Intermediate Desert Tracking

Friday, February 3, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, February 4, 8:00am – 3:00pm

Meet:
Friday Lecture - Visitor Center Discovery Lab
Saturday Field Class - Location TBA, will depend on conditions

Instructors:
Barry Martin, Western Tracking Institute founder
Anza-Borrego Tracking Team

$75 / $65 for ABF members

Every night, dramatic stories are written on our desert sand for those who can read them. Learn the age-old art of tracking and help to protect critical San Diego County wildlife habitat.

Students will learn the tracks and sign of new animals, gain a deeper knowledge of the Beginning Class species, and delve into finer details of tracking and awareness. Learn to identify tracks in various substrates, from soft sand to grass to hard dirt and clay. We'll introduce the great art of trailing (actually following the animal), and start to learn to identify animals from dental and skull identification.

No tracking experience is necessary; novice trackers are welcome to sign up at the Intermediate level.

Detailed study materials will be provided; come prepared to take notes, do some hiking and have fun. For the field days, bring lunch, water, good footwear and sun protection, and a tape measure; a camera is optional but strongly recommended.

At each of three learning levels -- Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced -- experienced tracker/naturalists from the Anza-Borrego Tracking Team (part of the San Diego Tracking Team) will provide lively, interactive evening sessions, followed by "dirt-time" (hands-on outdoor application of what we've learned) the next day. Our senior field instructor Barry Martin is a founder of the San Diego Tracking Team and the founder and lead instructor of the Western Tracking Institute.

In the months following the class, students are invited to join a transect leader for a wildlife survey. On completing the series, you'll be eligible to apprentice with the San Diego Tracking Team -- we hope you'll choose to apprentice with our local team in Anza-Borrego!