Some of the best recruiting ideas come from our loyal group leaders. We've compiled some suggestions to generate interest in your tour. Remember: starting early gives interested students plenty of time to save money and raise money.
student travel PUBLICITY ESSENTIALS
- Gain school administration approval
If you need school board approval prior to travel, ask your tour consultant for a copy of our school board packet, which details the safety, educational content, quality and reliability of our student travel programs.
- Pick a date for your student/parent meeting
Find a good location–like your classroom or the library–that can accommodate many people.
- Display Smithsonian Student Travel posters around school
The colorful posters we included in your Recruitment Kit and available online in the Recruiting Center will inform students about the date and place of your introductory meeting.
- Make announcements to promote your student/parent meeting
The most effective way to do so in your school is to use the public address (P.A.) system. You can also ask your colleagues to mention it in their classrooms to help spread the word.
- Advertise in your school newspaper
Better yet, ask the editor to write an article about you and the tour you plan to lead!
- Advertise in your local media
Let the community know about your trip. You can even earn Global Points if a story about your tour appears in a community newspaper or on a local television or radio show. Ask your tour consultant how.
For more ideas as well as sample advertisements and press releases, ask your tour consultant for the
Smithsonian Student Travel Public Relations Kit.