What WTI Students Say About Their Experience

 

"The learning environment was outstanding. The lead instructors, Jonathan and Terry, brought exceptional depth of experience and took care to explain concepts clearly and thoroughly. This class made me a better tracker. The inquiry-based methodology introduced in the first weekend provided a clear structure for investigation and decision making in the field. The quality of instruction—both from the instructors and from fellow students—expanded my skills and understanding significantly. When I took a CyberTracker test midway through the course, I was able to apply the methodology effectively, which clearly demonstrated its value."

Paul Long, Tahoe CA

 

"I believe this class provided me essential tools and broadened my skillset to apply knowledge in the field. Jonathan was able to help answer questions that were unique to my area and how some of the information we learned could be applied throughout varying bioregions. Since being in the class I have found myself seeing more track & sign on my own while also having more confidence in my ability to track on my own and trust my skills. The overall organization and key focuses on processes, observational skills, and organization of information have been really helpful and I'm super grateful."

Ashly Azzurro, Portland OR

 

“If you possess an ounce of curiosity and a love of wild nature then this class will meet you there and grow inquisitiveness into investigation. Everyday was a joy; roaming for sign, discussing the process for identification, mimicking gaits, extracting as many clues as possible from the environment, and discovering whatever surprises mother nature had for us.

Jonathan uses a variety of tools in his teaching, and seems to be equally enthusiastic to engage students on whatever level they may be at, from a total novice like myself, to the seasoned trackers in our cohort. The atmosphere is welcoming, warm, and collaborative. The course is designed in such a way that you can expand your learning deeper and deeper in between classes if that is what you want. The skills and understanding I have gained from this course have enriched and changed how I explore, see, hear, smell, touch, and read nature. I can't recommend it enough!”

Ben Mattingly, Montpelier VT

 

"This class has super-charged my tracking. I had done some prior classes and workshops, but this one has been by far the most impactful, and I feel it has given me a solid foundation to build on. The tools shared during the course (process, journals, species accounts) also have given me a path forward to continue learning and growing. Beyond the tracking, the wide and deep knowledge of natural history brought by the course instructors was astounding. I learned so much. Thank you!"

Jimmy Kidd, San Diego CA

 

"Tracking with Jonathan has been an incredible way to help build my tracking skills and awareness of natural history. He is a knowledgeable guide who is also invested in teaching the process. I’ve not only learn about tracks but also how to become a better tracker. He emphasizes honing direct observations, taking plenty of time for students to learn how to really see a track or sign before considering interpretation. This simple yet highly effective process has empowered me to go further on my own as a tracker, seeing nuances and subtly I didn’t before.

I appreciate the balance Jonathan offers between time for formally learning new concepts with time in the field reading the stories of the landscape. He has lots of patience for questions and gives space to hear from everyone in the group. The group setting has been key in accelerating my learning, as others ask questions I wouldn't have considered and see nuances in the tracks that I had not. I would highly recommend taking a class with Jonathan. His energy and desire to keep wildlife tracking and naturalist skills alive are powerful and carry through to this programs and into his students. I have learned so much through his tracking apprenticeship and am eager to continue the journey as I look forward to my first tracking evaluation.”

Rose Richter, Mount Holly VT

 

"Jonathan is an amazing mentor. I not only learn a lot in his classes, but I leave with tools and principles that continue to aid me in my own dirt time. He does a great job at guiding his students through efficient and systematic methods for interpreting observations as well as helping us zoom out to see the bigger picture. I've been tracking for a few years now and have learned more from his classes than I have in any other class I've taken so far. I travel six hours to take his classes and I never regret it!"

Jay Comstock, Aubrey NY

 

"I leave the class feeling I have a better window into how to study and prepare for field excursions. I also have a better window into how much there is to learn. Grateful for focus on applying a repeatable, clearly-defined process. I feel as though that has and will continue to help me be a better tracker."

Kim Koenigs, Ramona CA

 

“The apprenticeship was a wonderful experience. It has opened up so many new paths of  connection to the world around me that had previously gone unnoticed. It has  been nothing short of a transformational experience.  A huge reason for the success of the program is the superb teaching of Jonathan. In  addition to having an immense repository of knowledge, their teaching styles are filled with patience,  enthusiasm, humility, and creativity. Information is presented in an accessible and digestible way, with  questions and curiosity encouraged at every turn. This creates an ideal learning environment to  strengthen and grow one's connection to the natural world and become reacquainted with knowledge  often overlooked in our modern society.”

Andrew Gribbin, East Montpelier VT

 

"I came to the Tracking Intensive with a good set of fundamentals but recognized there was room to level up. Prior to the class my last eval was an 89%. After taking the course I have every confidence I'll break through to a level 3 or beyond.Jonathan is extremely engaging as a teacher. He presents the science of tracking in a systematic fashion—and when he says, “ladies and gentlemen, we have a story!” your ears perk up because you know he's seen something fascinating and is about to share it. In the class we found evidence of owls hunting in trees above woodrat nests, a shrike nest and their cough pellets full of tiny mammal bones and insect parts. It was electric.

Roger Moore, Marina del Rey CA

 

“Jonathan's tracking apprenticeship was, like all of his courses, incredibly in depth, yet approachable. Our class consisted of people just dipping their toes into the world of tracking to people who had received their professional certification --- and all were engaged and interested due to the lesson and teaching format! The community aspect was great too, with a lot of people sleeping over in the little shop and sharing in on a potluck dinner.

Overall, the content covered was digestible and applicable to real-life scenarios. We covered a wide range of material, but it never felt rushed or overwhelming. Jonathan himself is a great guy, and encourages questions, pointers, and discussion during his classes --- furthering to the learning and community aspects. Overall, I would highly recommend the tracking apprenticeship to anyone interested in animals, tracking, the natural world, or just getting out in nature in general!”

Audrey Dowell, Thetford VT

 

"The interactive nature of it was the best. Making my own observations followed by immediate feedback was great for learning. Also the wide-ranging discussions with experts. Some of the most interesting topics were drilling deeper with someone who knows an animal very well, or being able to ask about behavior from wildlife related to the one we're viewing tracks or sign from.

In just a couple days I really trained my mind better for how to approach tracking, and greatly improved my ability take in many sources of information in a useful way. Heather and I camped for a few days after the class and were surprised at how much more we were able to see. We followed sidewinder tracks down a wash for the first time and noticed a desert tortoise trail for the first time immediately following our class!"

Aaron Scruggs, Las Vegas NV

 

"I loved the Naturalist Apprenticeship! At the beginning of the year I felt so overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge out there. Over the year, I learned more and my capacity to learn grew. Now I have a solid base and the framework to keep on learning.”

Harley Copeland, Corinth VT

 

"Jonathan is an excellent teacher and communicator. He is very skilled at guiding students through the  sometimes overwhelming amount of information needed to become a competent naturalist. While he  focuses on students learning mostly through field experience, his classroom presentations and homework (always optional) are carefully designed to solidify your knowledge base between sessions. I have taken classes at multiple wilderness schools in different states over the years and I can confidently say that Jonathan really stands out as a teacher."

 Janet Dowell, Thetford, VT