Primavera Expert Web Site + *Mt.Tamalpais Hiking

   Info regarding: Leading a Hike for Mtn.Play Assoc.'s,Outreach Program

If you are interested in leading an Outreach Group for the Mtn.Play. Outreach Program, you can reserve a Play date now.

About a week before the Play opens the volunteer coordinator will be interested in lining up, volunteer hike leaders. Because by then the Mtn.Play Volunteer Coordinator will have selected the dates for the Outreach Groups to attend the Play.

 If you have reserved one of the dates the Play has chosen, you're all set, if not maybe an adjustment can be made if some dates are still open. For more info about the Mtn.Play Outreach Program, click this link.  http://new.mountainplay.org/outreach.html 

To see the dates taken so far click the link at the top of this column, for the 3rd Quarter. The dates for Mountain Play performances this year and dates still available for reserving, to lead an Outreach Group Hike, will be shown at the very bottom of the schedule spreadsheet.

The Outreach Group Hike will start about 11:00 AM and return before noon. Usually the Outreach Group will arrive well before 11:00 AM if there are no hang-ups. If they are not there when you arrive, be sure to go and meet their bus when it arrives, and help escort them to their seats. The Play officials will really appreciate your doing this. Remember during the early part of the season many of the Mtn.Play volunteers may not be familiar with the theater layout and any help from us is very welcome.

The Outreach Group seating area is, if facing the stage, on the left side of the Theater, left of the left most aisle, about ten rows up from the stage. Probably the only people of color, in the theater will be sitting in this area.

We always lead a hike along the same route every year. We take Rock Spring Trail to the first or second overlook, (see photo on the top right), if the group is slow, we only go to the first overlook. If the group is hiking fast, we'll go to the second overlook.

You must remember the Outreach folks have not had that much, if any exposure to hiking trails. Don't worry about trying to figure out a more interesting route, it is not necessary.

There is a restriction that we do not cross any asphalt roads when leading this hike.

Sometimes the kids will just take off running, other times they may be more cautious, you'll probably have a mix. Some of the moms and dads will go along. Not every kid will have a guardian along.

If you start walking around or through the Theater with these kids, some may disappear, attacted by the food booths and god knows what. You can avoid this by quickly getting on the nearest trail, Rock Spring, to their seating area. (This route was originally recommended by Bill Stevens, a few years ago and it is tried and true.)

 The one thing you must watch is when, on the way back you come to the junction of the enty into the theater and Rock Spring Trail. Here some of the kids will really want to take off and explore the many pre-play activities and food booths they see before them. Block them from doing this by holding the group until all arrive, get the moms and dads to help supervise getting the kids back to their play seats. Once back to the seats, your job is over, say your goodbyes, sit with the group or find some shade, enjoy the nice box lunch the Play will provide, pick up a T-shirt, if you like and enjoy the Play.

Be aware that some of the older kids are pretty street smart and may try to manipulate you, to get whatever it is they think they want. If you have not had experience in dealing with this type of behavior, this may not be the hike for you to lead. Rarely but on occasion, you may have trouble getting the kids to follow instructions. Usually they will try to get as far away from any adults on the hike, as they can.

It's always a good idea to have a friend along who can augment you in handling the above issues. That is permissible.