Project: Djerassi Artists Residence Program
Photo Albums: Crew Member Training
On Saturday, October 14th fourteen Crew Leader Trainees participated in classroom modules led by Crew Leader Trainers Judd Volino, Bill Farrell, Dave Taylor and Dave Croker, and outdoor training workstations overseen by Larry Stites, Judd Volino, Hank Magnuski and Dave Croker.
Of the fourteen trainees, nine were Trail Center members: Karl Mosgofian, George Willis, Helen Shaughnessy, Lianna Jewett, Kevin Moore, Tim Moore, Aaron Hieber and Lisa Jewett – the last two trainees having participated in training in prior years’ trainings. Hidden Villa had two participants: Ron Badger and Scott Farnworth. UCSF and Sutro Stewards each sent a person to participate: Xulia Suero and Mark Sullivan, respectively. Felicia Herron from our host venue, Djerassi Artists Residency Program participated as well.
Most participants were shuttled in larger vehicles from the Djerassi Bear Gulch parking area to the Artists Barn where the morning’s training took place.
After enjoying food and beverages organized by Larry Stites, trainees sat down to Judd Volino’s introduction to the Trail Center. The floor was then turned over to Felicia Herron to welcome everyone to Djerassi, and provide some history of the property and its mission.
Classroom training began with Judd Volino’s Crew Leader Basics, followed by Bill Farrell’s amusing and memorable “Wait, Wait. Don’t Trails Me!” safety presentation, then Dave Taylor’s Leadership presentation. There was helpful discussion during Dave Taylor’s presentation around challenging crew members. Opportunities for discussion hadn’t been factored well enough into timing; so shifting from the printed schedule, the group broke for lunch just prior to Dave Croker’s Structures presentation.
After Dave Croker’s presentation, the large group of trainees broke up into four smaller groups to hone skills at the four workstations mentioned above. The first crew at each station was responsible for carrying tools down to the site. The last (fourth) crew was responsible for carrying tools back to the trailer. Determination of which tools were needed for which worksites, as well as the hike down to the workstations ate into some of the training time, particularly for those with the longest hike from the tool trailer.
The workstations for the afternoon of training day were as follows: 1) Trail Layout with Dave Croker, 2) Tread with Larry Stites, 3) Drainage with Judd Volino as trainer, and 4) Brushing & Finishing with Hank Magnuski. Trainees spent approximately 45 minutes at each station, then rotated to the next workstation during a 10-15 minute transition time. By the time each trainee group had been through their 45 minute sessions at each station the day was drawing to a close.
During the hike back to the tool trailer, some participants took the opportunity to enjoy some of the sculpture installations as well as do some very light cleanup on the trail between the main road from the Old Barn and the Footnote Bridge
Tools were stowed, and the locked trailer was left parked at Djerassi until the follow week’s workday. Participants shuttled back up to the parking are at the Bear Gulch gate at the end of the day.
And a new crop of crew leaders is in the works!
Submitted by Eva Franko, Crew Leader Training Coordinator