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Tracking Study Groups for 2022
Greetings Trackers:
This is a memorandum of understanding regarding the Tracking Study Groups. In brief, we’ll keep the same basic organization we have now, with Wednesday, Friday and Saturday groups meeting twice a month. I am making a few changes mostly in administration. Please read the details. If you feel that additional changes should be made, please contact me.
Background: The study groups started in Sept. 2015 at the end of my SRJC class. Seven students got together and asked me to set up a yearlong tracking course. The JC didn’t want to sponsor it, so we did it ourselves. The idea is that we cut out the middleman so I get paid the same as I would at the JC, but the students get better than a 50% discount. The idea caught on and by the next year we had over 30 members. I’m really proud that at the last International tracking certification summer before the last, all 7 of my students who tested achieved certification. There are only a few thousand certified trackers on the planet. I think this speaks to the quality of mutual instruction we have been achieving, even for those who don't intend to certify.
This is not a survival/craft experience, but a mutual study wildlife-tracking course for those who want to go deeper into tracking, into trailing, bird language, and into the “spiritual” side of tracking…and to track through the 4 seasons. We base our tracking on the traditional ways, informed by modern biology and the cognitive sciences. This is tracking as a fully modern practice.
The Price is $790 for the year, paid in advance. Your year will run from the date you sign up. If necessary I am willing to work out payment schedules. I am also open to offering a few scholarships or trades to dedicated trackers who can’t afford the price. All levels are welcome. There are no qualifications needed beyond a sincere desire, although I appreciate it if you attend my JC class or one of the Introduction to Tracking and Bird Language classes on the Second Saturday of every month to be sure you are exposed to the basics. There may be a very few meetings I have to miss, but the meetings will usually still be held and I will try arrange for some other certified or experienced tracker to lead. (I’ve only missed twice in about ten years). Meetings cancelled by the weather will not be made up, as so many opportunities are available.
The original group decided we didn’t want anyone signing up for just a quarter or half the course. Part of the experience is about developing group identity so we can begin to operate as tracking teams, more like the original trackers.
Study Group members may attend any or all of the Study Group Sessions on the first and third Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You may also attend any of my other regular sessions for free, including the Introduction to Tracking on the second Saturdays, and/or the Tracking Circle on the Second Sundays, but not the JC, and not the workshops or other unscheduled events. That works out to about 120 sessions over the year, which amounts to about $6.60 /session, if my math is any good. Best tracking deal in town.
The course year will run from the date of your signup. I will ask you to pick one day, W, F, or S, as you base group. This is mainly for my administrative purposes, but the core members of the day groups do tend to bond as tracking teams. You can attend whenever you want. This material will be posted on my web site for reference. animaltrackingandbirdlanguage.com
You can mail payments to me at Jim Sullivan, P.O. Box 72, Occidental, CA 95465, or bring to the first class. If you have questions email or call 707 874 9927……js
1/12/22 Addendum:
Occasionally inactive “graduate” study group members who have moved away from the region visit the area and would like to attend a session. They are welcome. Please contact me for locations and times. $35/session. This is not intended for locals who have not signed up for the year. But the tracking circle is open to all.
ALL MEETINGS RUN FROM 8:30 TILL 12:30
You will receive notifications a few days before each meeting. Please note: Once in a while I may need to adjust a date, in which case you will receive notification as soon as I find out.
Bring water, snacks/walking lunch, binoculars. Dress appropriately. Note that along the coast it usually rains much less than inland, so I don’t cancel unless more than light sprinkles are projected.
If you need to contact me in the morning before the class, call at 707 874 9924 around 7 a.m. or up to a half hour earlier if we are scheduled in PRNS or other distant location.
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View this email in your browser
Tracking Study Groups for 2022
Greetings Trackers:
This is a memorandum of understanding regarding the Tracking Study Groups. In brief, we’ll keep the same basic organization we have now, with Wednesday, Friday and Saturday groups meeting twice a month. I am making a few changes mostly in administration. Please read the details. If you feel that additional changes should be made, please contact me.
Background: The study groups started in Sept. 2015 at the end of my SRJC class. Seven students got together and asked me to set up a yearlong tracking course. The JC didn’t want to sponsor it, so we did it ourselves. The idea is that we cut out the middleman so I get paid the same as I would at the JC, but the students get better than a 50% discount. The idea caught on and by the next year we had over 30 members. I’m really proud that at the last International tracking certification summer before the last, all 7 of my students who tested achieved certification. There are only a few thousand certified trackers on the planet. I think this speaks to the quality of mutual instruction we have been achieving, even for those who don't intend to certify.
This is not a survival/craft experience, but a mutual study wildlife-tracking course for those who want to go deeper into tracking, into trailing, bird language, and into the “spiritual” side of tracking…and to track through the 4 seasons. We base our tracking on the traditional ways, informed by modern biology and the cognitive sciences. This is tracking as a fully modern practice.
The Price is $790 for the year, paid in advance. Your year will run from the date you sign up. If necessary I am willing to work out payment schedules. I am also open to offering a few scholarships or trades to dedicated trackers who can’t afford the price. All levels are welcome. There are no qualifications needed beyond a sincere desire, although I appreciate it if you attend my JC class or one of the Introduction to Tracking and Bird Language classes on the Second Saturday of every month to be sure you are exposed to the basics. There may be a very few meetings I have to miss, but the meetings will usually still be held and I will try arrange for some other certified or experienced tracker to lead. (I’ve only missed twice in about ten years). Meetings cancelled by the weather will not be made up, as so many opportunities are available.
The original group decided we didn’t want anyone signing up for just a quarter or half the course. Part of the experience is about developing group identity so we can begin to operate as tracking teams, more like the original trackers.
Study Group members may attend any or all of the Study Group Sessions on the first and third Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You may also attend any of my other regular sessions for free, including the Introduction to Tracking on the second Saturdays, and/or the Tracking Circle on the Second Sundays, but not the JC, and not the workshops or other unscheduled events. That works out to about 120 sessions over the year, which amounts to about $6.60 /session, if my math is any good. Best tracking deal in town.
The course year will run from the date of your signup. I will ask you to pick one day, W, F, or S, as you base group. This is mainly for my administrative purposes, but the core members of the day groups do tend to bond as tracking teams. You can attend whenever you want. This material will be posted on my web site for reference. animaltrackingandbirdlanguage.com
You can mail payments to me at Jim Sullivan, P.O. Box 72, Occidental, CA 95465, or bring to the first class. If you have questions email or call 707 874 9927……js
1/12/22 Addendum:
Occasionally inactive “graduate” study group members who have moved away from the region visit the area and would like to attend a session. They are welcome. Please contact me for locations and times. $35/session. This is not intended for locals who have not signed up for the year. But the tracking circle is open to all.
ALL MEETINGS RUN FROM 8:30 TILL 12:30
You will receive notifications a few days before each meeting. Please note: Once in a while I may need to adjust a date, in which case you will receive notification as soon as I find out.
Bring water, snacks/walking lunch, binoculars. Dress appropriately. Note that along the coast it usually rains much less than inland, so I don’t cancel unless more than light sprinkles are projected.
If you need to contact me in the morning before the class, call at 707 874 9924 around 7 a.m. or up to a half hour earlier if we are scheduled in PRNS or other distant location.
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