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Environmental Studies Institute: CyberTracker Track & Sign Evaluations

Sunday, February 12, 2023,
8:30 am
to 5:00 pm

  • This event has passed.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this course has been canceled due to poor tracking conditions.

A group examines animal tracks on a winter hike at the Harris Center's Hiroshi Land. (photo © Ben Conant)

CyberTracker’s Track & Sign Evaluations help us to build a skillset for exploring the vast world of wildlife tracking. While we always cover key themes, every tracking experience is unique — we go where the tracks take us! Topics that will likely be explored: clear and obscure track identification; sign interpretation; wildlife behavior and natural history; animal movement and track pattern interpretation; aging tracks and sign; and more. While CyberTracker Evaluations are the international gold standard for the certification of professional wildlife trackers, they are also ideal trainings for people of all skill levels who want to learn how to accurately read evidence of local wildlife and gain new tools in their development as naturalists.

The call to investigate a question about who left a sign and to come up with an interpretation transforms our level of attention, focus, and how we absorb and retain information. Combined with a supportive and entertaining group-learning experience and a mind-bending diversity of wildlife sign, this becomes a uniquely powerful, skill-changing experience.

This is both a certification for those who desire it and a rich learning experience for all, unlike any other “test” that most of us might be familiar with. There is immediate feedback and group discussion throughout the process. Evaluators emphasize learning and development, so every participant leaves the event more knowledgeable about local wildlife, with more “search images” for the subtle patterns they leave on the landscape, ultimately giving us a stronger connection to the natural world.

No prior tracking experience is required in order to participate, but preparation can be helpful. There are many levels of certification. To earn a certificate, participants will have to hit a minimum score threshold. However, the underlying impetus is not just about getting a certificate, but rather the rich educational benefit the evaluation provides. Tracking skill accrues with experience, and evaluations are an effective tool for rapidly increasing one’s ability and measuring progress over time. You can learn more at trackercertification.com.

This class meets on Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Harris Center & local field sites.

Cost: $200 for Harris Center supporters / $250 for all others

Instructor: Nate Harvey trains and evaluates wildlife trackers for CyberTracker North America in both Trailing and Track & Sign Identification. This work takes him around North America and Europe. Additionally, he teaches multi-weekend Trailing Intensives near his home in southern Vermont. For more information about Nate and his work, visit trackerstrail.com.

Space is limited, and registration is required. For questions about registration, please contact Miles Stahmann. For other questions, contact Phil Brown.

Details

Date:
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Time:
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Series:
Events Categories:
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Contacts

Phil Brown
Phone:
(603) 525-3394
Email:
brown@harriscenter.org
Miles Stahmann
Phone:
(603) 525-3394
Email:
stahmann@harriscenter.org

Location

Harris Center for Conservation Education
83 Kings Hwy
Hancock, NH 03449 United States
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