Page 162 - Microsoft Word - Guiding lights final version 0841 1007 big print.doc

aim for in a course is the seamless use of guiding skills which communicate and entertain and engage our visitors with ease. It is vocational training at its best.’
There are many varied characters in the guiding world. Viola found that training Scottish Blue Badge Guides was challenging because of strong, argumentative characters and perhaps age profile and pragmatist approaches to learning. ‘I’m always amazed by the variety of talent and different life experience people bring to guiding. Here in Scotland only now, slowly, guiding is becoming a first career choice, so the characteristics are changing. Perhaps our guides are becoming more business-oriented, are taking more initiative are becoming better influencers? The best guides I have seen were those who took the time to listen and then created their commentary and tour according to what they had learnt from their guests.’
The ‘magnificent seven’ guides who qualified in 1999
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