Earth Nectar

Wildlife Tracking is the art and science of reading the 'book of nature'. 

Written in the sand, left the leaves, scratched into the bark, and drifting on the wind, through awareness of track and sign, we can learn to perceive the diversity of magnificent beings interacting with the landscape and each other.

Bobcat bonanza! Jon and Sarah found this area of high bobcat activity at Gazo's Beach, California. There were many bobcat trails leading in and out of this small area in the dunes. Some trails were heading out to hunting grounds, while others ducked into the bushes for safe cover. (Photo Sarah, 2022)

Building Relationships with Nature

Not all schools of Wildlife Tracking are the same! The way of tracking presented in this course is foremost about making connections and building relationships with Nature. We approach tracking as a way of learning about, perceiving, and experiencing our wild relations that goes beyond simply attaining factual knowledge. 

This way of tracking holds the intention of expanding our awareness of the natural world, creating and deepening relationships with the beings of nature, and understanding our place as humans. 

We emphasize 'learning how to learn' in an embodied, natural, and curiosity-driven way. 

The journey ultimately opens us to the felt sense of connection, a visceral feeling of oneness, of knowing, belonging, being at home in nature, and being part of the family of nature.

This course is grounded in the details of identifying tracks and sign, the Science of Tracking. However, we will transcend the need to always have the 'right' answer as that is not our end goal. As soon as we think we know something, we stop asking questions. If we stop asking questions, we shut down our awareness, and stifle the flow of communication that is constantly moving in nature.

The more we track, the more questions we will have. The questions move us toward answers, and more questions, and eventually will find ourselves enjoying the journey of awareness, steeped in the ever unfolding mystery of our natural world. In this way, we can discover the Art of Tracking.