As you know, weather forecasts indicate extreme heat and humidity will prevail starting today, Thursday July 18 through Saturday July 20. During this period, the CAC does not plan to cancel tours.
Please note the guidelines below for giving walking tours during extreme heat.
- The CAC supplies bottled water for Docents in the refrigerator just outside the CAC Library. Make sure you have ample water for yourself during tour.
- Also, consider wearing a damp/wet cooling towel behind your neck.
- Use your discretion to facilitate Guest comfort during your tour. For example:
Prior to starting your tour, urge Guests to carry water. Consider making the first stop on your tour a “water stop” for guests to purchase water. - Walk slowly. Consider skipping a building to accommodate your slower pace.
- Seek shady spots.
- Improvise: add air-conditioned interior spaces to your tour.
For example, observe the building quickly from the outside and then move inside to deliver your content.
- Use your discretion to facilitate Guest comfort during your tour. For example:
- Consider walking through the Pedway:
- Between CAC and the Cultural Center
- Between Macy’s and the Cultural Center
- For WTT docents: the final tour segment, can be delivered from the south side of the River (rather than crossing the Michigan Avenue Bridge). Then, use the Pedway from the Hyatt to return to CAC.
- Check in with your Guests regularly: “How are you doing with the heat?” Let Guests know it’s o.k. to abandon the tour if they become uncomfortable.
- Consider shortening your tour route and returning to CAC 10 to 15 minutes early.
Remember: in general, Guests do not know the precise tour routes. Guests will be thankful for your consideration. Likewise, Box Office and Operations Staff understand the need to make adjustments in these extreme conditions.
As always, thank you for your commitment to CAC and our Guests’ experiences.