an excellent job at that time.
What is their safety record? They are very safety conscience.
Do they have liability insurance? Yes____
Can they provide a certificate of insurance listing AMC as an additional party insured?
Yes No – In the case of attendance at language school….I don’t think that this
should be necessary.
How do they handle emergencies? – We are in a small city with medical care. For
more serious problems, participant would be transferred to Mexico City to a larger
hospital.
II. LEADER INFORMATION
This is an example of a one leader trip. Jan Taylor, my co-leader, on the March
2003 trip will agree that only one leader should be required. This will save
participants money. I will line up an alternate leader should I not be able to go on
this trip.
A) Contact Information
Leader:Kathy Didier
Co-Leader: None
Address:PO Box C
Address:
Woodstock, NH 03293
Home Phone:
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Work Phone:
Email:
Email:
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
4/04
Copy Attached
Course
Co-Leader
Exp. Date Copy Attached
4/04
o
Other cert.:
Other cert.:
If copies of CPR and WFA or equivalent are not attached, please detail your specific plan
to obtain this certification. I am scheduled to repeat the CPR and AWFA courses in
April, 2004. The certification will be good until 4/06.
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 from.
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. Utah Hiking, August/September, 2003 – 16 participants, 2 leaders
2.Guatemala Hiking/Sightseeing, July/August, 2003 – 11 participants, 2 leaders
3.Immersion in Spanish, Mexico, March, 2003 – 11 participants, 2 leaders
D) Scouting: Have you or your co-leader led this trip before or traveled in the area? Yes
No
If yes, please describe:
Yes, this is a repeat of March, 2003 trip.
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?
Organizational and people skills. Many years experience leading AMC Major
Excursions.
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?
I will line up another leader to take my place should I not be able to make this trip.
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.
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
Falls on cobblestone streets.
Prevention/Response
Wear good walking shoes.
Foreign Countries:
political concerns,
crime, language
translation
Transportation:
vehicles, drivers,
insurance
No more hazards than in
Boston or NYC.
Be street smart.
Bus transportation within
Mexico.
Use first class buses. Chartered buses
are in good condition.
Participants:
skill level, health,
group dynamics
Open to all.
Anyone with physical limitations can
take taxis around town.
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)
Will provide AMC with above information. I will carry a copy of the same. There
is excellent telephone and e-mail communication where we are going. Family
members can contact the school where there is always someone who speaks English
to answer the telephone.
Evacuation (out of backcountry location, out of foreign country)
We will be in the City of Cuernavaca and Mexico City. There are buses and taxis to
the airport. We will not be in the backcountry.
Medical Care (local medical facilities – location and quality)
Many Americans live in Cuernavaca. There are small medical clinics in this city.
For more serious situations, we would go to Mexico City …90 minutes away. We
would pick one of the better hospitals there…one used by Americans.
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 # 7__________ with maximum # 20
Cost per participant to be listed in AMC Outdoors _$1650___________
Participants on March 2003 program will pay $1575 as they do not have to pay
the registration fee.
B) What deposits are required in advance?
_$600__________________________________________
C) What is the latest date for you to cancel and get a full refund? 30 days in
advance_________________________
D) What are your plans if you do not get the required number of people?
If I get five or more…I will 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? Yes No
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 __April, 2004
Date to be pulled March 2005
F) 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.” D
TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Long form announcement (150 words max.):
Immersion in Spanish Language and Mexican Culture
March 5-20, 2005
Sixteen days in Cuernava, Mexico. City of Eternal Spring. Study with Cemanahuac
Educational Community. Suitable for all levels of proficiency. Daily workshops for
reading, conversation, composition and grammar. Live with local middle-income family
(hotel stay at extra cost). We will learn about Mexican history and culture through
lectures and field trips . Field trips to Mexico City, Teotihuacan, The Templo Mayor,
Museum of Anthropology, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Museums, Taxco, Buenavista,
Tepoztlan. Lectures on Social Issues. Cuernavaca sits at 5,000’, built on multiple hills,
with some steep cobblestone streets. Field trips and excursions involve considerable
walking/climbing over irregular terrain. Local walks to museums, markets, galleries.
$1650 (less if more than 8 in group) covers language classes, field trips, private room
with local family in Cuernavaca, hotel dbl occupancy in Mexico City, most meals, all
transportation in Mexico. For more info send SASE (two stamps) : L. Kathy Didier, PO
Box C, Woodstock, NH 03293 603-726-3553 kdidier@coopresources.net
Short form announcement (50 words max.):
Immersion in Spanish Language and Mexican Culture
March 15-30, 2003
Language and cultural studies in beautiful Cuernavaca, Mexico. Field trips to Mexico
City, Teotihuacan, Kahlo & Rivera Museums, Museum Anthropology, Taxco, Lectures
on Social Issues. Walks to museums, markets, galleries.
$1650 (less if more than 8 in
group) covers language classes, field trips, lodging, most meals, all transportation in
Mexico. For more info send SASE (two stamps) : L. Kathy Didier, PO Box C,
Woodstock, NH 03293 603-726-3553 kdidier@coopresources.net
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.


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First aid certifications
Leader Qualification information
AMC Medical form for both leaders

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Detailed cost information
AMC Outdoors listings
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 prodecures 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 <vze2g9bb@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..