NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conducted Trips

POOR MECHANICS CAN RUIN...

On a conducted trip, two distinctly different activities are involved: (1) Moving people from place to place, and (2) providing an interpretation along the way. Interpretation is the basic purpose, but its effectiveness is determined to a very great degree by how well the leader manages the mechanics of handling people. The leader is concerned with getting his party from one place to another with dispatch, and with due regard for ease, comfort, and safety. He has also the very practical problem of fitting his interpretive presentation into a given pattern of movement.

Each trip presents its own problems in this regard. Parties may range from a half dozen individuals to groups numbering over a thousand. Small groups offer few problems of movement or of adjusting the interpretive story to that pattern of movement. For large parties and on extended trips, movement, comfort, and safety often require much more attention and time than does the interpretive presentation itself.

Transportation is another variable, and may be accomplished by bus, boat, horseback, private car, auto caravan, or on foot, and each situation imposes different problems of mechanics, and may require different interpretive techniques. Thus, on a boat or bus tour the leader is in nearly continuous contact with his party, and a more or less continuous presentation is possible. Movement produces no discontinuities. The leader of a horseback or auto caravan tour, on the other hand, sees his party only at detached intervals. In the former case, the pattern of movement ties the interpretive story together. In the latter, movement breaks the story into detached segments.

Before discussing the interpretive techniques, let us consider the mechanics of this activity in general, and under various special situations.

Before the Trip Starts

It is good practice to be on the job at least fifteen minutes before the time scheduled for your trip to start. Your uniform immediately identifies you, and is all the personal introduction you need. So, during this interval, be alert, active, and take the initiative. Approach those who have assembled with some vigor, and in a spirit of friendliness. Greet the visitors and visit with them. You are not yet dealing with a group, but with individuals, and this is your opportunity to get the trip started on a conversational level. Show the people that you will be talking with them, not to them. The attitudes you establish at this time will help you maintain that desirable conversational approach even though the group becomes too large for conversation in fact. At the same time, don't be dominated by individuals, but circulate; let as many people as possible see you, hear you, and talk with you. During this time you will be telling people where you are going and what you will do. Your whole purpose is to let people know that something is about to start, that it promises to be an interesting event, that you are going to handle it, and that you are a capable and a friendly sort of person to be with on such an occasion.

This is your opportunity, too, to size up your party. Each group will be different, and the way you conduct the trip will depend upon how you sum up the group. What are their interests? What do they expect from this trip? Are they familiar with this area? How much background information will you need to supply?

Start Something and Start on Time

When the starting time arrives, start something at once. Don't make those who were on time "wait just a few more minutes" for latecomers. Take charge in a positive manner. The people expect you to be a leader, and a listless, uncertain, delayed beginning lets you down in their eyes. Previously you were dealing with individuals, but now you recognize the party as a group. Greet them as a group, introduce yourself if you wish, but at least identify yourself as a member of the National Park Service. When the group is not too large, you may ask the mem.ers of the party also to introduce themselves and tell where they are from. Tell the party where you are going, what you will do, and when you will be back. Be sure to mention, but do not overemphasize, any difficulties that may be encountered, such as steep trail, ladders, stairs, wet trail, etc. Invite every one to take the excursion with you.

In some situations you will know that all who have assembled intend to go with you. You do not have to sell the trip to them, but can proceed at once with your interpretive treatment. Remember, though, that there may be some latecomers. In other situations, where the trip starts at a focal point, a museum, hotel, or other more or less public place, there will be many people gathered who do not as yet plan to go with you, and others who do not even know that your trip is scheduled. In these situations, one of your first objectives is to attract as many of these casuals as possible to come over and join the party.

So, immediately after your invitation, before you move along the trail, make a rapid transition directly to some dramatic feature in prelude to your interpretive story. This may be something contrived especially to excite interest. Make this dramatic and brief. Do not tell all the story now, but very soon and without distinguishing between participants and casuals, lead the group just a short distance along the route to see something which further illustrates what you are saying. You may move a second, or third time, if circumstances dictate, before you conclude this first introductory or prelude story.

What have you accomplished up to this point? You have remained in sight so that latecomers can join the party, and you have included casuals as well as intended participants in the group. You have avoided making an occasion for anyone to drop out. In inducing casuals to go a few steps along the trail with you, you have led them to an action of participation before they have actually decided to participate. This is exactly what the sideshow barker attempts when he says "step up a little closer, folks." This is good practical psychology, and it works.

Now you move on, but before you get out of sight of the starting point, recognize that others have joined the party, and briefly and very casually repeat the announcement of the activity and the invitation. Now that the casuals have had a sample of your work and have themselves participated, you thus give them a chance to drop out if they feel they must.

Contrast this sort of a beginning with that of the unimaginative, and perhaps timid, leader whose very first, nearly inaudible words are "Ladies and Gentlemen, will those who are going on the 9 o'clock nature walk, please follow me down the trail," and who then proceeds, never stopping until he is completely out of sight of the point of origin.

Nor is it good practice, in general, to ask for questions during these preliminary stages of the trip itself. Before the trip started, you established friendly, conversational contact with the party, and you may have answered many questions. Now your purpose is to collect the group, to unify it, and to establish your control over it. A lengthy question and answer period at this time interrupts the continuity, the unity, the sense of action, and the development of your control. You will encourage and will make many opportunities for questions to much better advantage later as you unfold the story along the trail.

Your Progress Along the Trail

Small parties present fewer problems of mechanics or of interpretation. If you talk with rather than to your people, if your leadership is exercised unobtrusively, and if you are sensitive to your group, then their responses will indicate to you how fast to move, when to stop, how long to talk, and even what to say. Establish good rapport and a small party will almost run itself.

As attendance increases, your problems of mechanics multiply. Large parties require more time for starting, moving, and reassembling, and unless expertly handled, movement can rob you of time for interpretation. Set a pace that is not tiring to your party, and at the same time not so slow as to be boring to the more vigorous or the more impatient members. When your party is not too large, make frequent stops, but make them short. Frequent moves give the activity a sense of action, of something going on, and frequent short stops provide rest intervals. For larger groups, stops must be fewer, but should not be prolonged merely to enable you to play the long record. Shorten the story, rather than prolong the stops.

Move fast at first, with a large party. This opens up the trail behind you so that the group can get under way as fast as possible. Then slow down to a moderate pace. As you approach the next stop, slow down even more so that all the gaps in the line behind you can close up, reducing the dead time needed to reassemble.

When you stop, stop to observe something. After all, this is a trip afield, and its objective in the visitors' minds is to see something. Stop, not to rest or to deliver a speech, but to see, hear, smell, taste, or feel something. Your discussion can go on from there, but observe something first. Stop where all can see, where you can talk to everyone, and where the group can assemble in comfort.

Have a definite point of dismissal, and let the party know the trip is over. Don't let it just disintegrate. When this is at some distance from the starting point, describe the trails that are available to those who would explore further, and invite the rest to walk with you back to the point of origin. On a circle trip where you return to the point of origin, stop for the interpretive climax before the people see the destination and become impatient.

Some General Suggestions

Keep in the lead at all times, and turn around to talk to all the group. Hold your head up, and throw your voice over the heads of those near you. Also, keep the man in the rear in view and in mind. These practices will help you make yourself heard by everyone. When you identify someone who does not hear well, manage unobtrusively to get him near you.

As you move from place to place, converse with those near you if you will, but make it obvious that no one is missing anything important. Repeat the important observations, and repeat the questions that are asked you so that everyone knows what is going on. Talking to the party while you are walking is not good practice, and if you stand over a precipice or on a parapet wall some people will be so concerned for your safety that they won't hear a word you say. Don't compete with yourself for attention. Instead of trying to outshout a noisy group in the rear, try lowering your voice. If your commentary is really interesting, the rest of the group will handle the noise problem for you.

Announcements. --Every activity should be identified as an event provided by the National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior. Seek opportunities also to invite visitors to attend other activities, and to suggest publications that are available. In general, the most effective time for these announcements is not necessarily at the start or as a part of the conclusion. Rather, be informal and casual, and make the announcements relate to what you are doing and seeing at the time. For example:

Yes, this pegmatite boulder tells us a lot about the geology of these mountains. It is a very interesting story, and I think you would enjoy reading up on it in the pamphlet Glaciers of the Rockies. We have it on display in the museum. Stop by and look it over.

or

Now that we have seen the battlefield, stop at the museum when you have time and see the whole battle explained on the electric map. Historian Bill Jones is an expert on this battle, and he will be there to demonstrate it by means of the electric map.

In making announcements and issuing invitations, the personal and the imperative forms of speech are more effective than the impersonal and the simple declarative. In this regard, compare the following:

There will be an illustrated talk tonight at 8 o'clock at the museum, The public is invited and no admission is charged. The subject is on mountaineering.

- - -

Come over to the museum tonight about 8 and hear Ranger Smith tell about his ascent of the east face of Long's Peak. It's free and we would enjoy having you come. Smith tells an exciting story, and his pictures are exceptional. I think you will enjoy it.

To sum up, perhaps it would be better to say "Don't Make Announcements." Rather, weld the information you wish to convey into your interpretive presentation. Relate it to what you are doing and seeing and thus give this information meaning, and a certain degree of drama. Capitalize upon the interests you have created in the group to give your announcements their greatest impact, their best reception. A cold, formal announcement to "Be careful with fire" at the beginning of an activity, before interest has been developed, probably has very little effect. On the other hand, the fire story coupled with specific bits of advice to the visitor, presented within and as a logical development of an interpretive story, can be most effective. We are not as blatant, as obvious, or as crude, but we can still learn a great deal from radio and TV commercials as to how, as well how not, to make announcements.

Practice Conservation.--Confine destructive use of materials to the absolute minimum. Discourage collecting by others, and never collect specimens for study or scientific purposes on a conducted trip. Do use opportunities to encourage conservation and to discourage vandalism and the litterbug. Pick up a scrap of paper or a film carton yourself once in a while, and dispose of it properly. It isn't always necessary to explain--just be very obvious in setting a good example. In some situations, where fragile materials are to be encountered, let the party handle an expendable specimen at the beginning, and thus satisfy their urge to touch, break, or examine the material,

Pointers.--A small hand mirror is a good device for pointing out a flower, tree, or formation, or for indicating the location of a bird. Flashlights may be similarly used in some places and one with a strong beam is a good star pointer on astronomy trips. In using flashlights in caves or ruins, move the beam very slowly from one point to the next so the eye can follow.

A checklist of common birds, mimeographed on a stiff card, is a useful aid on bird walks.

Where you need a person to bring up the rear, choose someone in brightly colored or distinctive attire so you can recognize him at each stop and thereby know that the whole party has assembled.

For groups of children, at the very start emphasize the rules of conduct that you expect to be observed.

When your walking party meets a horseback party, yield the right-of-way. Take your party off the trail, and all of them to the same side so the horses will not have to pass between walls of people. Caution your group to stand quietly until the horses have passed.

If circumstances prevent your return at the announced time, let the party know soon enough so that any who have schedules to meet can return ahead of the party.

Where there is any unusual element of danger, particularly that of getting lost, keep close check of the group, and count noses from time to time. Ask people to let you know if they leave the party. Sometimes you can place this responsibility on members of the party themselves to keep track of each other. Identify poison ivy, say what needs to be said about snakes, or give other such necessary advice early in the trip.

Accidents.--In case of an accident, you have two responsibilities. The first is to your group, and this is not diminished simply because one of them has had an accident. The second, and equally important, is your responsibility to the injured person.

Your attention to your group may be delayed, but you are still under obligation to get it back and to get it back safely. Sometimes your party may be released to return on its own. Explain the situation and get approval of this procedure before releasing the group. If there is any possibility of losing the way, keep the party together, perhaps under the leadership of an experienced volunteer whom the party agrees to accept. Sometimes you may have to take them back yourself, leaving capable volunteers with the injured, and in very exceptional cases, you may find it necessary to hold everyone until relief comes to the scene. Circumstances will differ, and your good judgment must determine how your responsibilities must be met.

You have an added responsibility to the injured person. Ask your group to wait, away from the scene, secure a volunteer to assist you, size up the accident, and render first aid. Then determine whether or not the injured can be moved, or whether he should remain until additional help arrives. You may leave him with a volunteer, you may have to stay yourself; you should, if necessary, send an experienced volunteer for help. Again, your own good judgment must determine the best way of meeting the situation.

Some Specific Suggestions for Specific Situations

Extended or Difficult Hikes.--Be sure each individual knows just how difficult the trip is. Size up the party. Assure yourself that each person is adequately clothed and equipped, that he is physically capable and is not likely to impede the party.

Set a pace adjusted to the abilities of the party and the difficulties of the terrain. The most effective method of moving a party of varied abilities over an extended trail is by following a routine of definite clocked intervals of movement and of rest. For example, on a moderately steep trail, two minutes of walking followed by a half-minute stop will get a party to a destination faster and in much better condition than when rests are taken at irregular intervals as they appear to be needed. Make the rest stops interpretive opportunities--never remind the people that they may be tired by announcing a rest stop.

Count your party--count them soon after the start, count them at strategic places on the way and check them off as they leave the trail. Generally you keep a party together on the return. Two leaders, however, can divide the party into a fast and a slow group.

You are half way to your destination, and someone wants to go back. Don't over-encourage him to continue on. Suggest that he wait for your return, or that he go on more leisurely provided he does not leave the trail. Or, if he insists on going back, describe exactly how to get back, instruct him not to leave the trail, and try to find someone else who would like to go back with him.

Avoid dangerous situations. Do not urge people to an experience which, while perfectly safe in your eyes, is new and appears dangerous to them. Nor should you over-dramatize such situations. Approach stairways, ladders, narrow or steep trails casually. Say what needs to be said, pass on, and lend a hand to those who seem to need it.

Carry first-aid materials, and know how to use them. Leaders of strenuous trips especially should have a Red Cross first-aid card or its equivalent training.

If the line spreads too far behind you, either you are moving too fast, or are not stopping often enough. Or try this: Tell the people to maintain their relative positions in line. Then periodically reverse the line to place the slow walkers in front where they retard, but in turn are pushed along by, the fast walkers.

Rest stops that are for "rest" purposes must be provided at intervals. Try this: Take all the men up the trail, tell the women to wait five minutes, then follow. You need say no more.

Children? Sometimes all-day hikes become day nurseries to take care of the children of adults who want some free time. Children are welcome as participants, but if their presence without parental control interferes with the conduct of the excursion, it is proper to require that all children of problem age be accompanied by an adult responsible for their behavior and safety.

Overnight Hikes.--The suggestions for extended trips are equally applicable to overnight hikes. The ranger-naturalist ordinarily will assume no responsibility for actual arrangements for the accommodations, feeding, or the packing of duffle. He should make suggestions and give advice and should check upon the adequacy of arrangements, but the specific arrangements are the responsibility of the participant.

Horseback Trips.--Interpretation from the saddle is not very satisfactory except for small groups. When the party exceeds about ten or fifteen, if is difficult for the leader to be in contact with all while actually on the trail. In open country, and if the horses are docile, larger parties can assemble much as if they were on foot. Otherwise, it is better to arrange rest stops where the party can dismount for interpretive episodes. At such times, review the trail just covered, present the scene at hand, and anticipate what lies ahead. Then as you ride, pass the word along--saddle to saddle--to call attention to specific features, and to call to mind the points covered at the last stop in anticipation of this portion of the route. Remember also that some in the group will be so concerned, perhaps unnecessarily so, with the management of their mounts, that they will have no attention left for you. Free them of this concern when you want to get really serious about interpretation.

The management of horses and the collection of fees should not be a responsibility of the ranger-naturalist. Have advance understandings with the horse operator to the effect that:

1. The ranger-naturalist will announce and invite people to attend saddle trips, but the business arrangements will be conducted between participant and operator.

2. Parties will be accompanied by a horse guide representing the operator in looking after the stock.

3. The "guiding" or interpretive activities of the trip are the responsibility of the ranger naturalist, not the wrangler.

Auto Caravans.--Traffic problems are an added concern on auto caravans. Make previous arrangements for traffic control where needed. If at all possible, get the participating cars in line at the starting point, and request each to retain the same place in line. Try to keep this line intact, bumper to bumper, at all stops. This saves a tremendous amount of confusion and loss of time in getting under way. When you start out, start slowly, and very gradually increase the speed. Generally most people will space themselves much closer on a caravan than in normal driving, so hold your top speed down accordingly. Where you must cross traffic, arrange to have traffic held until your caravan has crossed. Where traffic is heavy, it will be very useful to have the cars in your caravan turn on their lights.

Give very obvious hand signals long before you stop or turn, and if traffic permits, move to the center of the road so you can be seen far back along the line. Slow down very gradually as you approach a stop. Then, a few hundred yards from your destination, speed up so you can park, dismount, and be ready to handle parking, traffic, and safety as your caravan drives up. If the car behind you is instructed to continue slowly when you speed up, you will have plenty of time to get into position.

Be alert to the possible dangers from passing cars as your party dismounts. As an aid, park the line 4 or 5 feet out from the curb leaving room on the side away from traffic for the people to dismount and to maneuver. Have them dismount on the side away from traffic. Know how many cars you have, know the parking capacities of your stopping places, and plan your trip accordingly. Before you move to the next point, indicate what is to be seen along the way, explain the parking plan for the next stop, and if the people are to remain in their cars, tell them so ahead of time. Such procedures enable you to move with greatest dispatch, the least confusion, and with the greatest degree of safety.

Bus Tours.--The guide accompanying a bus usually stations himself in the front where he can direct the driver, and where he can be seen and heard by all the passengers. The interpretive story may be presented while in motion, at stops without dismounting, and on short excursions on foot at strategic points. As on a boat cruise, introduce and explain a feature before it comes into view from the moving bus. Talk about the places you are approaching, not the places you have just passed.

Boat Trips.--A well managed boat trip can be a most satisfying experience. Many factors assist the interpreter toward this end. People are relaxed, no physical effort is required, the participants are gathered into a compact group, and are never separated from the guide. (It should be added that they can't get away from him, either.) The general suggestions for the operation of conducted trips contained in this manual are applicable, and in addition the following aspects of the activity are pertinent.

Boat capacities are limited, and advance registration and reservation may be required. Normally, this responsibility should be assumed by the boat operator.

A brief talk at the boat landing, preparatory to and introducing the subject matter of the excursion, is desirable and provides a reasonable and acceptable delay to accommodate latecomers. In the boat, take a position where you can best be seen and heard. A voice considerably louder than you would normally use is necessary if you are to be heard above a noisy motor. If there are two decks, or if the passengers are otherwise separated into groups, spend some time with each. You are not expected to speak all the time, so between interpretive episodes, circulate, visit around, and show that you are willing and available for questions.

Since the boat is in motion, it is advisable to start talking about a given feature before it comes into prominence, and get to the climax just as it comes into best view.

Historical and Archeological Trips.--In buildings and ruins, as in caves, space limitations are sometimes an important factor. The size of parties, the general plan for displaying the structure, tour routes, and timing must be worked out locally on the basis of use pattern, physical layout, and space limitations. For large parties and for continuous, heavy visitation, it is often necessary to give the interpretive story briefly before entering the house or ruin. Uniformed personnel, posted strategically within the building or circulating among the visitors, can then keep the traffic moving and at the same time provide a certain amount of more detailed on-the-spot interpretation.

Tour routes over battlefields and the like should in general follow a chronological sequence in order to take full advantage of the opportunity for logical development, suspense and anticipation, and climax.

Every conducted trip and every orientation or interpretive talk in prelude to a visit to a historic structure should bring out in appropriate ways the protection theme. Identify the critical protection points, explain how the visitor can cooperate as he visits the structure, and attempt to develop an appreciation that will lead the visitor to accept a personal responsibility for preservation of the feature.

Cave Guiding.--In some respects the most important conducted trip activity of the Service is the cave tour. Cave attendance is approximately double that of the combined totals of all other conducted trips. The general objectives and the general methods and techniques are not particularly different from those on other types of conducted trips, but some unique and unusual problems are involved as well. These stem principally from two factors. First, once a party passes underground, it becomes a captive audience in a very real sense. Secondly, trail pattern and cave size and arrangement impose very inflexible limitations as to maneuverability. The problem of preservation and protection is more acute than in most other conducted trip situations.

Every cave is unique, and the problems of party size, trip plan, timing, and the like must be worked out locally. The following general comments are, however, of wide application:

In conducting a cave tour, be especially alert to the attitudes and responses of your group. If they don't like the way you manage your trip and the interpretation, they can't leave you as they would above ground. Unless you are on your toes all the time, your presentation can quickly become stereotyped and monotonous to you and to the party. Give your people the very best you have, Make your explanations brief and clear. Continuously seek new ways to tell the story. Vary your words, the sequence of ideas, the places where you stop, or the things you point to as examples. Only by seeking new and more effective ways to tell the same old story can you keep your presentation fresh and alive and imaginative. Remember that the story is new to your people. Tell it each time as if its telling is a new and exciting experience for you as well.

Cave size is limited, but cave parties get larger and larger. Know how many people you have, and know how many people each place in the cave will accommodate. You may have to eliminate some stops. When you have a group too large to assemble at any point in the cave, give the general interpretation outside the cave before you enter. Don't talk too long. Give the salient points regarding your tour, the origin of the cave, and the protection of the cave, but skip the details. It is better to generalize, and then to arrange for uniformed personnel to circulate, so as to come face to face with as many members of the party as possible as you move through the cave.

As attendance increases, scheduling and timing of tours becomes an increasingly complex problem. Deviations from a fixed schedule can result in confusion and embarrassment. Manage your own party so as to conform to schedule, and keep in mind the whereabouts of other parties that may be in the cave at the same time. Strict conformance to schedule is especially important where successive parties must cross paths or retrace a given section of trail, where elevator or other entrance or exit facilities form a bottleneck, or where the coordination of lighting arrangements is a factor.

In most caves, a very few of the visitors are under direct surveillance at a given time. Cave protection must of necessity depend to a very large degree upon the cooperation of the visitors, Develop in the visitor an appreciation which will lead him to take a personal interest in the cave and its preservation. To accomplish this is an important objective of every talk in preparation for a cave tour.