Advanced Track and Sign Class

Instructors: Barry Martin and Western Tracking Institute
Fee: $100 for ABFI members, $110 for nonmembers

May 23, June 6, and June 27, 2009
May 23 class meets at the Discovery Lab at the ABDSP Visitor Center, June 6 and June 27 meeting locations TBA depending on weather

In this ADVANCED level class, many different exercises will be introduced and/or expanded upon, such as track and sign aging, detection of movement via concentric ring interpretation, and study of track character via debris interaction. Deeper study of awareness factors will be explored to include 6th-sense or intuitive development. This is an intensive class devoted to in depth track analysis and interpretation. The nuances of reading tracks on a macro- and micro level, track character in variable substrate, and various tracking situations, mostly involving animals, will be examined, but other exercises including lost-person and trailing will be covered. Further development of intuitive skills relating to tracking and awareness in nature will also be covered.

Each session will run from 8 am to 3 pm with an hour for lunch. Participants will need to dress appropriately for a long day in the field and bring a lunch, water, note-taking implements, a locking tape measure, a camera (optional but recommended) and other items necessary for your comfort in the field.

This track and sign training series, produced and implemented by Western Tracking Institute, is designed to produce competent trackers capable of participating in quarterly SDTT (San Diego Tracking Team) track and sign transects. The series is organized into three levels, with three sessions per level. Upon completion of the entire series (all three levels: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced), a diligent student who has conscientiously participated in every session should be capable of passing a track and sign certification evaluation administered by an approved Cybertracker USA evaluator.