Tour Assistant Training

What do Explore Buffalo Tour Assistants do?

Tour Assistants (commonly referred to as TAs) are volunteers who support Explore Buffalo’s tours and docents. Tour Assistants work with the docent to ensure every tour is an enjoyable experience for every guest. Tour Assistant tasks during tours typically include:
- Checking in guests using our smartphone app.
- Ensuring all guests cross streets safely and helping keep the group together.
- Assisting the docent with sharing tour visuals, checking to see if a building entrance is open, referring questions from guests to the docent, etc.
- Depending on the tour, TAs may also help with elevators, hold doors open, turn lights on and off, etc. Some tours, such as bike tours, have more specific responsibilities.

Why become a Tour Assistant with Explore Buffalo?

Being a Tour Assistant with Explore Buffalo is fun! What could be more thrilling than showing people from the world Buffalo’s architecture and history? As a Tour Assistant, you have the opportunity to assist with many of Explore Buffalo’s wide variety of tours and learn more about Buffalo’s history and architecture while volunteering. Being a Tour Assistant is a great way to meet new people within Explore Buffalo or among our many community partners. Explore Buffalo organizes regular social events for docents and volunteers. It’s also a great way to stay active and get your steps in – you can volunteer as a Tour Assistant every week, all year round!

Who can become a Tour Assistant for Explore Buffalo?

Tour Assistants must be passionate about promoting Buffalo and have a friendly and welcoming presence for our visitors from around the world. Through our Tour Assistant Training Classes, we provide in-depth training on the responsibilities of Tour Assistants.

Tour Assistant Requirements:

Tour Assistants are required to volunteer for a minimum of eight Explore Buffalo tours per year (in 2024, Explore Buffalo had more than 2,000 tours, so there are plenty to choose from – for example, the City Hall tour is scheduled every weekday year-round)
Tour Assistants must be comfortable using a smartphone app to check in registered tour guests. (We will provide specific training on how to use this app)
Tour Assistants are required to be on site, and ready to check in tour guests, 20 minutes before the starting time of the tour they are volunteering for.

Spring 2025 Tour Assistant Training:

Annual training classes are offered for new Tour Assistants. Tour Assistant training consists of two class sessions: the first class is conducted via Zoom, and the second class is a walk-through of a tour. New Tour Assistants are required to attend both class dates.

Spring 2025 Tour Assistant Training:

Wednesday, April 30, 6-7:30pm via Zoom – Tour Assistant Introduction & Procedures
Wednesday, May 7, 6-7:30pm – Tour Walk Through

Please complete the Application below for Spring 2025 Tour Assistant Training. The deadline to register for Spring 2025 Tour Assistant Training is Friday, April 25.