Student tours can be some of the most rewarding and engaging experiences you'll have as a guide or tour director. But they require a fine balance between education and fun.

Curious how to creatively engage students in museums and memorials? Ever wonder how to tell a great ghost story? Want to know ways to manage large groups, handle meals with creativity and fun? This class is 100% focused on making you a more engaging guide to students.

Washington, D.C. & New York City are the two most visited cities, and this training will share the tips and strategies of industry veterans, plus the logistical and storytelling insights from real locals.

This training puts you above the rest by teaching you stories, techniques and engagement strategies to make your student groups love your tour! We give you the tools to keep the students attention and make your tours educational, fun and immersive.

TripSchool and ITMI (International Tour Management Institute) are proud to partner on this training, combining decades of experience into this first ever collaboration!

Your student engagement instructors:

Carol Kendrick (Director of Curriculum, ITMI)

Mitch Bach (Co-founder, TripSchool)

Alan Armijo (Co-founder, TripSchool)

Your local guides:

Leigh Jameson (owner, 52% Productions, Washington, D.C.)

Kaitlin Calogera (owner, A Tour of Her Own - Washington, D.C.)

Day 1 (DC) — 8:30 - 6:00pm — meet at the Citizen M on School Street at 8:30am.

Day 2 (DC) — 8:30 - 6:00pm

Day 3 (NYC) — 2:00 - 7:00pm (we will take the Amtrak from DC to NYC in the morning, not included). Everyone will meet at the M Social hotel on 52nd ant Broadway at 2pm EST.

Day 4 (NYC) — 9:00 - 7:00pm

If you are only doing one city, please book your flight home for the next day, to make sure you get the most out of the trainings. If you want to save money by leaving early on the final day, to avoid another hotel room night, that’s fine!

The day endings are only estimates. Sometimes we run long, sometimes it’s shorter. If you’re doing the entire training, we take Amtrak together between the cities. You’re responsible for booking your ticket, which will be shared after registration. You are of course free to travel any way you’d like.

We offer travel insurance as part of travel protection plans from our partner TripAssure.

To cover you for the unforeseen, we encourage participants to purchase travel insurance, which may include benefits for trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed connection, travel delay, medical expense/emergency evacuation, baggage and personal effects, baggage delay and more. 

TripAssure offers the Basic, Deluxe Plan, and Deluxe Plus Plan options. Familiarize yourself with the contents of each plan to ensure to get the one that best suits your needs.

Get a quote for travel protection as well as view complete plan details & disclaimers.

As we operate our in-person programs during the global pandemic, we are focused on taking the right steps to protect the health and safety of our students and staff.  In keeping with general industry trends, our students must provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19 (paper or electronic). 

Currently our precautions include:

• Vaccinnation requirement to participate

• Masks worn in indoor environments where required

• Compliance with all current local, state and federal guidelines

Read our full health & safety policy here.

Like lodging, you are responsible for your flights to/from the cities, as well as transportation in between the cities.

We travel between cities on Amtrak, but you don't have to. You can take more affordable buses, or drive, whatever works for you. 

We travel from DC to NYC via Amtrak. Our recommended train is below.

Plan to arrive the night before into Washington D.C. for an 8:30am start on Day 1.

If only doing NYC, choose a flight that arrives by noon to be ready at the hotel by 2:00pm.

Departures from each city

If you are only doing 1 city, remember that we go all the way until the end of each day. For DC, we leave on day 3 to go to NYC, so if you are only doing DC, you will want to book a flight home on 2/18. The same is true for NYC. If NYC is your final day, you will want to book a flight on 2/20. 

AMTRAK RESERVATIONS:

Join Carol Kendrick on the following train reservation.  Please book your own ticket as soon as you can to secure the best rate. 

Feb. 18, 2023 - #152, 8:22 - 11:59 (DC to NYC)

Hotels are not included in the training, you are free to stay wherever you like.  

We don't have a "group" rate, but we will be staying at the Citizen M hotel, located at 550 School St SW, Washington, DC 20024. If you sign up for a free Citizen M membership, they offer a NON-REFUNDABLE rate of $255, incl taxes (about $127/per night). Keep in mind, this is a non-refundable rate (subject to change). Only single rooms are available at this property!

Other nearby options:

Holiday Inn Capitol

550 C Street 

From $184/per night

Hyatt Place

400 E St SW
From $201/per night

*The last two options may be good for those that want to share a room, however, having your own room at the Citizen M is not that much more expensive. 

You are, however, free to stay wherever you like and can make arrangements to meet us at the first stop each day. If you signed up for the NYC portion as well, we are working on a suitable hotel option and an update will be sent to you once you sign up. 

If you would like to be paired with a roommate to share the costs,  please email us. 

$99 of each city payment is a non-refundable deposit. 

The rest of your program fee is refundable up to 30 days out. 

Please read our full booking terms and conditions here!