July 17, 2008 — Pretty much any Caribbean island can offer tourists sunny beaches, great weather, shopping, swimming, snorkeling and beautiful vistas.
When the world comes to St. Croix, there is so much more, and a local agency is working to ensure visitors here go home with more than postcards, tans and sand in their swimming suits. Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT)is offering a series of classes to train tour guides for the thousands of visitors who will be arriving in the months and years ahead.
“Sun, sand and sea are fantastic, and ours is as good or better than any other Caribbean island’s, but St. Croix has such a rich cultural heritage and pristine natural resources. That’s one of the ways we can effectively market St. Croix to the world,” said Frandelle Gerard, executive director of CHANT.
The classes are a 14-day series to be offered half days beginning July 21. The first class begins at 1 p.m. in the Small Business Development Center at Sunshine Mall, Suite 104. The remaining classes run through Aug. 8, and will begin at 9 a.m. each day. There is a $50 fee to take part. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
The classes will be conducted by local historian and designer Wayne James, who has conducted similar walking tours around the island. Those who complete the classes will be eligible to be hired as contract tour guides for the organization.
“The class is really a crash course in VI history, with a focus on Christiansted and Frederiksted," Gerard said. “What we’re hoping to do is create a cadre of trained individuals on a contract basis to provide walking tours," she said. "We’re looking for people who are interested and able to do the work. We want to provide as many opportunities for tour guides as possible,”
The work is seasonal and part time, she added, with tours taking about two hours each. The tours will be offered by CHANT to tourists streaming off the cruise ships bound for the island over the next two years.
CHANT is a private, non-profit foundation created in 1999 to promote cultural, heritage and nature tourism on the island.
“We want to take advantage of the desire of travelers to have a more meaningful experience when they visit., Gerard said., “to share a little bit about St. Croix that’s unique, that you won’t find in other locations.”
For the historical tour guide training program, the agency is looking for 30 to 40 people. Gerard emphasized that there were no age requirements. The only requirement is enthusiasm and the ability to conduct a couple of two-hour walking tours a day.
Fast facts:
What: Historical Tour Guide Training Program
When: July 21 through Aug. 28
Cost: $50, scholarships available to qualified applicants
Contact CHANT at 340-719-5455 or chantvi@viaccess.net.
Further information: Available online at chantvi.com
