Meet Educational Destinations Tour Director Nancy Reichmann
Educational Destinations’ professional Tour Directors use their commitment and experience to ensure the Teacher’s and the group’s trip are successful. Rest assured, if the unpredictable happens, your Tour Director is there, ready to tackle the unpredictable and get your trip back on track. When it comes to tour directing, Nancy Reichmann has the personality and drive to make your trip awesome. Nancy Reichmann’s smile, experience, quick thinking, instinct and her constant “going beyond the call of duty” work ethic makes up the total package of the ideal Tour Director. When problems arise on a trip, there are few who can match Nancy Reichmann’s creativity and quick feet. Educational Destinations sat down with Nancy to ask this super-hero road warrior to share more about herself.
How did you get started tour directing?
Nancy: My husband actually planted the seed in my mind when he helped chaperone one of my school’s band trips to Hawaii. He noticed the role of the tour director on that trip and envisioned me in that position. I never pursued it while I was teaching, but when we moved to Indiana in 2014 for my husband’s job, I saw that Educational Destinations was hiring tour directors. I contacted them and the rest is history! I had a fairly good idea of what was involved since I traveled quite a bit with my own students while I was teaching.
How long have you been a Tour Director for Educational Destinations?
Nancy: I started tour directing in the fall of 2014. My first trip was escorting Castle H.S. (Indiana) Marching Knights to the Bands of America Grand Nationals Marching Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since then I have escorted dozens of trips as an Educational Destinations Tour Director to destinations all over the country such as Chicago, New York City, Orlando, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Nashville, San Antonio, and Atlanta, among others!
Do you have any background in education?
Nancy: I received my Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and taught high school band for 20+ years in Ohio and Wisconsin. I also maintained a large private music studio and was on the adjunct faculty for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, teaching applied oboe. Prior to moving to Indiana, I played oboe professionally in Northwest Ohio, Southeast Michigan and Northeast Wisconsin.
What is the largest group you have tour directed?
Nancy: The largest group I have escorted was the Taft and Wheeler Middle Schools (Crown Point, IN) band/orchestra/choir trip to a Music in the Parks Festival in Chicago. There were eight coach buses of middle schoolers on that trip! The group was so large that two tour directors were assigned to work the trip.
Is there something you wish travelers knew before the trip departs?
Nancy: It is important for travelers to know that there will usually be A LOT of walking on our Educational Destinations trips. Wear comfortable shoes and break them in before the trip departs! In addition, please let us know ahead of time if you have food allergies or dietary restrictions. It is easy for us to make accommodations if we know about them in advance.
What’s your proudest moment or a time when you were there made a difference/impact?
Nancy: My proudest moment so far has been my first-ever New York City trip. I had never been to New York at all so I was a bit nervous escorting several charter buses through a busy itinerary in such a huge city, but with a lot of pre-trip research and good advice from other tour directors and office staff, the trip went off without a hitch. Most of the people on the trip had no idea I had never been to New York City before! Shout out to Madison High School (Ohio) band for that great first experience! I’ll never forget that trip. Now I love NYC!
What is your favorite place to travel/visit with and without groups?
Nancy: For me the journey is far more fun than the destination. Getting to know the travelers throughout the trip is more enjoyable than any stop on the itinerary. It is exciting seeing destinations through the eyes of first-time travelers! If I had to pick one destination as my favorite, which is hard to do, then it would have to be Orlando/Walt Disney World. Who doesn’t have fun at the happiest place on earth? For personal travel, I prefer a low-key beach vacation.
What does it take to be a successful Educational Destinations Tour Director?
Nancy: I think the most critical part of being a good tour director is being an excellent communicator. It is important to provide pertinent information to the directors, students, chaperones, bus drivers and food/hotel vendors. In addition, listening to the needs of the group and making accommodations when necessary is essential.
What are the benefits of having an Educational Destinations Tour Director at your side?
Nancy: We take care of all the details, logistics and troubleshooting on your behalf before and during the trip so that your group, including the directors, can relax and enjoy the itinerary. We contact vendors shortly before the trip to ensure that all the arrangements are in place so that clients have a smooth, worry-free music travel experience.
Any advice or things you want to share with groups considering educational travel?
Nancy: Go for it! Don’t be afraid to travel, whether it is your first time with a group or trying a new destination. Our Educational Destinations team can help you choose an exciting destination and plan a fun-filled itinerary. Rest assured that your tour director will be with you every step of the way to ensure a memorable experience for you and your students!
Do you think you have what it takes to wear the cape and be an Educational Destinations Tour Director like Nancy?
Contact Educational Destinations to start planning your trip.
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