Jolie

• Pacing is important for both seniors and student groups. There is so much walking and so much to take in. Building in time to rest and reflect is important. Also, intentionally breaking up heavy, more intensely emotional experiences like ANC and Holocaust Museum with more serene time to decompress and playful opportunities to balance out hearts and minds. I often use the sculpture garden and cafe as a place to meet, talk, put sore feet m the water, get an ice cream or coffee. I have a few conversation prompts regarding each experience in order to stimulate reflection. Not a long drawn out talk - just enough to help folks process and share what they have experienced. I keep frisbee rings, hacky sacks and balloons in my backpack and pick a spot on the mall too hang out and take a breather with student groups. Trying to cram too many attractions and experiences into one day without being mindful of rest and reflection is a mistake that many tour operators make with the best of intentions. Cramming content into people is similar to stuffing them with non-stop food without giving them space to savor anything. Looking for moments of playfulness, joy and true connection is a big piece of the magic of any tour.

• I carry Pedialyte packets, sunscreen packets, insect repellent wipes and ginger candy in my kit. I've had many sick folks come back to life after a Pedialyte packet. Dehydration is so common and debilitating.

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Hollijo

• I'd consider this a pro tip only because it took so long for me to figure it out... Walk your group. If the weather is good and the locations close let them stretch their legs. It gets out energy and breaks up the string of museums or memorials.  Especially at high traffic times. Plus the kids are more engaged and curious on foot. Bonus your driver will be very happy when you tell them they can chill for 4 hours.

• TDs need to become acquainted with the symptoms of heat injuries and how to prevent them.

• I’ve created custom stickers for my rewards. When you buy in bulk they can be as cheap as 5¢ or less per sticker. And because they are unique to the tour it makes them more valuable to the students than candy or something generic.

 

Mahet

• Be prepared to use allergy and respiratory meds.

 

Peggy

• I'm a former logistical analyst who also happens to be a project manager. I plan out, or schedule everything. I kind of follow the motto of You're on time if you are 5 minutes early and late if you are on time. Particularly in DC. Now that federal employees will be coming back to the offices, traffic and restaurants will be filled. Make sure you give yourself and the driver plenty of time or notice to get where you need to be.

• Start a list of websites to check for traffic, local weather, road issues. DC weather is crazy.

• Study a physical.map of DC. It isn't that complicated, if you understand how DC is laid out.  The Capital is the center of DC, Constitution and Capital Streets are the boundaries for the four quadrants NW, NE, SW, and SE. Lettered street run east and west and numbers run north and south. State streets run at diagonals.

 

Amy M.

• Prepare for DC’s unique level of humidity and how it will impact guests and you during much of the year.

• Set up a chat thread with a bunch of colleagues so you can all share in-the-moment developments at sites and on the streets during the busy season.  I’ve been able to quickly jump over to the Archives because a friend messaged me the line was non-existent, or avoided surprise road blocks, or found missing wallets, or redirected to a less busy food court…or…or…   When you have a team of people with eyes across the city, you can accomplish great things!

• Plan for ANC entrance security to be a mess and take longer than you want. If by luck you end up getting in efficiently, all the better.  But high-season this process is a major stressor.

• Botanical Gardens bathrooms!!!

• The Japanese-American Memorial is a terrific ‘extra’ to add in if you have a block of about 20min that you need to fill.  It’s easy to access, very unique to the memorial landscape and even returning GLs are usually surprised by it.  

• Be aware that the Holocaust reservation time can have a 15min grace period. But NEVER tell this to guests, LOL!

• Giving commentary at any of the sites near the river (Tidal Basin memorials, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korea) means competing for guest attention with constant helicopters and planes drowning your voice out and drawing guest eyes elsewhere.  

 

Kevin M.

• When you have non-timed/non-scheduled events on your itinerary, have multiple plans in place to create maximum flexibility for yourself.

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Christine P.

• Pad your driving time.

• Less is more when going through security. Have guests check pockets etc and repeat this over and over. I used to say you need 3 things: CCC cash, covering (jacket in cooler weather or umbrella), camera/cell

• Buy the TripSchool book to help with commentary.

• Walk with purpose is a key phrase to use with students.

• As mentioned, think through multiple plans/options when dealing with the non-timed activities. Be ready for your itinerary to change.

 

Sarah

• I always spend time with the itinerary to make sure that the times are correct!! I am amazed at how off they can be! I create my own itinerary with all of the times. I give a copy of this to my driver. I always ask them to make sure this works! I include them in all decisions!! I try very hard to stay on the schedule!!

• Things unexpected happen! I try to roll with it. Sometimes you can move things around on the fly!!

• You need to plan for traffic as well as time to enter venues as well as security. Bus drop off is also important to know since you may have to walk further than you might think. Also it takes time to get everyone off the bus and then back on!!

• Know how long it will take you at a given memorial! I try to use bus time to set up before we get there so that I may not have to spend too much time talking at the memorial! Vietnam is a good example of that! It is set up when we get there so that I talk a bit at each of the 3 parts, but they have already heard the history!! Too much time spent talking at the memorials can cause you to loose their attention, student and adults!!

• I tell stories. I try to personalize it for them to put themselves in the situation. FDR is a good example. How would you feel??

• I try to confirm everything before I leave home. I do emails and then follow up with a call if no response to the email!! Confirm Everything!!!!

• I talk to them about what to expect at the Holocaust Memorial. I stay in the lobby in case someone needs to come down early. As we all know, this can be very difficult for some students.

• I try to emphasize women in history whenever I can! We were there too!!

 

Dionne

• Prioritize monuments, memorials and museums. It's highly unlikley that you'll hit them all during a DC tour. Study the itinerary to figure out what works best around your fixed appointments, and then present the options to the GL asking them to rank most to least important.

 

Paul

• Take personal heat precautions: Talcum powder (or equivalent), sunscreen and hat.  The city’s heat & humidity will get to you.

• Bubbles! (Or footballs, Frisbees and fun stuff). You were once a kid....be a kid again with them! 

 

Johanna

• DC is incredibly busy in the Spring and to be mindful of where you choose to gather your groups and give commentary. Don’t talk inside the memorials blocking key sites (in front of wheelchair in prologue room at FDR, Women’s Memorial at Vietnam etc). Stand to the side so that others can still have access.

 

Kathryn

• Do NOT walk your groups through my group. That’s the quickest way to get on my bad side.

 

Rebecca

• And be mindful of non-student group visitors as well!

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Mandy

• I always have trivia at the end of the day. I buy cheap things like stickers, postcards, and magnets and we go over what we learned that day. If they know there's a possibility of a prize at the end, they're more likely to listen.

• The teachers and parents always want photo ops for the class. Good ones include: in front of George Washington's house before you get in line for the tour or letting them explore, at the Lincoln Memorial you can have them stand in front of the thing itself or turn around so you can get them with the Washington Monument, Einstein (but in the summer warn them that it's super hot and not to climb on it if they care about their skin), on the Senate side of the Capitol building. Remember to share the space, take your picture and move over if you see another group approaching or waiting.

• Hydrate hydrate hydrate! I always remind them in the morning to bring their water bottles (and where they can bring them inside) and where they can refill them at bathroom stops or food stops. All the museums have refill stations, a lot of the monuments with bathrooms have fountains, the malls with food courts all have them.

• I also always have the kids cheer for the bus driver and chaperones at the end. Most of our adults are great and it's hard work wrangling the kids and keeping them in line and engaged so I always acknowledge their hard work on the trip. And I always say the driver has the hardest job, navigating and parking and always on the bus. I always make sure our driver has food, caffeine, water, snacks (especially if we got dessert with dinner) and when we leave at the end of the trip I have them give a big thanks. It goes a long way for these drivers who have very packed, long schedules and it helps them remember they liked working with you

 

Amanda

• Talk about unhoused people, protests, consequences of wearing political clothing, give them a script of someone asks them for money….

• Be flexible…you never know when a motorcade is around the corner. It’s annoying to you but cool to them.

 

Milli

• Start off telling them to be back 10 - 15 min earlier than they really need to be. Then if they are on time you can tell them you have this trick for naughty groups but they're SO good...so you already have a win with them.

 

Fayge

• The most important thing I could tell a new person is don't be afraid to approach other guides during down time in museums. My very first solo tour I brought my itinerary to a group of TDs from a different company with a question about timing and they found a major itinerary error and helped me fix it. Saved my butt.

• You can learn so much socializing with guides in the cafes of museums and outside the Holocaust Museum basement bathrooms.

• Also, I don't know if this is still the case since I haven't done DC since the lock down but coffee in those places is stupid expensive so bring packets of instant coffee and ask for hot water. Sometimes they charge you for the cup but it's less than their gross coffee. Nescafe makes the best instant coffee IMHO.

 

Fritzi

• If your group is visiting the Capital but not taking the tour, you may have time to take them to the Library of Congress. The web site loc.gov has free tickets for up to 20 per time slot. It shows availability and if open, you can take half your group immediately. The Library of Congress is stunning, magical and so worth seeing, if there is time.

 

Kevin B.

• Know the “do/don’t” bring list for all locations with security.

• Smithsonian’s/Mt. Vernon is going to be way different than Arlington Cemetery…which is going to be different than the U.S. Capitol.

• Basically for the latter two though, I tell them: “no backpacks, bags, purses, handbags, anything that can be considered a bag. Just phone, keys, water (until at security for Capitol). That’s it.”

 

Kim

• if we’re going into any building, save PCM or Ballston Commons, etc., I always have them keep backpacks on the coach (a very small purse, depending on where we are, is ok. Not Capitol). 90% of the time, they don’t really need what’s in there anyway and it’s a sure-fire recipe for at least one bag to get left behind. They usually regret their decision to carry it about halfway through the day anyway

 

David

• Keep your group tight and be aware. Of other groups. Don’t block off sidewalks. I had to cut through a group yesterday because the TD was blocking off a sidewalk and droning on and on and on. We waited, for a sec for them to tighten up the group and bring them in, they didn’t.

• Don’t block off memorials, statues, if you’re doing a group photo, awesome, don’t line your peeps up in front of the MLK to read quotes, do it someplace else in the memorial then move over for a photo.

• Don’t lecture give active commentary, play games, give brain breaks.

• Don’t back yourself into a corner. Rather than giving a detailed this is exactly what we’re doing. This is a plan A, I think we’re going to… that way if you hit that traffic or they’re being slow, or whatever, it’s not on you if you run out of time.

 

Deana

• People get disoriented easily. Remember the Washington monument is in the middle and the Capitol is always East. It’s really not that big of a place. And most things open at 10.

• And metro- end of the line tells the direction of the train.

 

Amy R.

• Library of Congress: Get Tix before the visit and/or enlist the help of adults for tix -give instructions before entering, airport like security, -give meet up location and time. My spot is Bathrooms on ground floor & show them where it is -give a couple mind blowing facts..all time favorite.. books could be on 1 long bookshelf to the MS river 840 mi. -chaperone groups to ask 1 or 2 questions of docents with "ask me" vests. Share info on the bus from every group. Small adult group -learn a mini 15-20 minute tour Or -give them map with all the highlights and encourage asking the docents. See main reading room during morning or afternoon hours, see the Gutenberg Bible, 2 George's, Jefferson collection, puti, Minerva Mosaic, overlook, Waldseemuller map Adults like the puti-learn some of them or all! Enjoy the most beautiful building in DC!

 

Julie

• Be respectful of other groups and tour guides at sites. You’re not the only one there.

• Remember that the Driver is your friend. Work together. It’s not about you or how much you know.

• Make this the best trip ever. Every trip.

• Be on time to everything. Call ahead. Confirm. Confirm. Confirm.

• Remember that this is their first time in DC. You’ve been there a zillion times but it’s their first.

• Try to put everything in a positive light, even when it’s been a rotten day .

• Admit when you’re wrong.

 

Danielle

• Less is more with commentary for 8th graders. No need to show off all that you know because they have prob already tuned out.

 

Gary

• I am well known for my orange attire and "flat caps". I create a Black Out Bingo 7x7 grid of items for which to look. The winner chooses from a selection of my caps ($3-7 in TEMU or Amazon).  Some students really get into it and are constantly alert and paying attention. They are only on their phones to look up an unknown item. Teachers think it is fantastic.

 

Christine B.

• Pentagon Mall….please have a buddy system or chaperone for bathroom trips.

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Karen

• Comfy shoes and a portable fan! 

• Add 911 pentagon whenever possible, esp between ANC and Mt V if you can. It’s such an important visit.

 

Troy

• Mix up the themes...but also keep a logical walking route. Some itineraries schedule Holocaust and African American museum back to back...way too heavy for kids. 

• Be flexible and prepared for which direction to go for Martin, FDR and Jefferson (I like having prepared quotes from each to have students read...although I do my own MLK speech). 

• Campus food courts are a nice addition. 

• At Kennedy Performing Arts: straight from the flag halls to the Kennedy room and then out to patio for some "burn energy time" since kids get loud inside. 

• Since we don't go inside library of congress. You could do commentary from the side of the street of the capitol and then go straight to Supreme Court giving more time for a photo op and more relaxed pace to get to bus pickup spot. 

• Avoid Union Station for lunch...scary. 

 

Lisa

• Get yourself some good shoes. 

• Study google maps. Although you will find it very easy to learn the grid system it is on.

• Keep a list of places to eat on hand, esp food court types of places.

• Keep a list of “free” places you can visit, for those times you need to fill time.