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Some Wildlife Tracking Fundamentals, By Tony Deis of Trackers Northwest

Wildlife tracking is a vast subject, and it involves details far beyond impressions found in the ground. Some more subtle elements include hair and tooth marks, in addition to the more direct paw prints and scat, or waste. By collecting many pieces of evidence, one is able to make the most accurate determination of the animal in question. Serious trackers are encouraged to make plaster casts of found tracks, as well as maintain a journal of the various species, which even in one’s own backyard can be quite varied. Tracking should be done with light footing in order to minimize disturbance to the area and to permit others to investigate the same tracks. Should a trail lead to a resting animal, it is best to back down and leave it undisturbed. Tony Deis is the Director of Trackers Northwest. He facilitates many programs related to outdoor education and developed Portland State University’s Naturalist Training Program.

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Trackers Northwest Teaches Zombie Survival Techniques

Trackers Northwest, a family business providing outdoor education to communities around Portland, Oregon, will offer the Zombie Survival Ultimate: Overnight, a training course held on February 2nd, 2013. The course comes in three parts completed over roughly nine hours, 9am to 6pm.  For the first part, called The Escape, students report to the Trackers South Pit in Portland, where they secure "weapons" and the bus used to "escape" into the wilderness. During the second part, referred to as The Training, students arrive in Sandy, Oregon, where they learn to track the undead hordes, separate human from zombie, and survive in the raw elements. Scenario Engagement, the third and final part, includes a raucous series of zombie-themed activities that involve foam weapons. Warning: students may suffer a fictional demise.  Participants can also choose to "play" a zombie for the day, an option that costs $15 dollars less than playing a human. Prospective participants can log on to www.trackerspdx.com to read more about Zombie Survival Ultimate: Overnight as well as other thematically rich courses like those in wilderness survival and homesteading. 

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Trackers Northwest: A Cure for Nature-Deficit Disorder (Part II)

The problem of nature-deficit disorder is not limited to the United States. Play England, a United Kingdom-based group, reported several reasons why children do not play outside more often. Nearly a quarter of respondents had been reprimanded for playing disrupting games. More than half of adults feared that their neighbors would complain if young people were to make too much noise. Other parents feared their children would get in an accident or be abducted.  Trackers Northwest offers a solution to these problems by providing a safe and supervised environment in which children can explore nature. The camps also keep children engaged through stories and myths, as well as several imaginative themes. The many available programs include Beyond Thundercamp, where children make their own armor and transportation by using materials they find in the environment around them. Pirate Adventure participants search for treasure, and children in the Forest Fishing, Fly & Reel camp make poles themselves to catch fish with. Other camp options involve archery, boating, and gardening. Trackers Northwest operates under the guidance of Company Director Tony Deis, recognized as one of the Pacific Northwest's most skilled trackers. He draws on more than two decades of experience in environmental education when devising programs for campers.

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Trackers Northwest: A Cure for Nature-Deficit Disorder (Part I)

Operating in Portland and Eugene, Oregon, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area, Trackers Northwest provides a camp experience for children that stresses survival skills, environmental awareness, homesteading, and other aspects of the human experience that have been neglected. As a result, Trackers Northwest offers a cure for a growing problem among young people: nature-deficit disorder. Coined by author Richard Louv, nature-deficit disorder refers to the notion that children's interaction with nature, which is crucial to their intellectual and physical growth, is being supplanted by a life indoors. Instead of wading through streams, exploring the woods, and going on hikes, children are spending increasing amounts of time playing video games and watching television. Several years ago, the Recreation Participation Report found that engagement in over 100 different outdoor activities had decreased by 11 percent, most notably in children ages 6 to 12 years old. In addition, nearly half of young people who completed a survey written by Boulder, Colorado's The Outdoor Foundation reported that the reason they did not spend more time outside was because they lacked interest in the activities.

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Small Space Gardens

At Trackers Northwest, we want to help people reconnect with the land. But we know that sometimes, especially if you live in a small city apartment, it can feel like there isn’t that much land around to reconnect with. With a little resourcefulness, though, you can incorporate green and growing things into the most urban of environments. A small-space gardening trend is sweeping the country right now, bringing all kinds of innovative ideas for getting herbs and vegetables out of the tiniest of places. It can be as simple as putting a pot and some dirt on your balcony. Drill a few drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, set it on a bucket or garbage can lid to collect the drainage water, fill it with quality soil, and plant your seeds. In a dense environment like this, make sure you choose plants that will grow well together – this is called “companion planting.” For example, carrots pair well with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes, and cucumbers pair well with beans, peas, and sunflowers. If you are concerned about forgetting to water your garden, or if you are going away, you can make your own drip watering system out of a two-liter soda bottle. Drill a few holes in the plastic cap and screw it back on, cut the bottom off the bottle, dig a small hole in your pot and put in the bottle cap-side down, then fill the bottle with water or fertilizer. The water will gradually absorb into the soil as it becomes dry. Trackers Northwest is a Portland-based organization that fosters appreciation for community and nature through camps, classes, and events for children and adults.

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Register Now for Summer of Survival 2013

Starting next year, Trackers Northwest presents an exciting immersion course for adults designed to teach wilderness survival and ancient skills. Through the program’s supportive learning community that applies real world and hands-on outdoor experience; the Summer of Survival offers a comprehensive way to live and learn the secrets of existing in the wilderness.  Experienced outdoor instructors will take students on a summer-long adventure and teach a number of skills such as animal tracking, identifying wild plants and permaculture, coastal foraging, kayak building, and craft-work. Overnight field expeditions in the Summer of Survival will take place throughout the Pacific Northwest in some of Oregon’s most diverse and varied landscapes.  The Summer of Survival runs from June 23 to August 29, with core instructional days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at locations just outside Portland. The program also features four overnight expeditions in the field. Trackers Northwest offers summer camps and outdoor programs with a vision of fostering a renewed appreciation for our natural environment and community. Visit www.trackerspdx.com to find out more about us.

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Wilderness First Responder and First Aid Courses

Whether you are considering a serious outdoor expedition with a group or are seeking employment as a guide, outdoor educator, or in a similar professional setting, Wilderness First Responder and First Aid Certifications are invaluable tools to have in the event of an emergency in your party or with someone else in the outdoors. Trackers Northwest has joined with Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) to help train individuals on how to respond to emergency situations, especially when they occur in remote settings, and help manage long-term issues until assistance arrives. The Wilderness First Responder Certification is a comprehensive program that is up to date with the latest principles and practices established by WMA International Wilderness Protocols. Along with teaching students how to identify medical emergencies, patient assessment, and practicing risk management, the course offers instruction in CPR and Basic Life Support, emergency treatment of a variety of different medical issues in the field, and accident prevention methods. Courses begin in the last two weeks of October 2012, and in the last two weeks of January 2013, in Portland. Trackers Northwest offers summer camps and outdoor programs with a vision of fostering a renewed appreciation for our natural environment and community. Visit www.trackerspdx.com to find out more about Trackers Northwest.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Trackers Northwest

Q: What is Trackers Northwest?

A: As time progresses, our society gains many new and exciting skills, but also loses knowledge that allowed us to reach the heights we have achieved today: namely, outdoor skills and the common sense that helped our ancestors survive for generations. In essence, Trackers Northwest desires to create a village-type network of people united by family and a reliance on the land. Q: What type of network does the company want to create?

A: Above all else, Trackers Northwest values family. The organization is family-run and strives to forge a network of spouses, parents, siblings, and all other familial relations who help each other learn and master different skills. Q: How does the company educate people on outdoor and other survival skills?

A: In addition to mutual collaboration among family and friends within the village, the company offers guilds, which are groups of individuals who participate in camps, classes, and other events. Together, guilds embark on adventures and quests toward the end of re-learning forgotten outdoor skills. Q: Where can I learn more about the company?

A: Visit TrackersEarth.com.

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Trackers Northwest Offers a Primer on Berry-Picking in the Northwest

It’s easy to purchase berries at Oregon’s many roadside stands and farmer’s markets throughout summer and fall, but picking berries in the wild is an unforgettable adventure. Blackberries and huckleberries are the most common berries in the wild, but berry pickers also enjoy Oregon’s bounty of more unusual berries such as salmonberries, serviceberries, currants, Oregon grape, salal, gooseberries, thimbleberries, and dewberries. If you want to pick berries in one of Oregon’s beautiful forests or other public lands, pick only what you can use. Don’t be greedy, and be sure to leave berries for other people to enjoy. Keep in mind that the berries provide critical nutrition for wild birds and animals. If you’re interested in picking berries on private land, always ask the landowner for permission. Eating delicious berries fresh from the bush is part of the fun of picking wild berries, but if you have berries left at the end of the day, you can make jams, jellies, juices or pies. You can also mash the berries with a bit of honey, serve them over ice cream, or stir them into yogurt. To be safe, learn about berries before you pick, as some berries may be poisonous. Others may be protected species and harvest may be legally restricted. To learn more about Oregon’s berries, attend an outdoor camp or purchase a guidebook such as “Wild Berries of the Northwest”. A Berry-Picking Adventure is the theme of one of many summer camps offered by Trackers Northwest, a camping and outdoor skills program located in Portland, Oregon. Other exciting Trackers adventures for children ages four to 10 include Oregon Trail Adventures, Pirate Adventures, Lumberjack Skills, River Rats, and Comic Book Superheroes.