Welcome to the Leaders' Corner! Here you'll find several helpful documents, policies, news bulletins, and other information for H/B Leaders and co-leaders. Whether you're a new spring co-leader, or a seasoned Winter leader, we hope this section will provide the info you need for trip listing, planning, reporting, and more. If you haven't found what your looking within Leader's Corner, or if would like to see some additional information posted here, please contact us.

The Results Are In: 2009 H/B Appreciation Awards & Dinner

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Thanks to all those who took the time to nominate our volunteer Leaders and Co-Leaders! This year we awarded 8 prizes and held a free raffle to win a JetBoil. The highlight of the ceremony came when the Golden Boot and The Golden Crampon trophies were passed on the 2009 Leaders of the Year.

See the winners, photos and award list »

Online Trip Posting System

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All H/B trips will now be submitted ONLINE using the AMC Trip Planner. This system allows H/B leaders and co-leaders to post their trips to the AMC Outdoors Magazine and outdoors.org simultaniously. Submitted trips will also be listed in the next possible E-Mud Newsletter, HBAnnounce Email, and the H/B Online Trip Listing on our website.

Learn More about Posting »   |  Post a Trip Now »

What You Need For Your Trip
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Some info to help you before, during, and after your trip:

Get Involved With Leading Trips
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•  Attend a Trip Planning Meeting: H/B usually holds trip planning meeting in April and October. Check back for the next date.

» Lead a Harvard Cabin Weekend Trip The H/B Committee reserves one weekend a month for trips out of rustic Harvard Cabin, located off RT 16 near Pinkham Notch, NH. For information about leading Harvard Cabin trips, click the link above or contact Bob Kittredge at HarvardCabin@hbbostonamc.org

» Volunteer with our Instructional Programs The H/B Committee runs annual Spring and Winter Hiking/Backpacking Instructional Programs. Both programs provide opportunities to get involved with instruction, lectures, demos, trip co-leading and more. Click the link above to learn more about these programs and who to contact.

Apply for H/B Leadership
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To apply as an Three-Season Leader, the H/B Committee requires that you co-lead a minimum of 3 trips with at least 2 different H/B Leaders. Also required is the completion of a Leadership Training course (Boston offers one in Spring & Fall), and a Wilderness First Aid class. For Winter Leader Status, you must already be approved as a H/B Three Season Leader, and have co-lead 3 winter trips with at least 2 different H/B Winter Leaders. (Note that The Cardigan Winter Weekend Program counts as one co-lead).

Applications for Three Season Leader and Winter Leader status should be sent to Ellen Cullen at leadapps@hbbostonamc.org. Please plan to submit your application at least two weeks before the next H/B Committee meeting (see H/B Calendar for dates).

Click on the link below to download the H/B Leadership Application:

• H/B Leadership Application (Word Doc)

Update Your Leader Contact Info
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The H/B Committee maintains a contact list of all H/B leaders and co-leaders. This list includes addresses, home and work phone numbers, and email addresses. Updates to this list should be sent to hbupdates@hbbostonamc.org

Get New Skills & Reimbursement
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The H/B Committee encourages its leaders and co-leaders to continue their wilderness education and will subsidize AMC sponsored training courses up to twice per year. See below for details and application. Wilderness First Aid is a required skill for all H/B 3 and 4 season leaders, and must be taken at least once. We recommend that leaders refresh their training periodically.

Official Committee Info
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Rules, policies, meeting minutes and more.

Winter Dining Fly
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To make meals on winter backpacks more fun, safe, and communal, the HB Committee has purchased a winter dining fly for use on our trips. The Mountain Hardware Kiva Light sits over a dining area you dig out in the snow.  It weighs just 4lbs, can hold a dozen people, and since it goes all the way down to the ground, does an excellent job of keeping the wind and other elements out. Participants can bring their stoves inside to cook meals, since it has a vent and is designed for this very purpose.

If you are leading an H/B backpack this winter and would like to borrow the dining fly, contact Brian Glenn, Keeper of the Fly. Winter Hiking Program trips get priority. 

•  See photo of fly in use »