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32 P. McCUSKER
the audience is enhanced by the use of technical language. In most
cases the opposite proves to be.the case. Your business should be
that of communications and not ego building. Probably the best
attitude to adopt is that of the whole group, leader included, setting
out on a quest of discovery together.
This matter of technical language is too important to leave
without making some comments. Too many walk leaders founder
on this rock. By your training, forestry words are familiar to the
point that they become part of your daily vocabulary. This is not the
case with your audience.
'Symbiosis' and 'photosynthesis' are obviously technical words,
but to the lay-man so also is 'compartment'; 'ride'; 'humus layer';
'frost lift'; 'ribbon planting'; 'yield class'. Using words which
demand explanation slows the natural flow of conversation which
should exist between the guide and his audience. In the end
communications begin to slip. You are in danger of becoming a
bore. So it is worth repeating - don't try to impress, cut out the
technical, keep it simple.
On the day of the outing you should not be responsible for the
general organisational problems of sign posting, carparking etc.
Arrive well before the walk is due to start. There is wisdom in this in
that it allows you to meet and mix with visitors as they arrive. This
informal contact is important in that it helps enormously to dispel
any shyness that the walk leader may have. At the same time it
allows him to evaluate his audience, and they in turn can more
readily accept him as the leader of the group when the time arrives.
When the time does indeed arrive to start the walk gather the
group together. Identify yourself and establish the length of the
walk and the time it will take. A walk of about 1112-2 hours and
covering about 1% miles (2.4km) is about right. People have not
come for a hike, they have come to hear you explain something
about the countryside.
What do you do if it is pouring rain Under these circumstances
the leader will have to use his own initiative. If it has been raining all
day and people still turn up it is reasonable to assume that they are
prepared to go on the walk come hell or high water! But if it starts to
rain just when the walk is about to commence the situation is
different. You may have a large percentage of visitors who may not
willingly like to walk in the rain or who may be inadequately
prepared for wet weather. In this case ask their views. State
emphatically that you are quite prepared to go on the walk if
sufficient people are interested. Ask them for a show of hands to
continue with the walk. If you get a small handful of people still
willing to go, start on your walk after you have offered regrets about
the weather conditions to the remaining visitors. Suggest that they
have probably made a wise decision since you see that quite a few