Intro to Wildlife Tracking and Nature Connection
Point Reyes Peninsula, San Geronimo Valley, China Camp, Deer Park, Mount Tamalpais
with Scott Davidson and friends
Looking at this blooming landscape on the edge of one of the world's largest valleys, who specifically lives here and how do they make a living through the seasons? Badgers, Grey foxes, Mule deer, Pallid bats? Do they need shelter in this season, or do they thrive in the rain? How about favorite foods and foraging grounds here? Where else do these animals live in California, and what do they tell us about the ecology of these places?
Let's go tracking together to learn what wild lives are out there, what they're up to, how to respectfully share habitat with them, or even why it matters! You can learn to read Nature more fully, let Nature tell its story, and feel a part of this story everyday. What adventures call you outside? What inside of you is touched and fulfilled by your time in Nature?
We were born for this. Let's connect with this place and learn to tend it well.
Let's go tracking together to learn what wild lives are out there, what they're up to, how to respectfully share habitat with them, or even why it matters! You can learn to read Nature more fully, let Nature tell its story, and feel a part of this story everyday. What adventures call you outside? What inside of you is touched and fulfilled by your time in Nature?
We were born for this. Let's connect with this place and learn to tend it well.
Twilight Tracking Series ~ Discovering Wildlife on the Edge
Welcome to the rich wild edges of your own neighborhood!
The Twilight Tracking Series is designed to make wildlife tracking easy and accessible for your well-being physically, mentally and spiritually. Like a morning run, mediation practice, yoga after work or dance class, each session is relatively short and close to home so you can easily weave it into the start or end of your day.
**For Current Twilight Students: Post your weekly tracking highlights, intentions, goals, species lists and observations in the Series (closed group)
We believe tracking is for everyone, and want you to thrive with deep connection to your place. We are all innately curious and sensitive. We all learn to recognize patterns all around us, often unconsciously without much effort. Learning language skills comes naturally too, be it verbal, musical, somatic and otherwise. We soon begin to see the relationships between things and the communities at play, enabling us to read and confidently tell the stories of a place with incredible precision.
Wildlife tracking is a skill and a way of being that’s always available to everyone. What are you curious about in this season? What are you noticing outside right now? What's your personal influence on our loved predators such as bobcats, foxes and otters, and how might you take responsibility for that?
By stepping outside to engage a wild landscape, you are opening your body, heart, mind and spirit to the wildlife community of that place, opening to the possibility of learning its language, consciously connecting and someday belonging with that place, where you recognize that particular bird and what she’s saying, and she recognizes you. You both belong here. Let's go tracking!
The Twilight Tracking Series is designed to make wildlife tracking easy and accessible for your well-being physically, mentally and spiritually. Like a morning run, mediation practice, yoga after work or dance class, each session is relatively short and close to home so you can easily weave it into the start or end of your day.
**For Current Twilight Students: Post your weekly tracking highlights, intentions, goals, species lists and observations in the Series (closed group)
We believe tracking is for everyone, and want you to thrive with deep connection to your place. We are all innately curious and sensitive. We all learn to recognize patterns all around us, often unconsciously without much effort. Learning language skills comes naturally too, be it verbal, musical, somatic and otherwise. We soon begin to see the relationships between things and the communities at play, enabling us to read and confidently tell the stories of a place with incredible precision.
Wildlife tracking is a skill and a way of being that’s always available to everyone. What are you curious about in this season? What are you noticing outside right now? What's your personal influence on our loved predators such as bobcats, foxes and otters, and how might you take responsibility for that?
By stepping outside to engage a wild landscape, you are opening your body, heart, mind and spirit to the wildlife community of that place, opening to the possibility of learning its language, consciously connecting and someday belonging with that place, where you recognize that particular bird and what she’s saying, and she recognizes you. You both belong here. Let's go tracking!
- Each session includes practices of ethics, gratitude, meditation, intention, empathy, imagination, artful questions and trust.
- Each session offers place-based lessons in wildlife ecology, species identification, animal behavior, lacks and larders.
- Sunrise and sunset sessions near twilight (7:30 AM and 7:00 PM) emphasize learning bird language (different from classic birding, but complimentary).
- The terrain is mild to moderate. Class begins and ends within 10 minutes of the trailhead parking. All ages welcomed.
- Members also have access to Track It! bi-weekly mysteries, Habitat Maps services, DNG.com weekly newsletter and abundant online resources to support your learning.
- All Twilight Tracking sessions are guided by Scott Davidson and special guests.
"I loved every minute of it! Scott is a great teacher ~ knowledgeable, skillful, wise, humble..." -MK of Santa Barbara, CA
"I now have a renewed sense of confidence in my ability as a tracker. With Scott’s mentoring I was able to move through 'trailing walls' that previously would have discouraged me. Feeling grateful and satisfied." -MB of Sebastopol, CA
"I now have a renewed sense of confidence in my ability as a tracker. With Scott’s mentoring I was able to move through 'trailing walls' that previously would have discouraged me. Feeling grateful and satisfied." -MB of Sebastopol, CA
Cost: $15 drop in, $45 4-class pass, $90 unlimited anywhere for the entire season (dozens of classes!). Get $5 back for each registered friend. Kids come free. Scholarships, donations and gift economies are also available. All are welcome.
Tuesday PMs in Spring-Summer:
PART 1: 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25
PART 2: 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27
China Camp in the San Pablo Bay watershed in San Rafael is a hidden spot with sweet and salty waters and an incredible view! Let's meet at the roadside trailhead for Turtle Back Hill on North San Pedro Road just passed the main campground entrance in China Camp State Park, 3.5 miles from Hwy 101:
https://goo.gl/maps/stXDbkzmdBy
Wednesday AMs in Spring-Summer:
PART 1: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26
PART 2: 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28
Roy's Redwoods in the San Geronimo Creek Watershed is a gem with old-growth redwoods, and the Spotted Owls within them! Let's meet on the main trailhead on Nicasio Valley Road just North of Sir Francis Drake Blvd and the golf course:
https://goo.gl/maps/pL9naDN4gzJ2
Thursday PMs in Spring-Summer:
PART 1: 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27
PART 2: 6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29
Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Open Space near San Domenico School in San Anselmo. Let's meet at the roadside trailhead on Butterfield Road just inside the school campus before the horse stables, 2.3 miles from Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Directions are here:
https://goo.gl/maps/ud9uehnDzkQ2
Friday AMs in Spring-Summer:
PART 1: 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24
PART 2: 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30
Deer Park in the San Anselmo Creek Watershed in Fairfax is popular among bikers and barkers, and yet is still a very rich wildlife corridor! Let's meet near the open field at the beginning of the Deer Park parking lot, 4.9 miles West of Hwy 101 and 5.0 miles East of Spirit Rock:
https://goo.gl/maps/EzRC3B8LWPF2
Track It! Mysteries ~ Weekly Interactive Tracking Lessons
Track It! Mystery #1:
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Got wildflowers (and flower lovers) nearby? Everyone does somewhere this time of year. Where's the nearest bloomer to where you're reading this right now, literally? Go find it, and see who else found it too, even if the sun is down. Bees, aphids, ants, spiders, birds, deer, who? What's the story of your nearest flower? It's not all nectar, ya know... ;)
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Take a pic of what you find then send it to me or post it in the Track It! Forum. I'd love to see it!
Do you ever wish you could learn the language of wildlife tracking and ecology, but you just don't have time?
Ever get stuck in a rut with autopilot, tunnel vision or zoning out?
Naturally, many of us do!
Track It! Mysteries make learning tracking easy and deepening engagement natural with very accessible bi-weekly tracking mysteries of the moment sent directly to you. This is a very simple and accessible service that invites you snap out of the rut, notice the amazing life all around you and become part of a much bigger story. You choose how to receive the bi-weekly mysteries via txt, email or Facebook. Scott personally responds every time you share with insightful questions, encouragement and further resources. Members are part of a seasonal community playfully committed to deepening engagement with your home habitat. It's super easy, naturally fun and truly satisfying.
Every Track It! Mystery includes:
Ever get stuck in a rut with autopilot, tunnel vision or zoning out?
Naturally, many of us do!
Track It! Mysteries make learning tracking easy and deepening engagement natural with very accessible bi-weekly tracking mysteries of the moment sent directly to you. This is a very simple and accessible service that invites you snap out of the rut, notice the amazing life all around you and become part of a much bigger story. You choose how to receive the bi-weekly mysteries via txt, email or Facebook. Scott personally responds every time you share with insightful questions, encouragement and further resources. Members are part of a seasonal community playfully committed to deepening engagement with your home habitat. It's super easy, naturally fun and truly satisfying.
Every Track It! Mystery includes:
- Living local mysteries of wildlife tracks and signs that you can find in the field (not just a collection or catalog),
- Custom bi-weekly note shared via txt, email, Facebook or Instagram,
- Simple interactions with Scott and other community members,
- Personal mentoring moments just for you,
- Community discussions if you wish,
- Online webpage forum for your photos, questions and findings,
- Satisfaction of being authentically curious, alive and engaged with life in community.
Cost: 30$ per month (just a buck a day). Space is limited. Please join us!
Watershed Tracks: San Geronimo Valley
In conjunction with the local Watershed Walks pilgrimages, Watershed Tracks are artfully guided wildlife tracking sessions in our local watersheds. Let's discover, connect with and celebrate the ecology and wildlife in your watershed. Please join us!
Next Watershed Tracks: TBD in April from 1:00-5:00pm, along the Petaluma River
Next Watershed Tracks: TBD in April from 1:00-5:00pm, along the Petaluma River
Are you ready to go deeper?
Check out these Tracking Immersions...
Check out these Tracking Immersions...