TRAINING PROGRAM
The training of AYA participants is therefore focused around activities which will facilitate the successful sharing of their story with visitors. Participants go through a structured series of exercises designed to assist them to:
Discover their story
Build their story
Share their story
These basic themes the basis of a series of training activities designed to make participants proficient in the skills necessary to succeed in the tourism industry. Upon completing the program participants have a new sense of confidence, diminished fear of the outside
Discover
“Discover Your Story” activities are designed to assist participants to explore their unique cultural and life experiences and to develop the strong research and fact-finding abilities required in the tourism industry. “Discover Your Story” activities include:
- Internet Research Skills
- Library Research Skills
- Personal Interview Skills
- Interviews with Elders and Community Leaders
- Personal Biography Development and Presentation
Build
“Build Your Story” activities increase participants’ sense of having something valuable to offer the visitor. These activities provide participants with stories and anecdotes that they can share and also give participants a sense of personal accomplishment, satisfaction and an expanded perception of their personal limits. These activities also serve as familiarization tours so that Ambassadors have a first hand familiarity with the offerings of various tourism attractions. “Build Your Story” experiences include:
- White Water Rafting
- Canoe Trips
- Familiarization Tours to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Tourism Attractions
- Cultural Activities: Paddle Carving, Cedar Weaving, Drum Making.
Share
“Share Your Story” activities include experiences to assist participants to develop the communication, public speaking, interpersonal and visitor relation skills necessary to successfully communicate with visitors. This theme area also involves providing the opportunity and obligation for participants to present their story at a high profile tourism venue. “Share Your Story” activities include:
- Public Speaking
- Tourism Visitor Information Training
- SuperHost
- FirstHost
- Visitor Presentations