Hike Leader of the Year Award

At the January 2025 Tribute to Hiking (formerly known as the banquet), the Sun City Hikers will present three new awards. The new awards are for hike leaders. We will give a Hike Leader of the Year award at each level for hikes from January 1 through November 30,2024. Nominations for Hike Leader of the Year will come from the membership. (Committee members and Board members are not eligible for the award.) Please begin submitting nominations now through November 30.

Some things you might note when nominating a hike leader for the Hike Leader of the Year award include the following:
The potential Hike Leader of the Year leads a number of hikes where he/she

• Is welcoming - makes sure new members are recognized and that all members are introduced before the hike starts.
• Is cognizant of safety - ensures hikers are staying hydrated - checks pacing - helps with first aid when needed - is aware of heat and weather impacts - checks with sweep often.
• Encourages Leave No Trace.
• Builds good rapport with the group by responding to them.
• Anticipates hikers’ needs by stopping for water and for taking off layers.
• Makes sure the group is taking care of each other.
• Gives hikers the time to notice their surroundings and points out unique things we see on this hike.
• Shares information about the area where we’re hiking, noting historical events, geology, plants, birds, etc.

 
Evelyn Morales (chair), Mary Moyle, Anne Greco, Bill Mixer and Mark Scott have volunteered to serve on this committee. They invite you to submit nominations for Hike Leader of the Year at any time. Nominations should be submitted to awards@suncityhikers.org. Evelyn Morales will monitor this email address and compile all the nominations. The Awards committee will meet in early December to choose winners and prepare the awards.
 
Nomination Information for Hike Leader of the Year to be included in the email to awards@suncityhikers.org:
Hike Leader’s name
Level of the hikes usually led
Names of the hikes (or trails used)
Reasons you are nominating them