Cascadia Wild

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  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Equity Statement
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Board of Directors
    • Supporters
    • Annual Report
  • Wolverine Tracking Project
    • About the WTP
    • Camera Surveys
    • Scat Surveys >
      • About Scat Surveys
      • Fox Scat Survey
      • Wolf Scat Survey
    • Winter Tracking >
      • Winter Tracking Surveys
      • Tracking Apprenticeship
      • Be a Tracking Leader
    • Internship
    • WTP Findings
  • Classes
    • About our Classes
    • Naturalist Training Program
    • Tracking Classes
    • Botany Classes
    • Outdoor Survival Skills Classes
  • Get Involved
    • Calendar
    • Tracking Club
    • Nature Book Club
    • Join the WTP
    • Join the Board
    • Development and Outreach Lead Position
    • Contact Us
    • Join our Mailing List
  • Donate
  • Blog
  • Shop

Tracking Apprenticeship
wolverine tracking project -   winter tracking surveys

The Wolverine Tracking Project's Tracking Surveys depend on knowledgeable trackers, and we would love to teach you!
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The Tracking Apprenticeship is designed to develop your skills in two key areas:
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  • Tracking: Interpreting the tracks and sign of wildlife of the Mt Hood National Forest.
 
  • Leadership: Helping others on their own tracking journeys, managing the group to ensure surveys are carried out safely and accurately​, and sharing in Cascadia Wild’s mission of connecting people with the natural world.
Tracking Leaders and Apprentices are the backbone of the Wolverine Tracking Project’s Winter Tracking Surveys. The Tracking Apprenticeship program provides an opportunity to learn in-depth tracking skills and leadership skills, while playing a crucial role in collecting wildlife data!

Part of the apprenticeship involves helping out on survey trips, under the guidance of the Tracking Leaders. Here, you get important "dirt time," practicing your tracking skills under the mentorship of skilled trackers. The surveys are also an opportunity to learn what it takes to lead an group in the outdoors, plus get hands-on experience practicing these leadership skills. The surveys also need your help! As an apprentice, you will assist the Tracking Leader by helping out with survey coordination, volunteer support, following survey protocols, and, as your knowledge increases, with track identification and teaching. Apprentices play a crucial role in making the surveys happen.

A Tracking Apprentice has a lot to learn – tracking skills, teaching skills, group management, wilderness safety, and more. ​The apprenticeship is also about guiding you to the training that would be most helpful to you. ​Everybody comes in with different knowledge and skills, and different needs. This training could be taking classes (either through Cascadia Wild or other organizations), attending tracking club, or a variety of things. We will help you asses your skills and goals, and together determine a plan to get you the skills you need.

Regular meetings throughout the year will help ensure you stay on target, process what you are learning, have a place to ask questions, and support you in your learning journey. 
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We ask that Apprentices commit to at least three survey trips in a season. We encourage you, however, to use this time to learn and grow to its full benefit, participating in as many surveys as you are able.

Benefits

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Learn in-depth wildlife tracking skills
Tracking can open up a whole new world as you are able to learn about the presence of animals that you may not be able to observe directly. Tracking is also an important non-invasive survey method for people interested in going into the natural resources field.

Develop leadership skills
Develop confidence being in front of a group, and knowledge of how to safety and effectively guide people in an outdoor environment. 

Part of fun group of people
Tracking Leaders have a great wealth of knowledge and passion for tracking - and they like to have fun, too! This is a great group of people to learn from, go tracking with, support on a survey team, sharing in and building a community of enthusiastic trackers.
Give back to the community
As you develop your tracking and leadership skill sets, you also share your knowledge and you passion with others in the community. ​

Contribute to wildlife research
Tracking Apprentices facilitate the collection of data on the wildlife of Mt. Hood National Forest. Researchers and wildlife managers rely on our data to understand these animals and inform management decisions.

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. ​
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Qualifications

  • Some basic knowledge of tracking and/or the wildlife on the Mt Hood National Forest
  • Eagerness to learn more tracking skills
  • Enthusiasm for sharing you knowledge with others
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to pay attention to detail and accurately follow survey protocols
  • High degree of responsibility
  • Attuned with the values and mission of Cascadia Wild: to inspire a personal connection to community and the natural world. 
  • Comfortable performing the described role of the Tracking Apprentice
  • Previous leadership experience in an outdoor setting is helpful but not required
  • Able to commit to at least three surveys per season​
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becoming a tracking leader

Trackers who master the skill sets of tracking and leadership are invited to join the Cascadia Wild Leadership Team - and become a Tracking Leader! 
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When both the Tracking Apprentice and Leadership Team feel confident in the apprentice's skills, they have the opportunity to take a formal evaluation to become a Tracking Leader. For some, mastery of these skills is possible in one season, but for most people this takes several years. The time needed in the apprenticeship depends on the level of experience you bring as well as the amount of time you are able to commit each season.

Learn more about Becoming a Tracking Leader.
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​Interested in becoming a Tracking Apprentice?​
Contact Us
We will meet with you to discuss your interest, experience, and training needs; answer any questions you may have about the apprenticeship; and get you set up with the next steps. ​
Are you interested in the Tracking Apprenticeship but you... 
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  • Want to learn more about the Wolverine Tracking Project first?    Join the Tracking Surveys!
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  • ​Need to build your tracking skills? ​  Sign up for Tracking Classes or come to the monthly Tracking Club! ​
 
  • Would like more information or are not sure where to start?   Contact us! 
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Volunteer Login:
Camera Crew
Fox Team
Wolf Team

Tracking Team​
​5431 NE 20th Ave Portland OR 97211
info@cascadiawild.org
503-235-9533
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