Merri Fox/none
Belize Natural Wonders
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form
Last Revision July 2008
The following pages contain the application to lead an AMC Major Excursion. Please complete the form with as
much detail as possible, and attach additional sheets if necessary. Also include a detailed budget/costing sheet
that clearly shows all costs associated with your planned excursion. The trip proposal form and budget are due
two weeks prior to the MEC meeting in which it will be reviewed. Deadlines will be posted on the MEC leader
website (http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/) and sent to you on the MEC leader listserv well in advance of the
meeting. The MEC will not accept late proposals unless the chair is notified in advance with a compelling reason.
Incomplete applications will be returned to you and not reviewed until complete, so please make sure to fill in all
applicable sections.
The application was created in a Microsoft Word protected document. To fill in each section click on the check
box and/or on the grey text box and start typing. The boxes will automatically get larger as you fill in text. If you
find that you need a lot of space to explain a section, please say “see additional attachment” and attach a separate
page.
In addition, the following are helpful during the review process, but need only be submitted after your proposal is
accepted:


50 and 150 word notices for the AMC Outdoors and www.outdoors.org. Please see the current rules http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/listings/ and schedule for submitting notices for the AMC Outdoors.
Trip prospectus – without the application forms attached – in Microsoft Word or PDF format
Finally, we need to have on file at Joy Street, the following documents:



A completed confidential medical form for the leader and co-leader (after approval is given)
Copies of first aid and CPR certifications for leader and co-leader (before or after approval is given)
A completed application to be a co-leader if the co-leader is new (before proposal is submitted)
We will accept snail mail applications, but electronic forms are preferred. Please save and forward your
electronic document with the following naming convention:


Leader’s last name, trip destination, year of trip and what type of document it is (application, budget,
Outdoors listing or prospectus)
For example, Smith-New Zealand-2007-Application.doc or Smith-New Zealand-2007-Budget.xls
Applications should be sent electronically to the MEC Chair, Stacia Zukroff, at mecchair@amcboston.org and to
cyout@outdoors.org. They can be mailed to: Travel Programs Coordinator, 5 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108. If
you have any questions, please contact Stacia at: 781-648-5503 or mecchair@amcboston.org.
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 6
Merri Fox/none
Belize Natural Wonders
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Belize Natural Wonders
Leader Merri Fox
Co-leader none
San Ignacio, Belize
December 26-January 2, 2009-10
Total # of days 8
Hiking
Downhill skiing
Kayaking
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip
check all that apply
Backpacking
Cultural
Road biking
Nordic ski
Mountain biking
Snorkeling
Other – please describe
half day horseback ride, cave tour
Number of participants
(excluding leaders)
Advertised cost
Airfare range if not included
Do you wish to have your trip
listed online before it is
published in The Outdoors?
Smaller trips and leader
subsidization
Max 10
Min 8
$ 2450
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ (I am actually estimating $800 and will spike out in prospectus)
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month (max is one year in
advance of trip)
February - as soon as possible after approval
Is this proposal for a small group trip – i.e., less than 14 participants and 2
leaders or 7 participants and 1 leader? Yes
No
If yes, why is a small group proposed?
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain
why?
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Co-leader name
Merri Fox
115 North Road
Harwinton, CT 06791
Home 860-485-1697
Work 860-565-6435
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: 4/2009
CPR
BLS
Expiration: 4/2009
Please list the last three longer (5+ day) trips you have led for the AMC including
destination, type of trip, 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.
st. john 2008
paris 2008
switzerland 2007
this is a 1 leader trip proposal

To lead a major excursion you must have current CPR and WFA at the time of your trip (or AWFA for all backcountry
trips). If you do not have the required level of certification at the time you submit your proposal or it will expire before
the date of your trip, you will need to make arrangements to recertify in a timely manner.
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 6
Merri Fox/none
Belize Natural Wonders
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Wilderness first aid training*
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Home
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration:
CPR
BLS
Expiration:
If you are a new co-leader you must submit an application to be a major excursions
leader or co-leader prior to submitting this application.
Scouting
Have either of you led this trip
before or traveled to this
area?
Languages
Does either the co-leader or
leader speak the local
language?
Couples
Do the leader and co-leader
have a significant personal
relationship?
Private trips
Do either of you lead trips that
are private - not sponsored by
the AMC?
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below:
Have been to belize on 3 prior trips and have always stayed at same place where I
propose staying this trip; last time was a trip I led in late 2006.
Executive summary
Please provide a brief
description of the trip and the
activities planned.
This trip encompasses part of the 2006 Belize trip itinerary in that we will be staying at 1
of the 2 locations on that trip, in San Ignacio near the Guatemala border. This region is
rife with caves, Mayan ruins and is close enough to Guatemala to do a day trip to Tikal,
which we plan to visit. Besides the wide cultural choices there are options for cave
canoing, easy hikes, horseback riding, river canoing and cave exploration. The resort, as
on the last trip, provides guides licensed by Belize tourist board for all activities. In
addition, water activity guides are separately qualified as are cave tour operators. For
that reason I am proposing this as a 1-leader trip. I have personally participated (more
than once) on all activities to be done. There will be 2 half-day activities, as well as a
full day off. At those times I plan to offer visits to town to explore, see the Mennonite
farmer's market, possibly take in another local ruin or simply walk the property trails.
Windy Hill Resort, San Ignacio, Cayo Distrct, Belize in small cottages with bath (2 per
unit, possible to put 3 in the largest units)
Co-leader: Yes
No
Leader: Yes
No
Not applicable:
Yes
No
If yes, please list who has agreed to be your back-up in case one or
both of you need to drop out. This is required for approval!
Yes
No
If yes, please note that you cannot advertise AMC and private trips
together unless there is a clear distinction between the two in any marketing
materials you send out.
LOGISTICAL DETAILS OF TRIP
Accommodations
Please describe your plan for
accommodation(s)
Meals
Please describe your plan for
providing meals
Permits or permissions
Does the trip require special
permits or permissions?
(required on many U.S.
federal lands and national
parks)
Special equipment
Does the trip require special
equipment?
Special experience
Revised 7/15/2016
.All meals provided by Windy Hill, although their menus offer limited choices. They do
however serve vegetarian meals.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
will ensure that people know how to use it:
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6
Merri Fox/none
Belize Natural Wonders
Does the trip require special
skills on the part of the
participant?
Pre-trip activities
Do you plan to get your group
together before the trip for an
activity or social event?
Conservation, education and
recreation
How will this major excursion
meet the mission of the AMC?
www.outdoors.org/about/
mission.cfm
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
However, since there are several water activities will inquire about swimmnig skills of
all participants and require life jackets for all of them (they are provided by guides).
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
If enough local people sign up, will invite them over for social to get acquainted and to
see some sldies from last trip.
While providing a wide variety of physical activities, it will be a very rich educational
and cultural experience in terms of exposure to the Mayan civilation and their wonderful
descendants. Having local guides makes all the difference.
TOUR OPERATOR AND GUIDE SERVICE INFORMATION
Will this trip require a tour
operator or guide service
during part, or the entire
trip?
Name of tour operator/guide
service
Tour operator website
Safety record
Please provide information
about their safety record.
Insurance
Do they have liability
insurance?
Emergency response
Please describe the outfitters’
response plan in the case of an
emergency.
Yes
No
Please describe their services. If you are using a tour operator for the entire trip,
please describe why you will be using them rather than doing this trip on your own:
Although Windy Hill is not a guide service, I am providing their website below. The
"tours" they list are all available to the general public.
Windy Hill Resort is not a "guide service" per se. they are a resort who, like all other
resorts, uses individual licensed guides for activities that are stock in trade. For instance,
everyone who goes cave canoeing at Barton Creek does the same tour - all the water
guides do the same thing; they are required to by the managers of the cave.
http://www.windyhillresort.com
No life threatening injuries have ever occurred at their facility or on any of their
activities, I have been told. The resort was opened in 1987, is family run and the owners
live on the property.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
All guides have basic first aid training and carry first aid kits in vehicles. In addition,
there is a licensed nurse on resort staff.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Please assess the risks and hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it may affect your trip.
Devise a plan to prevent each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary. Please be very specific for each section
if applicable.
Trail conditions, river crossings, weather, wildlife (bears, snakes, etc.)
Climate/terrain
Potential hazards
Although this is the dry season, there is still the potential for high water in rivers and
rain. There are also snakes and poisonous insects, and mosquitos may carry malaria.
Response
Water activities will not be conducted if water is too high; other activities can be
substituted. Leader and guides will provide guidance about avoiding snakes and insects,
what poisonous ones look like, and what to do if bitten. There is a clinic in San Ignacio
which carries the anti-venom. Will strongly advise participants to obtain anti-malarial
drugs prior to trip and will remind frequently to apply repellant.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Country is politically stable; however petty crime is still common, and it is always wise
to be cautious in rural remote areas. For daytrip to Guatemala we will have Belize as
well as Guatemalan guide..
Response
warn group about safeguarding passports, money and credit cards; monitor for unusual
Revised 7/15/2016
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6
Merri Fox/none
Belize Natural Wonders
Transportation
Potential hazards
Response
Participants
Potential hazards
Response
Other
Potential hazards
Response
crime activity against tourists in advance, particularly Guatemala. Only travel with
guides in remote areas.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
We will not be traveling on roads in poor condition, although many are dirt or gravel.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
poor swimmers who do not admit to their lack of expertise; non-riders for horseback ride
require life vests for all water activities; gentle horses suitable for non-riders are
plentiful. Another activity can also be provided for non-riders if they wish.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Use as much detail as possible, and list any special
communications equipment you may need to ensure the safety of your participants. DO NOT LEAVE THIS SECTION
BLANK
Leader will have participant emergency contact and medical information with her at all
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
times.
documentation, distance from
emergency services
Leader and guides carry first aid equipment; there is also a nurse on the premises at the
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
resort. Cell phone service is excellent in Belize and both leader and guides will carry
aid or communication
one.
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
We will never be more than an hour from a primary road
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
evacuation from the
backcountry location if
applicable?
San Ignacio Hospital, 501-92-2066. This is a full service though small hospital. Major
Medical care
Please describe the medical
surgeries are performed in Belize City hospital, 2-1/2 hours distant by road. There is a
care available in the area(s)
small airport in San Ignacio which can expedite emergency care..
where you will be traveling
and list names and telephone
numbers for these facilities.
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
Foreign currencies
For int’l trips list each foreign
currency, the current $US
dollar exchange rate and what
contingencies you have if that
rate changes. If a tour
operator or agent is being
used, what currency is the
agent to be paid in?
Deposits
What deposits will be required
by airlines, hotels, tour
operators, etc., and when?
Refunds
Revised 7/15/2016
N/A; US dollars are accepted.
flights will not be booked until minimum number is reached; hotel will hold until June 1
without deposit; then requires 25%
October 15th, 2009
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6
Merri Fox/none
Belize Natural Wonders
What is the latest date you can
cancel and still receive a full
refund?
Participant deposit
What are the initial deposit
and your schedule of
payments?
Cancellation policy
What will your cancellation
policy be for the participants?
Minimum numbers
Will you still run the trip if you
do not get the minimum
number?
Reference web links:
MEC Home Page:
Forms:
Deadlines:
E-Mail Addresses:
Club House:
MEC Chair:
Revised 7/15/2016
$750 initial deposit, then $1000 May 1, and $700 October 1 st.
$100 non-refundable cancellation fee; thereafter $100 plus any monies spent on airline
tickets or non-refundable deposits, plus whatever is required to keep other participant
costs from increasing.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
will go with 7 participants
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/application/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/listings
cyout@outdoors.org
mecchair@amcboston.org
Major Excursions Trip Proposal Form, page 6 of 6