SandiD
Private
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2021
- Location
- Somewhere in the Hudson Valley
Because my partner and I had both taught history (I also taught geography at US Military Academy), we both have tons of artifacts for the periods in which we are interested. As a result, we didn't have to submit outlines, lists of research materials, etc. to our fulltime supervisors.
While we have a lot of freedom to plan our own program, doing a program in an environment that is constantly changing can be challenging. We cover 120 miles from Croton-on-Hudson to Albany, running alongside the Hudson River. One thing that is important in the program with which I am involved is flexibility and being able to "think on the fly." Often while discussing one thing someone will notice something out of the train window and come up with a question. Sometimes we can tie it into the discussion at hand, other times we have to give a brief explanation and refer them to the Hudson Valley National Heritage area for additional information, and sometimes the partner who is not presenting will be doing an internet search on the specific question if it is something out of our areas of expertise but related to the discussion.
If the weather is not cooperative and we are discussing the geography or specific sites usually visible from the train, we have be able to adapt. It's hard to talk about things you cannot see. I always have maps, occasionally a book, and graphic materials such as reproduction historic photographs or broadsides with me. I can be pass those around if viewing out the widow is not adequate. Because we often have a multigenerational, and often multi-national audience, I try to tailor my presentation to be a somewhat interactive program - Q&A, Trivia, kids activities like coloring pages or maze puzzles. On one Veterans Day program, the audience ended up in a sing-along of Over There! when we were at the WWI era portion. I've got some Civil War era music lined up for this years presentation.
We have an university internship program in tourism with which we work with. Interns are assigned a topic, have to research it, and choose appropriate artifacts (from the stash that the program has) to use in their presentation. As one of the experienced volunteers, it is my job to grade on accuracy, presentation style, how well they can adapt to the sometimes changing conditions on the train, their ability to "connect" with their audience, etc.
The bottom line is being a good tour guide/living historian hinges on how much time, effort, and in some instances money you want to dedicate. It makes no difference whether you do it as a profession or as a hobby.
While we have a lot of freedom to plan our own program, doing a program in an environment that is constantly changing can be challenging. We cover 120 miles from Croton-on-Hudson to Albany, running alongside the Hudson River. One thing that is important in the program with which I am involved is flexibility and being able to "think on the fly." Often while discussing one thing someone will notice something out of the train window and come up with a question. Sometimes we can tie it into the discussion at hand, other times we have to give a brief explanation and refer them to the Hudson Valley National Heritage area for additional information, and sometimes the partner who is not presenting will be doing an internet search on the specific question if it is something out of our areas of expertise but related to the discussion.
If the weather is not cooperative and we are discussing the geography or specific sites usually visible from the train, we have be able to adapt. It's hard to talk about things you cannot see. I always have maps, occasionally a book, and graphic materials such as reproduction historic photographs or broadsides with me. I can be pass those around if viewing out the widow is not adequate. Because we often have a multigenerational, and often multi-national audience, I try to tailor my presentation to be a somewhat interactive program - Q&A, Trivia, kids activities like coloring pages or maze puzzles. On one Veterans Day program, the audience ended up in a sing-along of Over There! when we were at the WWI era portion. I've got some Civil War era music lined up for this years presentation.
We have an university internship program in tourism with which we work with. Interns are assigned a topic, have to research it, and choose appropriate artifacts (from the stash that the program has) to use in their presentation. As one of the experienced volunteers, it is my job to grade on accuracy, presentation style, how well they can adapt to the sometimes changing conditions on the train, their ability to "connect" with their audience, etc.
The bottom line is being a good tour guide/living historian hinges on how much time, effort, and in some instances money you want to dedicate. It makes no difference whether you do it as a profession or as a hobby.