"I've used the Training Kit as a resource for a variety of projects: developing lists of questions for Kansas byways groups to use to answer visitor questions, teaching hospitality workshops, doing presentations at state and national conferences on hospitality and visitor readiness, etc. It is a great resource and can be used in many, many ways."
"The Grassroots Training Kit is a great tool that is relevant to Byways across the country. I used it in Colorado training front-line staff at visitors centers, restaurants and attractions as part of our hospitality trianing program, and now look forward to using it in my new position as a member of Hawai'i's Scenic Byways Advisory Committee."
"We love the concept of The 100 Most Frequently Asked Questions. We were able to take the basic structure and adapt it to our area specifically. From that we had a fantastic tool for use by the entire community. The questions(and answers) were published in notebook form and distributed to all motels, restaurants, and service stations. Everyone loved being able to reach for the notebook to answer questions instead of having to utter those horrible words . . .' I don't know.' We've also incorporated this into our local hospitality and interpretive host training for (1) fun trivia ice breakers (2) pairing exercises (3) resource material. Once we got started using it . . . the possibilities became endless."
"I have had the opportunity to use the board goals portion of the kit twice, it is a great way to get the board members on track and focused on the task at hand. Having a visual display at the end of the exercise really gave a great perceptive on what was needed and were the organization needed to go. Look forward to using some of the other activities to keep us on track"Tired of regular old hospitality training programs? Want to leave your paper and pencils at home and have some real fun? Then you’ll want to learn more about the Colorado Grassroots Training Program.
Similar to hospitality training, the Colorado program teaches byway representatives how to train visitor center volunteers, front-line hotel, restaurant and retail employees and members of the community who regularly interact with travelers about the interpretive message, resource protection, and ethics of the scenic byway and the community.
Connect the Interests of Travelers with Meaningful Places
A series of fast-moving activities train locals to create both emotional and intellectual connections with travelers, to connect the interests of travelers with meaningful places, and to articulate a deep pride in the area. Participants will identify specific elements of their byway that are unique and exceptional; will understand what resources have been protected to date; and will learn how to share the ethics of the community with the traveling public. The training also teaches active listening techniques and how to use existing interpretive tools.
Diverse Opportunities for Learning in Each Session
During specially designed training sessions, participants may play “Preservation Bingo,” “Pin the Tail on Maslow’s Hierarchy,” piece together a puzzle of a byway’s protected historic sites, or sort commercial postcards to learn about how historic sites and landscapes are protected. Some sessions are designed for employees new to the travel industry; others mount new challenges to owners and managers with more experience.
As part of the training, you can find out how well front line staff is informed about what there is to see and do on your byway by pitting their knowledge against local experts playing a trivial pursuit-style board game. Byway Road Trip questions are designed so that byway organizations write their own answers. Categories include Attractions, Historic Sites, Natural History, Ethics, and Frequently Asked Questions. The board game can be used at any place of business and played with two to four front-line employees.
Training Manual
The training manual is set up to allow byway organizations to tailor the activities to local situations anywhere in the country. A quick reference matrix outlines each activity including the concept, suggested training sequences, local trainer experience requirements, preparation time, activity time and required supplies – some which come directly from the training kit, others that must be created locally.
Development of the grassroots-training program is funded through the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program, the National Scenic Byways Program and the Colorado Historical Society. Pilot training has been conducted in communities along the San Juan Skyway, an All-American Road and throughout the Southwest Colorado Travel Region.