Students have always been the focus of the Urban Tour Group, although the organization diverted a bit for several years by including tours for adults in addition to student tours. The adult tours were intended primarily to raise public awareness of UTG while raising needed funds. However, UTG’s founders saw the greatest need to be Portland area students. Portland Public Schools were a major investor in UTG’s tours, both in terms of financial support as well as providing tour content and direction. The tours then focused on a much broader group of students, from third graders to high school seniors. Today, tours match the third grade course material focusing on the history and early development of Portland offered by most of the school districts in the metropolitan area.
UTG’s tours are designed to acquaint students with the Portland urban community. The intent is to foster the concepts of civic pride and service, and to help students see themselves as responsible caretakers of the city. The tours focus on Portland’s history and landmarks, noting what keeps our city alive and healthy, and how the city changes to meet the needs of its citizens.
One of the things that members have all found rewarding in the service to students are the many student “love letters” that they have received. These “love letters” or letters of appreciation are warmly received thank you notes that are very much appreciated. Several have been kept by tour guides and eagerly reread and offered here as a testimony to the value of the tour to a particular student. In their own way, each letter has inspired UTG’s guides knowing that they have made a positive impression on so very many student for so many years. They are the best reward that a volunteer guide could ever receive. The following are a small sample of “love letters” received by members. Please note spell check worked like crazy with some of these letters, but they have been left as written by each student
- “Dear Bob, Thank you for teaching me about portland history. I especially liked the Scidmor founten when the people got sick and had to bring there owne cups.”
- Moksa wrote, “Thank you for teaching us Portland history. And explaiing how they used to live and taking time from your own life for teaching us kids Portland history.”
- Aiyana wrote, “Thank you for giving me a flash of History in Portland. I thought that it would be enjoyable…but it was way past enjoyable.”
- Mackenzie said. “Thank you for showing and telling us history of all those amazing places and things! I really want to show my Mom & Dad all the amazing things I saw! Thank you so much!”
- “Dear Mr. Erickson, thank you for guiding us around portland. this was my best field trip ever. I also liked the “I spy” game, throwing sticks in the river, Chinatown, and those Benson Bubblers. I reccomend that in the future you should do more field trips like this for other children.”
- Audrey wrote, “Dear Mrs. Herkamp, Thank you for volunteering and telling us about the places I Portland. My favorite part was when you showed us the Hawthrone Benson Hotel, the time caspule in the City Hall, and the Portland penny.”
- Alondra wrote, “Dear Mrs. Herkamp, Thank you for giving time to our class for our field trip. I loved seeing the Portland penny instead of just reading about it.”