Responsibilities

Drivers and Backup Drivers

Plan to be at the Discovery Center at 8:00 am. The Discovery Center is located on the north side of Big Bear Lake, east of Fawnskin (this is the Forest Service Visitor Center).

Bring a CB radio. This will be for the child riding with you to use to talk to their friends. The opportunity for them to talk to each other continues to be a big hit. One person at a time should talk with short messages. KOPL has loaner CBs.

If you are a licensed amateur radio operator, please bring your ham radio for our operations communications. We will have a base station at the Discovery Center.

Please make sure that your vehicle is fueled and ready to go each morning that you are using it. You may want to air down before the children arrive so that we can quickly assign the children and hit the trails.

There will be a first aid provided along on the trail, but you must still bring your own first aid kit with you.

Pick up a couple of bottles of water for yourself. Arrowhead will be donating water for the children.

Every volunteer will receive a KOPL name tag.

Drivers stand by the sign-in table and a child will be assigned to ride with you. Please be there to meet the child and introduce yourself. Get a bottle of water for the child if they do not already have one. Go over to your vehicle and show it to the child. After you help him/her put their belongings inside, take the child around the vehicle and inspect the vehicle using the check off list that will be supplied. Sign this card and give it to the child. It is a part of their experience. The check off items are: CB Radio, Tow strap, Tow hooks on front of vehicle, Tow hooks on rear of vehicle (hitch and pin acceptable), Water (one full bottle per person), First aid kit, Fire extinguisher, plenty of fuel, and a seat belt for every person. Only a seat belt and a hard top or roll bar are required.

Your vehicle, represents the KOPL program. It should not have stickers or other items displayed that are inappropriate or offensive to any group or individual. Remember that we are trying to promote a positive image about ourselves and our hobby for the press including the TV, radio and newspapers that may be present. Sometimes the press tends to focus on controversial issues that end up reducing a positive message.

Trail leaders/sweep/mid gunners/extra vehicles

A trail mechanic is responsible for on-the-trail problems. A designated sweep vehicle will follow the group. In addition, there are a couple of vehicles on the trail that can be used for transporting children in case of a breakdown. We will have volunteers assisting with parking when the group parks.

First Aid

If you are a nurse, first aid provider or EMT, please let us know. We can use more medical assistance. Please make sure that the child assigned to you is kept hydrated -- make sure they drink enough water. If the child feels sick, please notify the first aid provider.

BBQ Staff

Lunch is organized by our volunteers. Volunteers also set up EZ-up type sun shades in the morning and take them down at the end of the day. Please bring a sun shade, if you have one (remember to put your name on the shade and the carrying case). Bring folding chairs and sodas for you and your family if you plan to attend the Saturday night BBQ (we have tables).

Lodging

KOPL suggests the Motel 6 just across the lake, about 10 minutes from the Discovery Center. Motel 6 phone number is 909-585-6666. Please call as soon as possible. KOPL also recommends the Serrano Campground.

Gifts for the children

       Volunteers fill a goody bag with gifts for each child who participate in the event. These gifts may include a water bottle holder, pens, pencils, markers, eraser, snack bars, Smokey Bear badges, and other items. We must remember at all times, that although we would like to give the children more, we must be consistent and not treat any child different than another. In other words, please do not bring a gift for a child that might be riding with you. It can create extreme problems when they get back home and compare what they got. One year we had an unfortunate experience that resulted in an investigation where it was rumored that a child had stolen an item from the Big Bear Discovery Center. These children are from disadvantaged homes and live in close proximity to each other. If you would like to bring 100 of the same item for both days or 500 items for one day, we can include these in the goodie bags.

Explaining the forest, trails, plants and animals

A part of the experience is to teach the children about the forest, off-highway vehicles, recreation, caring for the environment and keeping the forest clean. They will get that message during their tour of the Big Bear Discovery Center and from Smokey Bear. Your job on the trail or during walks at the Center is to enforce those positive points.    

Be a Friend to the Children

One of the original three tenets of this program was to let the children meet responsible adults one-on-one. This is the reason for having one child riding with the driver (in the front passenger seat). Please take the time to tell the child what you do for a living (or what you did) and your education. Then let the child tell you what they enjoy doing and if they have thought about what they want to do in the future.

Dogs

No dogs. Past experiences with kids, dogs and unfamiliar people have led us to a “no dogs” policy.

Adventure Pass

If you already have an Adventure Pass for access to the Forest, please bring it. If you don't have one, it will not be required for this event when you are driving with our group. 

Participants

There are many other tasks that we will need help with on the days of the event. Some of these are actual assignments and others are just helping out when an extra hand is needed.

If you have any questions we encourage you to ask any of the organizers of the event. If you are not handling any particular task or you are finished with your assigned responsibilities, you are welcome to attend the activities at the Big Bear Discovery Center with the children or your own kids.
If a friend or spouse is riding along, then please let the person assigning staff and children know. Remember that it’s the driver and child that are the center of focus on the trail ride.

If you are bringing your own children

Your children are welcome. If there is no one with you to take care of them while you are driving, they can ride with you assuming that you have a back seat. Please remember that the KOPL child needs to ride up front to use the CB radio and get the best view.

There are several other activities your own kids may wish to participate. Here are a few:

·         They may join the other children in the tour of the nature facilities and lectures in the Discovery Center. These activities are chaperoned.

·         They may help out preparing the gift packages at the headquarters right after the vehicles leave for the ride.

·         They get a free lunch. We always have more than enough food for our volunteers and their children. Just let the KOPL children go first in the food line so they can stay on schedule.

·         The bottled water is for all children. We encourage you to make sure they drink enough in the morning and afternoon so they do not get dehydrated.

So yes, we have lots of opportunities for your own children, but we ask that you keep in mind that this event is for the KOPL children and that you focus on them when you are driving or assisting a group through the Discovery Center.

KOPL - June 23-24, 2007

Headquarters:

Big Bear Discovery Center Parking Lot

8:00 a.m. - Volunteer Registration & Meeting

42300 North Shore Drive • (909) 866-3437

(on north side of Big Bear Lake, east of Fawnskin)

To donate time or money to this event contact
            Rick Russell at (877) 628-7227
            Email: mail@sidekickoffroad.com

Date:                      Spring 2007

 Subject:            2007 Kids On Public Land Event (KOPL)   When: June 23rd and 24th, 2007

Who Benefits:  100 underprivileged children                                   Where:            Big Bear, California

The 2007 KOPL Organizing Committee is proud to announce the dates for the Kids on Public Lands Program, now in its 8^th year. This event is made possible by donations from companies and individuals, the dedicated work of nearly 100 volunteers, the efforts of the Anaheim Police Department, the Anaheim YMCA and the San Bernardino National Forest. In 2007 we will again bring 100 kids (boys and girls) from the inner city up to the Forest. Most of these kids have never been to the mountains.

The 8^th Annual KOPL program will begin with a bus ride from Anaheim, CA to the Big Bear Discovery Center at Big Bear Lake. The kids are given a ride in a 4x4 vehicle to the Butler Peak Fire Lookout. After the ride, they will be treated to a BBQ lunch prepared by volunteers. In the afternoon the kids will tour the Discovery Center (Big Bear Visitor Center). The tour will include a nature talk, a fire equipment and safety demonstration, motorcycle safety demonstration and gold panning activities. It’s even possible for Smokey Bear to make a guest appearance.  Each child will be given a “goodie” bag and a snack at the end of the day.

Some items that we need donated for the two-day event:

·         “Goodie bag” giveaways for children such as hats, T-shirts, sunscreen, coolies, coupons, toiletries, first aid items, toothbrushes/toothpaste, wet wipes, toys, amusement park tickets, etc. We need 125 of each item.

·         Drinks, dry ice, ice, snacks, food items such as bakery goods, hamburger meat, hot dogs, candy, chips, potato salad, coleslaw, condiments, fruit, tomatoes, etc.

·         Donations of money for meals and expenses for any items not donated.

Our KOPL volunteer organization would like to thank you in advance on behalf of all of the children, the sponsors and the volunteers. Without the generous support of organizations such as yours, this program would not be possible. Please contact us by email, the phone number or address above.  Thank you!

 Sincerely,

Rick Russell, 2007 Chairman