Tour Guide 101

REGISTRATION AVAILABLE BEGINNING 1/17/26

Chicago for Chicagoans invites you to join us for a public trainings covering all the things you need to know to be an effective and engaging neighborhood historian and tour leader. Our organization believes in a multiplicity of histories and empowering Chicago residents to actively share the stories of their city with others. These mini-seminars will give you the tools to dive deeper into the history of your neighborhood and confidently share what you learn with others. Like all of our programming, sessions are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis!

During this course, you will learn about tour planning, research & business strategies, marketing fundamentals, and project management skills that will enhance your credibility and broaden your job prospects in tourism citywide. In addition, a distinguished completion of course curriculum qualifies you to lead tours and give lectures for Chicago for Chicagoans. We'll even give you a fancy certificate!

TOUR GUIDE 101 — THIS EVENT

Perfect for... history lovers, research enthusiasts, community activists, aspiring tour guides, and anyone wanting to become a better public speaker. No prior experience required.

Content covered:

• Best practices for historical research
• Accessing free and publicly accessible archives
• Public speaking 101 — and an opportunity to practice with other attendees!
• Strategies for planning & giving great tours ​
• Collaborating and working with others
• Marketing tours for maximum impact
• Ethical and legal considerations for tours
• Entrepreneurial advice for aspiring tour operators

Basic Event Details:

• We will meet in the Community Meeting Room of the Chinatown Branch library.
• Trainings led by Patti Swanson and Leyla Royale (bios here), possibly other experts
• Registration is required, and is capped at 20 attendees. Small class sizes are typical.
• Bring with you: a pen + paper for taking notes (laptops + other digital methods are welcome too!), some of your favorite books about history, and some business cards.

To earn a certificate (optional), participants must:

• Attend our Tour Guide 101 course
• Pass our post-course evaluation (brief quiz ensuring comprehension of course material)
• Plan, research, practice, and lead a tour or lecture attended and assessed by one of our current guides

Two certificates are possible, and will be issued based on performance in the above:

• ​"Certificate of Completion" acknowledges the participant completed the above requirements;
• "Certificate of Distinguished Completion" acknowledges the participant completed the above requirements and showed satisfactory to excellent personal capacity for leading tours and giving history lectures.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• A tax-deductible donation of $20 per attendee is welcome from those who are able. You can make an advance donation here. Your donations help us cover the costs of hiring speakers, pay for our website, cover our annual tax & paperwork filings, buy supplies, and otherwise compensate for the myriad of expenses that small nonprofits accrue. Our staff is entirely volunteer. You can learn more about our mission here!
• Questions? Visit our event FAQ or email info@chicagoforchicagoans.org. Advance registration via Eventbrite is strongly preferred for all attendees.