OFFERINGS
WOMEN'S WILDLIFE TRACKING INTENSIVE
ANIMAL TRACKING
PROGRAMS & TRIPS
Women's Wildlife Tracking Intensive 2024
January - June, 2024
Dates: January 13, February 10, March 2, April 20, May 18 and June 22 (note that Sundays of the same weekend are back-up weather dates)
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Join a small group of motivated 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 both winter and summer months. Participants will become more proficient with their identification of track and sign of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates, learn to recognize and understand animal gaits and track patterns, and be encouraged to pursue independent learning projects.
This course is geared to women with prior 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 as these are the primary prerequisites. All gender-identified women are welcome!
Cost: $725 ($625 for early bird registration if registered and paid in full by September 1, 2023 and for returning participants). A minimum $150 deposit is required to reserve a space in the program, with the remainder paid in full by December 1, 2023.
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Note that enrollment for 2024 is full. Contact Kathy to be added to the waitlist or to request an application for 2025. Note that group size is limited.
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Winter Tracking: Reading Stories in the Snow
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January 27, 2024 (inclement weather back up: January 28)
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Location within 30 minutes of Greenfield, MA
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Join us 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 welcome.
Contact Vermont Wilderness School, https://vermontwildernessschool.org/ for more information or to register.
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Winter Wildlife
Tracking Intensive
February 17 & 18, 2024
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Locations within 20 minutes of Ashfield, Massachusetts
​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 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 welcome.
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Cost: $275 ($235 for early bird registration if registered and paid in full by December 15, 2023)
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Contact Kathy for more information or to request an application. Note that group size is limited.
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Winter Tracking Workshop
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February 3, 2024 ~ 9am-12pm
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Location: Williamsburg, MA
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Spend an invigorating winter morning sleuthing field, forest and wetland for wildlife tracks and sign! We will focus on identification and interpretation of the animal sign we encounter that morning. We will also discuss animals' habits and behaviors, as well as the wide range of survival strategies that they employ to survive winters in New England. In collaboration with the Hitchcock Center for the Environment and Adventure East. All adults and all levels welcome. For more information or to register, contact the Hitchcock Center for the Environment at https://www.hitchcockcenter.org./
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BIRDING BY EAR & OTHER WORKSHOPS
NATURE WALKS & WILDLIFE SURVEYS
Birding by Ear Workshops
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Spring 2024 Dates TBA
Workshops in Vermont & Mass
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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 welcome.
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Contact Kathy for more information or to register.
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Mammal Skulls 101
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In this hands-on workshop, we begin with a discussion of skull anatomy and how that relates to animals’ natural history including their sensory adaptations and behavioral tendencies. Participants will then be 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 animal skulls from their own collections if they choose.
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Contact Kathy if interested in scheduling a mammal skulls workshop in central New England.
Nature Walks & Programs
Kathy is available for custom-tailored nature awareness programs or walks with individuals or small groups within the regions of western Massachusetts or southern Vermont. She is also available for monthly one-on-one nature mentoring. Her areas of interest and expertise include wildlife track and sign, mammal behavior and bird language as well as the interconnections between local flora and fauna. She is also keenly interested in trees and shrubs, ferns, edible and medicinal mushrooms, edible and medicinal plants and well, every element and interrelationship of the natural world!
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Wildlife Surveys
If you are interested in learning more about who your wild neighbors are, 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 which resident and migratory birds are present in your area. Contact Kathy to discuss your specific interests.
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Fees for the above offerings are $20/person/hour for groups sizes between 4-6 people and $15/person/hour for group sizes between 7-10 people for programs ranging between 2-3 hours in length. Discounted fees are available for longer programs. One-on-one or smaller group offerings and consultations are available as well with a different fee structure.
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Contact Kathy to discuss your interests or any questions you may have, or to schedule time to meet in person.