Over the years I have worked alongside a number of other guides and during the last couple of seasons I have hired a few to help with large groups or when Maine Outdoors has multiple trips going. Most of them are great folks to work with and understand that the primary goal is for clients to have a good time while being safe. Some of them do not understand that being a guide is actually work and that being successful takes more than a license from the state.
Guiding if done well is hard work. Taking hours of preparation to be sure that you have what you need along and that you know enough to make your client successful. Long ago I spoke with a fellow working on a book with the premise that standardized testing has ruined our society. Certainly the current guide test produces guides that know the laws. But have we asked about their business plans? (most guides operate as small businesses and not employees of some lodge) Or have we measured ability to work hard for their clients?
I am not sure that we are achieving the goal of ensuring that the folks who hire guides get the best experience they can possibly have. I hope that my seminars for Maine Guides are filling some of the gap in needed information. Hopefully over time we can explain that guiding is actually pretty hard work and takes a lot to make it all happen
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