Tracking Apprenticeship
With the wolverine tracking project
winter tracking surveys

Are you passionate about the outdoors and the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest?
Do you want to share this passion with others and play a vital role in contributing to community science, all while furthering your tracking knowledge and leadership abilities?

If you answered yes to these questions, we invite you to be a Tracking Apprentice! 
Tracking Leaders and Apprentices are the backbone of the Wolverine Tracking Project’s Winter Tracking Surveys. Under the mentorship of Tracking Leaders, Tracking Apprentices develop their skills in two key areas:
  
  • Tracking: Knowledge of the wildlife of Mt Hood National Forest and the identification and interpretation of their track and sign. This skill set is important not only for data collection of our local wildlife, but also for educating others.
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  • Leadership: Help other trackers along their own tracking journeys, while ensuring surveys are carried out accurately and safely. Share in Cascadia Wild’s mission: to inspire a personal connection to community and the natural world. 

Tracking Apprenticeship

The Tracking Apprentice assists a Tracking Leader on Group Tracking Surveys: helping out with survey coordination, protocol adherence, volunteer support, and sharing the values of Cascadia Wild. As their knowledge increases, Tracking Apprentices also assist with track identification and teaching. Teaching others tracking is one of the best ways to learn tracking yourself! 

​We ask that Apprentices commit to at least four surveys in a season, but we encourage the Tracking Apprentice to use this time to learn and grow to their full benefit, participating in as many surveys as needed to master the tracking and leadership skill sets. 

We hope that people will become Tracking Leaders after completion of their apprenticeship; however, a commitment to leading group tracking surveys is not required. 

Benefits

Mentored development of tracking and leadership skills. 
Not only do you receive mentorship and the opportunity to cultivate your skills, you also get to be more involved with a fun social group of Trackers, other Tracking Apprentices, and Tracking Leaders.

Giving back to the community.
As you develop your tracking and leadership skill sets, you also share your knowledge with individuals and the community. 
Contribution to wildlife research. 
You get to play an integral role both in furthering the tracking knowledge of individuals and the community and in furthering our collective knowledge of local wildlife and rare carnivores. 

Class discounts. 
The Tracking Apprentice receives all the same benefits as any of our volunteers, including discounts on most Cascadia Wild classes. 

During the second year of the apprenticeship, a Tracking Apprentice with a strong commitment to becoming a Tracking Leader may be eligible to take select Cascadia Wild classes for free. ​

Qualifications

  • Completion of at least one season of Group Tracking Surveys and participation in at least two surveys

  • Basic tracking knowledge of animals commonly found in the Pacific Northwest

  • Knowledge of and desire to learn more about wildlife of Mt Hood National Forest

  • Good communication skills

  • High degree of responsibility

  • Attuned with the values and mission of Cascadia Wild

  • Comfortable performing the described role of the Tracking Apprentice

  • Previous leadership experience in an outdoor setting is helpful but not required
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  • Able to commit to at least four surveys per season.
If you fulfil these requirements and are interested in becoming a Tracking Leader Apprentice, please contact us to let us know!
You will meet with the Wolverine Tracking Project Coordinator to discuss your interest, experience, training needs, and any questions you may have about the apprenticeship, and to get you set up with the next steps. 
Are you interested in the Tracking Apprenticeship but you... 
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becoming a tracking leader

Trackers who do well in the apprenticeship and master the skill sets of tracking and leading have the opportunity to join the Cascadia Wild Leadership Team
- and become a Tracking Leader! 
When both the Tracking Apprentice and Leadership Team feel confident in their skills, the Tracking Apprentice will have the opportunity to take the Tracking Leader Evaluation. The evaluation consists of both a written and a field exam and provides valuable feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of an apprentice’s tracking and leadership skills. The evaluation also provides an objective assessment of tracking ability, which verifies that the data our Tracking Leaders collect is accurate and reliable. Successful completion of this evaluation will graduate the apprentice to the role of Tracking Leader!

For some, mastery of the Tracking Leader skills through the apprenticeship is possible in one season, but for most people this could take several seasons. The time needed in the apprenticeship depends on the level of tracking experience you bring to the apprenticeship and the level of commitment you are able to make to the apprenticeship, from going on surveys to taking the discounted classes with us or with other organizations.

Those interested in becoming a Tracking Leader are encouraged to let us know before or during their apprenticeship. We can discuss your goals, recommend classes based on the skills needed, and help guide you in your growth.

Learn more about Becoming a Tracking Leader.