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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T203000
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UID:12725-1786561200-1786566600@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:Philadelphia's Indigenous History
DESCRIPTION:The next monthly meeting of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will be held on Wednesday\, August 12 at 7 pm. The meeting will feature Brian Carpenter\, the Curator of Indigenous Materials in the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at the American Philosophical Society’s (APS) Library & Museum. What are some good approaches to talking about Indigenous history in Philadelphia and the significance of Philadelphia as a Native place? What are the various Native nations for whom the Philadelphia area holds great significance\, whether as ancestral homelands or as a critical place in their history of diplomatic interactions with British and American colonial powers? And what considerations should non-Native people keep in mind when trying to share that history in a respectful and accurate way? \nThis presentation will be given from the perspective of a non-Native archivist\, based at one of Philadelphia’s oldest cultural heritage institutions\, working with Native American and Indigenous-related historical documents and cultural heritage materials and the communities connected to them. The talk will attempt to give some general advice on how to understand these issues\, especially by directing people to how contemporary Native nations connected to Philadelphia speak about these issues in their own words. \nIn addition\, it will also give some advice on ways to understand the wide range of general terms for Native people of this continent that are in use in the English-speaking world\, and will cover a variety of locations in Philadelphia that are significant to Indigenous history\, from the pre-colonial area to the 21st century. \nBrian is an archivist by training and began working at the APS in 2008 on a six-year project to digitize and catalog all of the library’s 3\,000+ hours of audio recordings of Indigenous languages of the Americas. He has worked with over 80 Native communities throughout North America to enhance their access to archival materials at the APS and receive their guidance on ways to improve the representation and uses of the collections. \n\n\nThe meeting will be in-person at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks\, 114 Market Street\, upstairs\, and livestreamed on Zoom. The Zoom link will be available in the APT Tour Talk newsletter the week of the meeting; non-members should contact Marianne Ruane president@phillyguides.org no later than 5 pm the day of the meeting to receive the link. A recording will be available on the APT YouTube page for a month following the talk. \nAPT meetings are open to aspiring and working tour guides as well as anyone with an interest in Philadelphia-focused history. Attend one meeting for free and then it is $60 to join the association for the year or $10 per monthly meeting in-person event. Zoom meetings are free. Please join us for convivial company\, good food\, fascinating presentations\, and lively discussions! \n\n\n 
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/indigenous-history-in-philadelphia/
LOCATION:Philly’s Gourmet Steaks\, 114 Market Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, 19106\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Brian-Carpenter.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T160000
DTSTAMP:20260806T000753Z
CREATED:20260806T000340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T000753Z
UID:12771-1786798800-1786809600@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:HISTORY MATTERS: Free Talks by Tour Guides
DESCRIPTION:Members of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will present a teach-in\, HISTORY MATTERS: Free Talks with Tour Guides\, at various sites within Independence National Historic Park (INHP) on Saturday\, April 15 from 1-4 pm. These free\, short significant snippets of history will include the history of Blacks and other marginalized groups. Participants can follow a route that starts at the Visitor Center\, continues past the President’s House\, Liberty Bell Center\, and goes along Chestnut Street to Congress Hall\, Independence Hall\, and Old City Hall. They can visit all five stops or take in as many as time and interest allow. The stories at each site are not sequential. \nThose who would like a little extra explanation and some camaraderie can join free tours that will leave the Independence Visitor Center at 1:15\, 2:15\, and 3:15 pm to escort guests around to all five sites. Look for the APT table and ‘Ask Me’ name tags! \nThis public education program is APT’s response to the March 27\, 2025 executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” This order directed the secretary of the Department of the Interior to make sure that displays at national parks do not “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times).” Instead\, he said\, they are to “focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” \nTo make sure the full American history is not lost or forgotten\, guides will discuss true stories about colonial slavery\, Black resistance and self-determination\, and other underrepresented narratives in early American life. The public is encouraged to attend the HISTORY MATTERS: Free Talks with Tour Guides to learn a more complete account of our country’s history. \nThe event is free\, nonpartisan\, and family-friendly. No registration is required. All are welcome!
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/history-matters-free-talks-by-tour-guides-9/
LOCATION:Independence National Historic Park\, 599 Market Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/History-Matters-Talks-1.jpeg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260817T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260817T201500
DTSTAMP:20260801T222509Z
CREATED:20260730T202415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260801T222509Z
UID:12751-1786993200-1786997700@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:How To Get Work as a Tour Director
DESCRIPTION:The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will hold a Zoom webinar on August 17 at 7 pm on ‘How To Get Work as a Tour Director.’ The session will also answer the questions: What is a tour director? And how does it differ from a tour guide? What are the challenges and rewards of working as a tour director? \nPresenting on the panel will be Elaine Rodriguez of the International Association of Tour Directors & Guides (IATDG)\, as well as APT members Matthew Baker\, Pamela Boudrot\, and Steve Norkus. Together they represent a wide variety of experiences and expertise. Members who work as tour directors are encouraged to attend as well to fill in with any information not covered and to share their own experiences. \nElaine Rodriguez is Executive Director of IATDG\, where she works to support\, educate\, and advocate for tour directors\, tour guides\, and tour operators across the travel industry. A licensed New York City tour guide and certified international tour director\, Elaine has worked in group travel since 2010\, including serving as Head of Operations for a student tour company and previously managing tour director recruitment and training for Tauck. She looks forward to sharing practical insights into the role of the tour director\, how it differs from local guiding\, and when each plays a vital part in creating successful travel experiences. \nThe other three speakers are all new APT members who joined after meeting APT President Marianne Ruane last fall at the IATDG conference. Join us to hear all of the great advice they have to offer! \n— Matt Baker has been working as a local guide for 20 years and as a full-time tour director for 4 years. Without any formal training\, his tour director work began as an extension of his local guiding and he learned on the job. Based in NYC\, he primarily leads groups in New York\, Washington DC\, and Boston\, though he has also toured in Philadelphia\, Gettysburg\, and Niagara Falls. He works mainly with student groups and some adult groups. \n— Pamela Boudrot has been a tour director for 37 years and for 15 years was a trainer for International Tour Management Institute (ITMI). She works for three main companies: one specializing in tours for student performing groups and two who work with pre-formed groups (like senior citizen clubs\, Parks & Recs clubs\, etc.) whose clients are mostly aged 60+. As a tour director\, she has led in over 55 countries! \n— Steve Norkus recently completed his first year as a tour director. He trained with Trip School and leads groups in Washington DC\, New York\, and Boston. He is working on obtaining contracts for Philadelphia and Charleston next year. This past year he worked with APT corporate member EF Explore America. \nAttending the webinar is free. Sign up using the RSVP form below. The Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the meeting. Contact APT President Marianne Ruane president@phillyguides.org with any questions. Register today – it’s a great way to learn about an additional income stream! \nFor more background information: \nTour Directors – IATDG\nWhat is a Tour Director? What is a Tour Guide? – TripSchool\nIntro to Tour Directing \nUpcoming conferences:  \n— TourConnect 2026 conference of the International Association of Tour Directors & Guides\, November 8-12 in Las Vegas! Register early and reserve your room today. \n— TripCon 2026 USA: Louisville. Trip School’s annual conference for tour directors and tour guides is November 15-19. \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/how-to-get-work-as-a-tour-director/
LOCATION:PA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IMG_2732-e1785443371296.jpeg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260818T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260818T110000
DTSTAMP:20260728T020003Z
CREATED:20260414T185437Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T020003Z
UID:12196-1787047200-1787050800@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:Tour Guide Coffee Break
DESCRIPTION:The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) is organizing a tour guide coffee break on Tuesday\, August 18 at 10 am at the back of the Independence Visitor Center (IVC) at 6th and Market Streets. No set topics\, just good guide talk in a casual setting. Everyone is welcome. Wear your APT lanyard and you should get 10% off your coffee\, beverage\, and more at the Independence Café. Everyone is responsible for their own drinks or snacks. \nNo need to reply – just show up!
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/tour-guide-coffee-break-august/
LOCATION:Independence Visitor Center\, 599 Market St.\, 1 N. Independence Mall W.\, Philadelphia\, 19106
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Coffee-mug-e1770312991679.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T110000
DTSTAMP:20260616T195908Z
CREATED:20260615T221016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T195908Z
UID:12651-1789203600-1789210800@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:APT Certification Exam in September
DESCRIPTION:The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) written Certification Exam\, based mainly on information in the APT HANDBOOK\, covers the history\, people\, and places of importance in Philadelphia. It tests knowledge of the basic facts about the city that any guide giving solid\, professional tours of both the Historic District and Center City would know. \nThe next exam will be held on Saturday\, September 12\, 9-11 am at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks\, 114 Market Street\, upstairs. \nDeadline to register is Thursday\, September 10. Please pay in the APT Store and email the APT President at president@phillyguides.org if you are interested in taking the exam on September 12. We want to make sure we have enough copies! \nThose who paid for the exam previously and didn’t sit for it or did sit for it and didn’t pass do not have to pay the fee again. They do\, however\, need to register with the APT President.  \nClick here for more information.
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/apt-certification-exam-in-september-2/
LOCATION:Philly’s Gourmet Steaks\, 114 Market Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, 19106\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20250709_190437-e1781639928456.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T110000
DTSTAMP:20260728T015918Z
CREATED:20260414T190450Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T015918Z
UID:12200-1789466400-1789470000@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:Tour Guide Coffee Break
DESCRIPTION:The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) is organizing a tour guide coffee break on Tuesday\, September 15 at 10 am at the back of the Independence Visitor Center (IVC) at 6th and Market Streets. No set topics\, just good guide talk in a casual setting. Everyone is welcome. Wear your APT lanyard and you should get 10% off your coffee\, beverage\, and more at the Independence Café. Everyone is responsible for their own drinks or snacks. \nNo need to reply – just show up!
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/tour-guide-coffee-break-september/
LOCATION:Independence Visitor Center\, 599 Market St.\, 1 N. Independence Mall W.\, Philadelphia\, 19106
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Coffee-mug-e1770312991679.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T203000
DTSTAMP:20260728T015629Z
CREATED:20260728T003440Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T015629Z
UID:12733-1789498800-1789504200@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:Book Club for September
DESCRIPTION:The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will hold its next book club meeting on Tuesday\, September 15 at 7 pm on Zoom. The September Book Club selection will be Cocked & Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution. In Cocked and Boozy―two of Benjamin Franklin’s 200 terms for drunkenness―public historian Brooke Barbier examines the role that alcohol played in spurring\, binding\, and winning the American Revolution and how it shaped the nascent United States. \nThe intoxicating story begins in 1763 after the end of the French and Indian War and spans until 1800\, with the presidential election of Thomas Jefferson. During these nearly four decades\, Americans witnessed unprecedented disorder and prodigious growth\, and through it all―powering it\, in fact―was alcohol. \nEvery chapter concludes with an eighteenth-century cocktail recipe made for modern tastes\, so readers can participate in their own historic tippling. \nThere is no fee to join the book club and everyone is welcome! Participants should come ready to discuss the book. The Zoom link will be sent out the week of the meeting in the APT Tour Talk email. Non-members who wish to attend should contact APT Secretary Pam Covey phillyguides@gmail.com by 5 pm the day of the meeting to get the Zoom link. \n 
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/book-club-for-september/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Cocked-and-Boozy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T201500
DTSTAMP:20260802T140309Z
CREATED:20260802T140309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260802T140309Z
UID:12761-1790794800-1790799300@phillyguides.org
SUMMARY:CPR and First Aid Certification Training
DESCRIPTION:The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) is organizing a CPR and First Aid Certification Training on Wednesday\, September 30 at 7 pm. Earl Ostrander will be our trainer\, and he has shared a few words\, “Hey Folks\, it’s Earl the CPR Guy! Come see me\, refresh your CPR/AED/First Aid skills\, and hear how at 64 I became a volunteer firefighter!” \nThe discounted rate for individual APT members is $30/person; APT is subsidizing part of the cost. Employees and volunteers of corporate members are eligible to participate at the member rate. (After signing up\, please email Antoinette Langeveld at treasurer@phillyguides.org with the name of your company if you are not an individual member). The non-member rate is $40. Register through the APT Store. The training will be held upstairs at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks\, 114 Market Street. Come early to grab food and drinks before the training starts. \nThis is a valuable certification to have as a guide\, and if you are listed in the APT Member Directory\, it will be added to your profile. It’s a great benefit of being a member! Please join us.
URL:https://phillyguides.org/event/cpr-and-first-aid-certification-training-2/
LOCATION:Philly’s Gourmet Steaks\, 114 Market Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, 19106\, United States
CATEGORIES:Training Program
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phillyguides.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fireman-1-e1723659615211.jpg
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