Reading the Story of the Land: Tracks, Sign & Wildlife Tracking in Practice – $55 US
Reading the Story of the Land: Tracks, Sign & Wildlife Tracking in Practice
Step into the quiet language of the land and learn to read the stories written beneath your feet.
This field-based workshop offers an immersive introduction to the art and science of wildlife tracking. Designed for beginners and intermediate participants, it will guide you through observing, identifying, and interpreting tracks and sign on the landscape.
Together, we will explore how to recognize and identify tracks through foot morphology and track characteristics, as well as track patterns and gait (how the animals are moving). We will also expand beyond footprints to include the wider language of the land — feeding sign, scat, scent marking, beds, trails, and other subtle indicators of animal presence.
A central focus is learning to read the story behind the tracks. Participants will be introduced to both systematic and speculative tracking — asking questions, forming hypotheses, and interpreting animal movement and behaviour through the clues left behind.
Guided through a blend of direct instruction, observation, and inquiry-based learning, participants will begin to develop their own tracking process in the field.
We will also explore the broader ecological context in which these stories unfold, recognizing tracking as a way of understanding relationships between animals, their environment, and the patterns that shape their lives.
This workshop offers a practical look into the tracker’s toolbox while strengthening observation skills, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.
Experienced trackers are welcome and will find opportunities to refine their observational practice and deepen their tracking skills.
Open to all experience levels.
Email earthtracks@gmail.com for more information
Earth Tracks — Connecting People to Nature.
Friday September 4th – 9am – 1 pm – Humboldt County, Northern California USA
Cost: $55 US
Registration Info:
You can send your payment of $55 US to me via paypal by following this link. Please choose the option that says you are sending money to ‘family/friend’ and this way we can avoid the extra fees.
