Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing outdoors activities from a few different viewpoints. There has been the coordinator hat, which I wear for a few different activity styles, and the co-coordinator (assistant) hat, which is basically the coordinator hat worn backwards, and then the participant hat, which is not really a hat at all but more like a cozy fleece scarf tied on your head.
I used to only coordinate activities, thinking that it was rude to just go along as an assistant or as a participant when I could be doing the heavy lifting myself. But a borderline burnout made me realize that spreading the load is perfectly wise (and admirable, and necessary), and that reminding myself of what it’s like to just be a participant can not only strengthen the events I coordinate but give my brain a chance to remember how fun it is to just go out and enjoy the world.
As a participant, you get to sit back and know that your coordinator has taken care of many of the possible worries. On a hike, you know that they have a good First Aid kit and have been trained to use it. On a SCUBA dive, you can rest easy knowing that during your chilly interval between dives, they will give you hot chocolate and warm water to dunk your gloves. On a kayak trip, if you tire you can trust that they will not only have a tow rope, but they will make sure you get towed back to shore. It’s like the difference between driving a car in rush hour traffic and riding as a passenger – while the driver is signaling, changing lanes, and swearing at the other drivers, you get to smile and look at the scenery. Maybe that’s not the best analogy… my point is that when I know someone has taken care of the details, I notice more on the trails, have longer conversations with new friends and generally have a lovely time.
Trips where I’ve co-coordinated have also been lovely, but there is an added level of awareness that is present. At any moment, you could be called upon to help out with an emergency, or lead a smaller group within the whole, or follow up behind the pack and make sure nobody is left behind. You are still free of the burden of major decision-making, but you are also no longer one of the pack.
Coordinating the whole thing brings its own joys, but is also quite a lot of responsibility. From the first day of planning, you are in charge of choosing the location, time, and style of the outing, and though other opinions are often solicited and heeded, the final call is up to you. On the trip, you choose routes and make a constant stream of quick judgments about group safety, timing, and pace. You have to inspire confidence and respect by knowing your activity inside and out, and in case of an emergency you have to act decisively and quickly. Bad days are not allowed, and unfortunately you also don’t often have time to get into long conversations or to hang out with friends. I remember one dive in particular where I was spending so much time looking after a fellow diver that I almost ran head-first into the beautiful pilings we were there to explore.
All of this is to say that each level of responsibility can be wonderful, but as with everything moderation is important and for each round of trips coordinators take charge of, they need to make sure they mix in a chance to follow as well. It brings out the best in all of us, and makes our community all the stronger.