On your site visit, it is a good idea to:

1) Look carefully at the site!
- Sounds obvious, but it is easy to overlook important characteristics of a site – hazards, terrain (will it become dangerous if it rains for a day?), access for plant, space to manoeuvre plant etc.

2) Take photographs.
- This is a good opportunity to take a ‘before’ photo as well as being a useful reference when you are doing your planning.

3) Make a note of hazards/potential hazards on the site.

4) Assess how many people could safely work on the site.
- If it is a small number, ask the local if there are any other sites that we could usefully work on. (Also useful if you think you may run out of work). If necessary, tell head office to put a cap on the numbers allowed to book on.

5) Ask the local to explain the work in detail.
- Are there any plans?
- Can you have a copy of the plans?

6) Find out if there is any unusual work.
- Anything WRG hasn’t really done before
- Any areas of specialist expertise

7) Confirm how the site will change before the camp.
- What is due to be completed? (e.g. preparatory work)
- Any work ongoing (e.g. local society)
- Any dramatic changes to any area of the site

8) Ask about plant.
- What will we need?
- What does the canal society own? And what condition is it in? Check it!
- What will they hire for the camp? Do we need everything all week?
- Where can we store it? Is it secure?
- Do we need any WRG plant?

9) Ask about materials.
- What will we need?
- How much?
- It is the local’s responsibility to order them
- What if we need to order more? Is there a builder’s account we can use?
- How long do they take to deliver them?
- Where will they be stored on the site?

10) Ask if your local will be on site during the week of your camp.
- Will there be other locals wanting to work alongside you?
- Will it be possible to have regular contact with the local if they are not on site?

11) Go and see the accommodation.
- Is it suitable? (Kitchen facilities – cookers etc. working? Car parking. Heating. Toilets. Electrics – possible to run fridge and other extras we have on camp?)
- Availability – has it been booked for the entire duration of your camp?! Will there be any other users during the week? What time can we go in on the first day of the camp?
- Ask about bin days, alarm codes, key holders – who to collect your key from when you arrive – ask for their telephone number.
- Your cook might want to know what the kitchen is like – take a photo?
- Are dogs allowed in the accommodation?

12) Ask about the shower facilities.
- Are they in the accommodation? If not, try to see them to make sure they are adequate. Find out opening times, procedure, directions!

13) Ask about local facilities/entertainment.
- A tourist information centre is a good place to ask.
- You will most likely need to know about: supermarkets, cinema, bowling, pubs.

14)  Ask if a member of the local canal society give a presentation to your camp.
- This is a great way of communicating to your volunteers why the work they are doing is really valuable and makes a difference.
- You might all learn something!

15) Ask about a boat trip.
- Another good way of saying ‘This is all worthwhile’ – some volunteers may never have been boating before.

16) Purchase a local Ordnance Survey map.

17) Find out where the nearest hospital with an A+E is.
- Drive the route and write some directions.