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, consider becoming a Tracking Apprentice with the Wolverine Tracking Project! 
Tracking Leaders and Apprentices are the backbone of the Wolverine Tracking Project’s Winter Tracking Surveys. The Tracking Leader Apprenticeship program is designed to develop your skills in two key areas:
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  • Tracking: Knowledge of the wildlife of Mt Hood National Forest and the interpretation of their tracks and sign.

Tracking Apprenticeship

Becoming a Tracking Leader Apprentice starts with participating in at least one season of group tracking surveys. Participating in the surveys allows potential apprentices to see what the surveys are like, experience snow tracking in the Mt. Hood area, and in general see if we are a good fit for each other.

A Tracking Leader Apprentice has a lot to learn – tracking skills, teaching skills, group management, and more. Part of the apprenticeship is about guiding you to the training that would be most helpful to you. This could be taking classes, either through Cascadia Wild or other organizations, participating in tracking surveys, attending tracking club, or a variety of things. We will asses your skills and goals and together determine a plan to get you the skills you need. First and foremost, we want to ensure you develop a good knowledge base, especially in regards to tracking skills.

Being an apprentice also involves receiving guided mentorship on group survey trips. Tracking surveys are an excellent way to learn both tracking skills as well leadership skills. As an apprentice, you will assist the Tracking Leader by helping out with survey coordination, volunteer support, protocol adherence, and, as your knowledge increases, with track identification and teaching. This mentorship helps ensure apprentices feel comfortable leading volunteers and running a safe, effective survey. Apprentices, in turn, fill an important role on survey trips by assisting Leaders.

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 needed to master the tracking and leadership skill sets.

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 individual Trackers 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 (this can be gained by participating in the group tracking surveys mentioned above)

  • 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.

​Interested in becoming a Tracking Leader Apprentice?
​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. 
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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 leadership 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 apprentice has the opportunity to take a formal 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 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 is possible in one season, but for most people this takes several years. The time needed in the apprenticeship depends on the level of tracking experience you bring as well as the amount of time you are able to commit each season.

After being promoted to Tracking Leader, we will continue to pair you with an experienced leader for your first several trips, who will shadow you to provide assistance if necessary, until you feel confident leading on your own.

Learn more about Becoming a Tracking Leader.