Introduction

ICO volunteers must satisfy certain requirements to volunteer for ICO trips. These requirements are separate from the two-year commitment for new volunteers. They apply at all times to all volunteers who are active on river.

These requirements come from a variety of sources including the Sierra Club's National Outdoor Activities Governance Committee (OAGC), the ICO National Steering Committee (NSC), and our local chapter (that's us!). In other words, some of these requirements are prescribed to us and cannot be changed; others are set by us and can be changed as we (as a group) see fit. The tables below are a summary of the requirements. For details on who-requires-what, please talk to the Compliance Coordinator (Ryan Clark)

Keeping Records

ICO must keep records of all the volunteer forms and current certifications. Please send a copy of your current forms or certification cards to the Compliance Coordinator (Ryan). Electronic scans are preferred, except for documents that require your signature.

For the Sierra Club membership, all that we need is your membership number. We can use that to confirm your membership with The Club. However, it takes two to four weeks for membership information to show up in the The Club's database, so please renew early!

Quick Instructions

Do tables make your eyes glaze over?
Not interested in the gory details of compliance?
Couldn't care less about the minutia of policy?
Looking for a crib sheet on the shortest path to compliance?

Then this page is for you!

CPR & First Aid Providers

CPR & First Aid Providers

Questions?

If you have any questions check over the list of Frequently Asked Questions, or email Ryan.

Volunteer Requirements

Requirements for all on-river volunteers

Requirement	Notes	Currency	Paperwork
1. Complete an ICO Volunteer Application	+++	Once
2. Be a current Sierra Club Member	+++	Must be current	First time members: register online here (ICO will get a portion of your membership dues!)  Renewals:               register online here
3. Read and sign the ICO Code of Ethics		Once	Download Code of Ethics
4. Read and sign the Sierra Club Outings Volunteer Agreement		Once	Download Outings Volunteer Agreement
5. Pass a criminal background check	+++	Renew every four years	Download Information Release form
6. Pass a DMV background check, if driver	+++	Renew every four years	Download Information Release form
7. Current Standard First Aid	+++	Must be current
8. Current CPR	+++	Must be current

Additional requirements for Guide status

Requirement	Notes	Currency	Paperwork
1. Volunteer for 10 river-days	+++	Once
2. Complete a Guide status application	+++	Once	Download Guide Application
3. Receive positive endorsement from three Trip Leaders	+++	Once
4. Receive approval from Steering Committee	+++	Once

Requirements for Trip Leaders

Level 1 Outings Certified Leader Requirements	Notes	Currency	Paperwork
1. Be a current Sierra Club member		Must be current	First time members: register online here (ICO will get a portion of your fees!)  Renewals:               register online here
2. Be at least 18 years old
3. Current Standard First Aid, after Wilderness First Aid	+++	Wilderness First Aid: Once  Standard First Aid: Must be current
4. Complete ICO OLT 101		Renew every four years
5. Demonstrate skills appropriate to type of trip	14C
6. Assist on at least one ICO outing
7. Provisionally lead three (3) outings with positive endorsement from each Mentor Leader	+++	Redo 1 trip after having not led in the last four years
8. Receive Steering Committee approval	+++
9. Complete an ICO Volunteer application		Once
10A. Pass a criminal background check		Renew every four years	Download Information Release form
10B. Pass a DMV background check, if driver		Renew every four years	Download Information Release form
11. Read and sign the ICO Code of Ethics		Once	Download Code of Ethics
12. Read and sign the Sierra Club Outings Volunteer Agreement		Once	Download Outings Volunteer Agreement
13. Complete Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention Training (CARP)		Annually	Self Certify here
14. Complete any additional ICO Group requirements          A. Complete a Trip Leader Application          B. Current CPR          C. Approved "Guide"          D. Know how to row          E. Completed Swiftwater Rescue Training		A. Once  B. Must be current  C. Once  D. N/A  E. Once. El Dorado County requires renewal every three years.	A. Download Trip Leader Application
Level 2 Outings Certified Leader Requirements	Notes	Currency
1. Complete OLT 201		Once
2. Provisionally lead one (1) overnight outing away from cars with positive feedback from Mentor Leader.		Redo after having not led in the last four years.
Watercraft Outings Certified Leader Requirements	Notes	Currency
1. Confident swimming ability
2. Knowledge of water rescue techniques appropriate to the type of outing. The Outing Leader should be confident conducting rescues in the most difficult portion and/or in the most adverse possible conditions on the specific body of water.	14B, 14C, 14D, 14E
3. Qualifications and experience well within the demands of the outing. For whitewater outings, this means having prior experience leading outings on rapids the same class as those being run on the outing. If the watercourse contains Class III rapids or higher, the Outings Leader should have recently navigated the watercourse.	14C

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