LATE REGISTRATION AND INDIVIDUAL FIELD TRIP
REGISTRATION ARE STILL OPEN
August 22 - November 7, 2024
ONLINE CLASSES:
Thursday evenings 8/22, 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 11/7 (6:30 - 8:30pm)
GROUP FIELD TRIPS*:
Saturdays: 8/31, 9/14, 9/28 (9am - 5pm) + Full Weekend: 11/2 - 11/3 (9am Sat - 3pm Sun)
*There will be an optional/supplemental weekend workshop on 10/12 - 10/13 hosted by the NC Arboretum. Separate registration is required for those who wish to attend this weekend. Details coming soon.
Field Trip locations will be within 1 hr drive from Sylva, NC and 1.5 hrs from Asheville
This course is a 10 week introduction to the timeless tradition of animal tracking. Based in Western NC, The Art of Tracking is an opportunity for people of all experience levels to develop and hone our ecological knowledge and naturalist skills. Drawing on the wisdom of land-based peoples around the globe as well as modern wildlife science we will learn to identify the tracks and signs left by local mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. By focusing our attention on the clues written on natural world we can gain insight into the the hidden lives of these wonderful creatures and deepen our connections with the natural world.
Course Details & Logistics
(Please read in full before completing registration)
Can I still register?
I can’t come to all the field trips, can I still participate?
Yes! Folks who can’t commit to the entire series are welcome to join for just one or two field trips and/or only attend the online sessions. Simply fill out the registration form and indicate your availability. Then donate whatever amounts feels right!
What is the Cost?
This course is offered on a sliding scale with a suggested donation of $150 - $350*. Donating at the upper end of this sliding scale helps ensure these programs remain accessible to those with less financial means. Please donate whatever amount feels accessible and reflective of the value you see in this program.
*No one will be turned away for lack of funds- if you are really excited to learn about wildlife tracking but can’t make a financial contribution that is perfectly fine! We especially encourage BIPOC, LGBTQ+, young people and other folks from marginalized communities to attend at whatever cost feels accessible. Wild Remembering would not be where we are today if not for the scholarships and financial support we have received from generous teachers and organizations.
Learn more about our philosophy of Gift Economy.
Who is this course for?
From complete beginners to outdoor professionals who wish to add a new skill to their naturalist repertoire, this course is designed to be accessible and beneficial for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of wildlife track & sign. As a participant you will choose your own challenge and engage with the materials to whatever degree best suits you and your personal learning goals.
With wildlife tracking there are always new mysteries to puzzle over and signs to discover and as a facilitator I strive to keep participants of all levels challenged and learning. That said, the online portions of this course will focus primarily on the fundamentals of track and gait analysis so will be most appropriate to folks who are relatively new to the art of tracking. I encourage those who might already have an intermediate or advanced knowledge of tracking to reach out to me directly at info@wildremembering.com to learn about more advanced tracker trainings which will be offered in the future.
Where & when will the course take place?
ONLINE CLASSES
Thursday evenings on Google Meet 8/22, 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 11/7 (6:30 - 8:30pm)
These sessions will be recorded for those who can’t attend live.
GROUP FIELD TRIPS*
Saturdays: 8/31, 9/14, 9/28 (9am - 5pm)+ Full Weekend: 11/2 - 11/3 (9am Sat - 3pm Sun)
Field Trip locations will be within 1 hr drive from Sylva, NC and 1.5 hr from Asheville. Possible locations include Fontana Lake and Needmore Gamelands near Bryson City, NC. Carpools will be available.
*I will also be co-teaching a Weekend Tracking Workshop on 10/12 - 10/13 at the NC Arboretum which will be an optional/ supplemental field trip for this course. The topics covered and activities of that workshop will have some overlap with topics of this course but will mostly be unique. Participants in this course are encouraged but not required to attend. Registration for the NC Arboretum workshop is separate and can be completed through the NC Arboretum website. More details to follow.
Will there be homework?
In addition to the online classes and field trips, participants will be encouraged to spend at least 15 minutes per day at their “sit spot.” Additionally participants will be invited to complete optional weekly quizzes, tracking journals, and study assignments/readings.
Some folks might choose to spend every waking moment searching for tracks, sketching, journaling, and studying while others might be contented with just a few casual strolls down your neighborhood trail admiring the tracks in the mud. It’s up to you: you can be the master of your own tracking destiny!
What will I need?
Animal Tracks Field Guide - To get the most out of this course you will need an accurate and thorough guide to local animal tracks. The gold standard is the book Mammal Tracks & Sign by Mark Elbroch. A more affordable and convenient (but less comprehensive) option is the smartphone app iTrack Pro. Other optional books will be listed on the Tracking Resources list upon registration.
Notebook and pencil - These will be needed to take notes, record measurements, and make sketches. Rite in the Rain or other waterproof field notebooks are recommended. An additional larger format grid or blank notebook is optional for those who wish to compile a Tracking Journal.
Ruler and/or measuring tape - Essential tools for any tracker, we’ll use these to get accurate measurements of tracks and gait patterns.
Clothing and Footwear- We will be outdoors and exposed to the elements for all field trip days. Seasonally-appropriate layers, hat, and rain jacket are recommended. Boots or hiking shoes with good traction are required as many of our tracking locations will be muddy and/or uneven terrain.
That’s it! - You don’t need any specialty equipment or fancy toys to become a great tracker, just your patience and your curious attention to details.
Interested but this course won’t work for you?
Please fill out this interest form to help us design and schedule future courses!
About Your Teacher
Topher Stephens has been a leader of outdoor and experiential education programs for over 15 years. Drawing from his background in conservation biology, mindfulness education, and nature-based mentoring, he brings a reverence for all life and a deep respect for the more-than-human world to his teaching. He has studied tracking with Cascadia Wild, Wilderness Awareness School, and Southwest Online Tracker Training. He currently holds a Level 2 Track & Sign certificate from Cybertracker North America. Aside from tracking, he is an avid birder, songwriter, whittler, and wilderness guide. He currently resides in his childhood home on the Caney Fork of the Tuckaseegee and is stoked to share his love of nature with passionate folks in his home community.