What Does a Tour Leader Do?

A tour leader is a school trip’s greatest asset. Tour leaders impart information-rich commentary in a fun and engaging way while facilitating the logistics of the tour.

First, let’s clarify what tour leaders are NOT. Tour leaders are not tour guides! A tour guide meets the group at their destination to spend a few short hours with the group. Tour guides are knowledgeable, but typically stick to their usual order of telling the facts and moving about the city. In general, they are more passive about relaying information rather than actively getting to know the students and engaging them in their surroundings. The role of a tour guide is limited to imparting information.

Unlike the temporary visit of a tour guide, tour leaders travel with the group for the entire school trip. Tour leaders stay at the same hotel as the group, join the group for meals, and are with the group continually on the motor coach and at all sites until the end of the trip. They are a constant help resource. The first meeting point can vary. Tour leaders will meet the group as early as at their school the morning of departure or as late as when they first arrive in their destination city. Once you do meet, however, the tour leader stays with the group until the end.

As a constant help resource, tour leaders handle all trip logistics. Timing is a huge part of this. Tour leaders pace the group at each site, ensuring that exploring time is maximized while allotting enough time to move between sites and arrive on time. Tour leaders coordinate with the motor coach driver to decide the best routes throughout the city. They also lead the group on the most efficient walking routes. Tour leaders interface with all restaurant, hotel, night security, and attraction vendors to keep everything running smoothly. Should any hiccups arise, the tour leader is there to handle it.

With a tour leader on your trip, group leaders never have to worry about keeping track of meal vouchers, show tickets, metro passes, etc. Tour leaders receive these from Scholastica and will manage them safely throughout the trip. She/He will distribute them to students when needed and not earlier (to prevent lost tickets).

Student safety is Scholastica’s top priority for every trip. We have many safety measures in place for school trips, however the assistance of a tour leader can not be understated. Should a student emergency arise, tour leaders can direct the group to the nearest pharmacy, arrange local transportation, or make any necessary phone calls while the group leader is occupied with the situation at hand. If the group leader would need to leave the group for any reason, the tour leader will be with the group and continue running the trip as planned.

Tour leaders personalize the travel experience. They get to know the students, their names, and their interests. Their facts and information about a site are packaged in engaging stories and activities. Not only will tour leaders explain what the group is looking at and the relative context, but they will give the students something to look for, such as an interesting detail or carving. In short, they create an engaging learning environment for students to explore. Students will become more involved in their destination as a result of a tour leader’s guidance.

Become an Educational Tour Leader!

Join a flourishing industry. Transform lives through travel. Experience extraordinary places.

Since 1980, Scholastica Travel Inc has specialized in school group travel for elementary through college students. We create customized trips and tours for groups of 20 or more. Our most popular destinations are Washington DC, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Atlanta, and Orlando.

This is a part-time, seasonal, independent contractor position.

This is a part-time, seasonal, independent contractor position. Tours are year round, with the busiest season from March – June. Most tours are 2-4 days in length.

Tour leaders impart information-rich commentary in a fun and engaging way while facilitating the logistics of the tour. As a constant help resource, tour leaders pace the group at attractions and scheduled appointments, manage tickets and vouchers, facilitate meals, plan routes with motorcoach operators and assist with hotel check-in. Tour leaders accompany the group for the tour duration; staying at the same hotel and often traveling with the group to and from their point of origin.

For this position, we are seeking individuals with strong leadership abilities who possess a genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional growth of adolescents as it pertains to travel. Outstanding tour leaders are very knowledgeable about their destination, maintain a positive attitude, and engage tour participants in their surroundings.

Please note: We require various background checks as a condition for hiring.

Experience organizing and leading middle school and/or high school student groups is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with the destination to which they will be traveling is strongly preferred.
Applicants must possess excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and a strong sense of direction.
Strong leadership abilities and the flexibility to work independently and as a team player are a must.
Applicant must be able to walk five miles daily.
Applicant must be available for:
a weekday company orientation seminar on President’s Day.
a weekend familiarization trip (Friday evening – Sunday evening) in late February or early March. The familiarization trip will be held in Washington D.C.
a ride-along observation trip

Perform all duties necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the tour.
Provide engaging and informative commentary to tour participants.
Maintain good communication with group leader, bus driver, and other tour leaders.

Interested applicants must submit a resume and cover letter. Please note that we require various background checks as a condition for hiring.