OFFERINGS
WILDLIFE TRACKING INTENSIVES
Women's Wildlife Tracking Intensive
January - June, 2027
Dates: January 9, February 6, March 6, April 17, May 8 and June 19. Note that Sundays of the same weekends are back-up weather dates.
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Join a small group of women trackers for a 6-month long wildlife tracking intensive. Programs take place in various locations in western Massachusetts (mainly) and southern Vermont (possibly) in winter, spring and summer months. Participants will become more proficient with: identification of tracks and sign of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates; recognition and understanding of animal gaits and track patterns; familiarity with animal’s habits, behaviors and survival strategies; and be strongly encouraged to pursue independent learning projects.
This course is geared to women with any amount of tracking experience who are looking to deepen their knowledge and hone their skills. It is also open to those with no prior tracking experience but who are motivated and committed to learning! All female-identifying trackers are welcome. Note that group size is limited.
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Cost: $725 (true cost)
Sliding scale: $675 (accessible rate) to $775 (supporter rate)
A deposit of $150 required to hold a space in the program with the remainder due by December 1, 2026.
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Contact Kathy if you are interested in joining the Women's Wildlife Tracking Intensive or with any questions. An application will be sent upon request.
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Tracking to a New Level: Wildlife Tracking Intensive
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2028 Dates TBD...stay tuned!
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Join a small group of experienced and highly motivated trackers for a wildlife tracking intensive spanning winter and late spring. Programs take place in various locations in western Massachusetts (mainly) and southern Vermont (possibly) in both winter and late spring months. Participants will become more proficient with their identification and interpretation of tracks and sign of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates; deepen their understanding of animal locomotion and track patterns; and receive guidance with independent learning projects.
This course is geared to adult trackers who have devoted considerable dirt time and study toward the honing of their tracking skill set and who wish to continue to deepen and broaden their knowledge and interpretive abilities as wildlife trackers. All genders welcome.​
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Contact Kathy if you are interested in joining Tracking to a New Level Intensive or with any questions. ​​​
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ANIMAL TRACKING
PROGRAMS
​​​​Winter Wildlife
Tracking Immersion
January 30 & 31, 2027
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​Join a small group of adults for two full days of wildlife tracking in western Massachusetts. Over the course of the weekend, we will be on the lookout for tracks, trails and other signs that wild animals leave behind in their wake. In addition to track and sign identification, we will discuss track patterns and gaits, animal behavior and winter survival strategies. Bring your curiosity and desire to get to know more about who your wild neighbors are and watch as their stories unfold on the landscape! All adults and all levels are welcome. Note that group size is limited.
Locations are within 30 minutes of Ashfield, Massachusetts ​
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Cost: $275 (true cost)
Sliding scale: $235 (accessible rate) to $315 (supporter rate)
A deposit of $100 is required to reserve a space in the program with the remainder paid in full by December 30, 2026.
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Contact Kathy if you are interested in joining the Winter Wildlife Tracking Immersion or with any questions. An application will be sent upon request.
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Stories in the Snow:
Winter Tracking
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January 16th, 2027, 9am - 3:30pm
​(January 17 back-up snow date)
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Snow on the ground leaves beautiful clues for the curious tracker. Come join the Vermont Wilderness School to build your ecological literacy and find out what the animals are up to in the cold weather! We will be out for an invigorating winter day exploring the tracks and sign that animals have left behind in the woodlands and wetlands of western Massachusetts. We will cover track and sign identification, track patterns and gaits, and discuss animal behaviors revealed by their signatures in the snow. All adults and all levels are welcome.
Location within 30 minutes of Greenfield, MA
Visit Vermont Wilderness School for more information or to register.
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BIRDING BY EAR & OTHER WORKSHOPS
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Birding by Ear Workshops
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Spring 2027 dates TBD​
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Have you ever wondered who is singing those love songs in the tree canopy, discreetly building a nest in your backyard, or scolding potential predators who have ventured too close for comfort? In this workshop we will be attuning our sense of hearing to the songs and calls of birds and what they are communicating with each other. Combining observation of birds’ vocalizations, behavior and movement patterns, we can deepen our understanding of the language of birds and what they have to teach us about the natural world. Come prepared to identify several different species by their songs and calls, and to gain deeper insight into the natural world through bird behavior and their language. All adults and all levels are welcome.​
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Visit Vermont Wilderness School for more information or to register for either or both of these workshops.
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Mock Track & Sign Assessment
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October 3, 2026 @ Groundnut Gathering
Are you in love with tracking? Have you considered participating (or already participated) in a CyberTracker Track & Sign evaluation (international standard for tracking field assessments and certifications) and would like some “no stress” time to practice beforehand? Or are you simply curious, willing to challenge yourself, and learn more about wildlife track and sign interpretation along the way? In this workshop, folks will have the opportunity to silently come up with their own interpretations of a variety of wildlife sign before facilitated group discussions reveal “the answers”. This workshop is for all skill levels and no experience is necessary!
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Groundnut Gathering October
3 &4, 2026 in Montgomery, MA. Visit Leapfrog Programs to learn more or to register.
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Boning up on Mammal Skulls Workshop
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​In this hands-on workshop, we begin with a discussion of skull anatomy and topography and how those aspects relate to animals’ natural history including their sensory adaptations and behavioral tendencies. Participants are then then guided in seeking out the identity of skulls using their newfound skull “tracking” skills. Multiple species of mammal skulls will be on hand as well as some reference materials. People are also encouraged to bring mammal skulls from their own collections if they choose.​
Contact Kathy if you are interested in scheduling a mammal skulls workshop in central New England.
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NATURE WALKS & WILDLIFE SURVEYS
Nature Walks & Programs
Kathy Dean is available for custom-tailored wildlife tracking, birding and nature awareness programs or walks with small groups or individuals within the regions of western Massachusetts or southern Vermont. She is also available for monthly or quarterly one-on-one nature mentoring.
Kathy's strongest areas of interest and expertise relate to wildlife tracking, mammal behavior and bird language as well as to the myriad connections and interactions between local fauna and flora. As an avid and passionate naturalist, she is devoted to deepening her own as well as others' ecological literacy and relationship with the more than human world.
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Wildlife Surveys
If you are interested in learning more about who your wild neighbors are and where on the landscape you are more likely to find sign of their presence, Kathy is available to visit your land anytime over the course of a year to undertake surveys of animal tracks and sign as well as to document which resident and migratory birds are present in your area. And if you are keen on setting out trail cameras or camera traps to capture photos or video footage of wildlife, she is available to guide you in locating potential hot spots for animal activity. Kathy's insatiable curiosity about the natural world combined with her depth of understanding of animal behavior are key to optimizing opportunities for viewing and appreciating the myriad lifeways and interrelationships of animals on the landscape.
Fees for the above offerings are based on length of sessions, group sizes and potential locations. A fee structure will be sent upon request.
Contact Kathy to discuss your interests, any questions you may have or to schedule time to meet in person.
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