Explore Minnesota is offering a workshop for people who would like to be bird guides or have already started and might want to learn how to increase their business. This is not a workshop on identifying birds, this is a workshop on organizing trips, customer service, and networking and promoting yourself. The goal of the workshop is to give you tools to be successful in business. It's for people considering bird guiding or who have already started and would like to increase sales and make new contacts for guiding services.
The workshop is part of The B&B&B Pilot Project put together in partnership with Explore Minnesota Tourism in partnership with MOU, Audubon, Minnesota DNR non-game, Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association.
Here is how it works:
A select group of Bed & Breakfasts ( B & Bs) in Minnesota will develop packages that will include guided birding trips for their guests. These packages will be advertised by the B & Bs and will be listed on Explore Minnesota Tourism’s web site. Guides that participate in this training will be matched with B & Bs in their area to provide birding trips for a fee to be retained by the guides. Two training sessions for the B & B owners and the guides will be offered in June of this year to help make this pilot project a success. Following the training sessions there will be a “practice” field trip for the B & B owners where the guides will practice their guiding skills. Once the training is completed the B & Bs will be designated as “ Birder Friendly”, and the guides will be partnered with the B & Bs.
Training for the guides will include:
Explore Minnesota’s data base and why it is important.
Customer Service training.
Basic First Aid.
License & Liability.
Landowner Concerns.
Logistics of organizing a field trip.
Family field trips w/children.
Plan B…for when the birds don’t cooperate.
Value….it’s OK to charge for your services.
Plus a Questions & Answer period.
Training sessions will be held June 20, 2007 at the Log House and Homestead Bed & Breakfast near Vergas, MN. and on June 27, 2007 at the Auf Deutsche Strasse Bed & Breakfast, 404 South German Street in New Ulm, MN. Bed & Breakfast owners from around the state will attend, this a great time to connect with the owners who can help get you more clients as a bird guide.
Cost of the training sessions, including lunch and the joint field trip will be $25.00 for guides and will be due along with your sign-up form by June 1, 2007. Questions? Contact project coordinator, Dave Vogel, Explore Minnesota Tourism at 1-888-975-6766 or via e-mail at dave.vogel@state.mn.us .