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Creating Trail Staff

Trail staff are the field instructors and guides who lead wilderness sessions. This guide covers adding trail staff to your BigBoard system.

What is Trail Staff?​

Trail staff are the individuals who lead wilderness sessions in the field, manage program activities, and ensure participant safety and program quality.

Adding Trail Staff in BigBoard​

Based on the current system, when creating trail staff profiles, you'll need to provide:

Required Information​

  • First Name - Trail staff member's first name
  • Last Name - Trail staff member's last name
  • Trip Gender Preferences - Gender preferences for trip assignments (optional)

Optional Information​

  • Email Address - Email for account access (required if automatically inviting the user)

Trail Staff Management​

BigBoard includes functionality for:

  • Adding new trail staff members
  • Managing staff profiles and information
  • Assigning staff to specific trips and sessions
  • Tracking staff availability and scheduling

Creating Trail Staff Accounts​

Coming soon! This section will include detailed instructions for:

  • Accessing the staff management interface
  • Adding new trail staff profiles
  • Setting up account access and permissions
  • Managing staff information and preferences

Best Practices​

When managing trail staff in BigBoard:

  • Ensure accurate name and contact information
  • Set appropriate trip gender preferences as needed
  • Follow your organization's policies for staff management
  • Keep staff information current and up-to-date

For specific staff creation and management procedures, consult with your organization's BigBoard administrator or refer to organization-specific training materials.

Creating Trail Staff Profiles​

Coming soon! This section will include step-by-step instructions for:

  • Accessing the trail staff management interface
  • Entering personal and professional information
  • Setting up certifications and qualifications
  • Configuring availability and scheduling preferences
  • Managing employment and compensation details

Certification and Training Management​

Tracking Certifications​

BigBoard helps you track important certifications:

  • Expiration dates and renewal reminders
  • Certification levels and specializations
  • Training completion records
  • Skills and competency assessments

Common Wilderness Certifications​

  • Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
  • Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
  • CPR and AED certification
  • Swift Water Rescue
  • Technical rescue skills
  • Activity-specific certifications (climbing, paddling, etc.)

Staff Availability and Scheduling​

Availability Management​

Track trail staff availability including:

  • Seasonal availability (full season, partial, specific dates)
  • Scheduling preferences (consecutive days, day-off needs)
  • Geographic preferences (local trips vs. travel)
  • Activity preferences (trip types, participant groups)

Blackout Dates​

Manage periods when staff are unavailable:

  • Personal commitments and vacations
  • Other employment obligations
  • Training and professional development
  • Medical or family leave

Staff Development​

Onboarding New Staff​

  • Review organization policies and procedures
  • Complete required training and certifications
  • Shadow experienced staff on initial sessions
  • Gradual increase in responsibility and independence

Ongoing Professional Development​

  • Regular training updates and skill building
  • Mentorship and coaching opportunities
  • Performance feedback and evaluation
  • Career advancement pathways

Best Practices​

Profile Completeness​

Ensure all trail staff profiles include:

  • Up-to-date contact information
  • Current certification status
  • Accurate availability and preferences
  • Complete emergency contact details

Regular Updates​

Maintain current information:

  • Annual review of all trail staff profiles
  • Prompt updates when certifications expire
  • Regular communication about availability changes
  • Continuous feedback and profile improvements

Communication Standards​

Establish clear expectations for:

  • Response times to scheduling requests
  • Check-in procedures during sessions
  • Incident reporting protocols
  • Professional communication standards

Next Steps​

Once you've created trail staff profiles, you'll need to send them invitations to access the BigBoard system. Continue to the Inviting Users section to learn about the invitation process.