Trail Guides Program

 

The Conservancy is always in need of additional Trail Guides to facilitate hikes into the Fountain Hills Preserve. For questions and additional information
on the Guides Program please contact Carol Ayres, our coordinator of all guided hikes.  Carol's e-mail address is <quail10@aol.com>

The duties of a Trail Guide are:

  1. Be acquainted with the general landscape, specific routes and location of both the Scottsdale Sonoran Land Trust and the Fountain Hills Preserve.
  2. Talk to visitors, ask for opinions, suggestions or any problems.
  3. Be alert to any health issues with visitors.  Contact 911 immediately via cell phone or radio relay if there is an emergency.
  4. Be knowledgeable about basic first aid.
  5. Be equipped to advise hikers in a non confrontational way if you observe any violations of the Preserve regulations.
  6. Remove small trash, make notice of any hazards or suggestions for improvements.
  7. Be equipped with first aid kit, extra water, trash bags, whistle, cell phone or trail radio, watch, notebook and pencil.  Wear appropriate outdoor clothing.
  8. Report any problems, violations or visitor comments in a written note to be handed to the Gate Marshall at the end of your assigned time.

For more information about the Trail Guide Program contact: Quail10@aol.com

Syllabus for Trail Guide Training (1 Hour Sessions)

Session 1:

  1. Brief background on Preserve history.
  2. Current status on access to the Preserve.
  3. The need for Trail Stewards.
  4. General plan for providing guided access.
  5. Q & A.

Session 2:

  1. Review of Preserve regulations.
  2. Trail Guide responsibilities.
  3. Options for Preserve access.

Session 3:

  1. CPR class.

Session 4:

  1. Review existing trail system within the Preserve.
  2. Basics of first aid and fire prevention.
  3. Radio use.
  4. Development of "Trail Days" schedules.

Session 4:

  1. Familiarization hike.
  2. Practice radio use.

In an earlier Trail Guides meeting, on Feb. 28,2005, the speaker was Sara Fincham, PT, DPT, CSCS (Doctor of Physical training, soccer sports trainer).  She spoke at the Community Center from 7:00 - 8:00 to a group of fourteen Trail Guides on the importance of specific actions to take as part of First Aid.  Following that she spoke of shoe construction as related to foot construction flat foot, normal, or high arch (flatter feet need stiff soles, high arced need lots of cushion).  She also demonstrated stretching exercises to use when recovering from a sprained ankle or torn Achilles.