NEWS
by APT member Jim Murphy
WANT TO BE A PHILADELPHIA TOUR GUIDE?
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO TRAIN & CERTIFY
Sessions begin Nov. 10 and include 9 actual tours
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30, 2021– If you’ve ever wanted to be a tour guide and delight visitors, friends, and neighbors with true stories about the wonderful city of Philadelphia, you’re in luck.
The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will offer its 2021 tour guide training program Nov. 10 to 14. The certification exam will take place Dec. 4.
Casting a wide net
Rick Heimann, coordinator of the training program, says APT is looking for docents, storytellers, museum assistants, and any other frontline staff interested in learning more about Philadelphia’s fabulous history … and interpreting its culture and people to the general public.
The training includes: a free virtual meeting on the business of guiding and tour guiding techniques at 7 pm, Wednesday, Nov. 10; plus nine 2-hour in-person walking tours of Philly’s top tourist areas by outstanding senior guides Nov. 11 – 14.
Switching from lectures to actual tours
Most APT certification training in recent years included lectures. Heimann sees the change to educational tours as a win-win for prospective members. “You see Philly’s best tour guides in action,” he says. “And you get both their content and delivery.”
Besides the free virtual meeting at 7 pm, Wednesday, Nov. 10, APT has reduced the cost of the training program to make it more affordable.
APT is also reaching out to companies and institutions with volunteers, guides, or docents, offering them a group membership for $150 that includes three attendees and a 2022 APT corporate membership.
The lower cost to individuals and corporate members should be more appealing and attract a larger audience, Heimann says.
The nine walking tours cover:
- Old City
- Delaware Waterfront
- Independence Hall
- Society Hill
- Washington Square West, the Gayborhood, and Avenue of the Arts
- Avenue of Freedom (6th Street)
- Chinatown
- Penn Center, City Hall, and Rittenhouse
- Ben Franklin Parkway
Fees:
— Total tour package, individual, $80 – includes all nine tours and 2022 APT individual membership
— Total tour package, corporate/institutional, $150 – includes all nine tours for three attendees and 2022 corporate APT membership
— Individual tours – $10
— Certification Exam (to be held on December 4), $35 for members, $50 for non-members
Founded in 2008, APT has certified more than 170 tour guides. It conducts the education and certification program for Philadelphia city guides.
For more details, go to https://phillyguides.org/training-2/.