OFFERINGS
WILDLIFE TRACKING INTENSIVES
Women's Wildlife Tracking Intensive
January - June, 2026
Dates: January 10, February 7, March 7, April 18, May 23, and June 20 (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.
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Cost: $725.
Early bird discount of $650 is available if registered and paid in full by September 15, 2025. Deposit of $150 required to hold a space in the program with the remainder due by December 1, 2025.
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Contact Kathy Dean if interested in joining the 2026 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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January - June, 2026
Dates: January 17 & 18,
February 14 & 15, May 16 &17,
and June 13, 2026
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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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Cost: $825.
Early bird discount of $750 if registered and paid in full by September 15, 2025. Deposit of $150 required to hold a space in the program with the remainder due by December 1, 2025.
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Contact Kathy Dean if interested in joining the 2026 Tracking to a New Level Intensive or with any questions. An application will be sent upon request.​​​
ANIMAL TRACKING
PROGRAMS & TRIPS
Winter Tracking in the Northern Forest
January 2 - 4, 2026
Start your new year with an unforgettable tracking weekend in western Maine with Becca Houghton and Dave Boynton of Northern Songlines along with Kathy Dean of Trotting Fox Programs!
Winter in the northern forest offers a unique opportunity to deepen your connection to the natural world and to hone your wildlife tracking skills in a snowy landscape. This immersive weekend program is designed for individuals seeking to expand their awareness and tracking abilities, while also reconnecting with themselves and with the rhythms of the land.
Over the course of the weekend, you will engage in mindful tracking practices, nature connection activities, and group reflections. Guided by experienced trackers, you will learn how to interpret the tracks, trails and patterns of wildlife in winter, while also tapping into your own intuitive understanding of nature.
Cost: $395 (true cost)
Sliding scale: $295 (accessible rate) to $495 (supporter rate)
Contact Northern Songlines for more information or to register.​
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Winter Tracking Day
January 31, 2026
(back up weather date: 2/1/26)
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Join Kathy and guest instructor Kai for a full day of wildlife tracking in western Massachusetts! Over the course of the day, 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 are welcome.
Cost: $135 (true cost)
Sliding scale: $110 (accessible rate) to $160 (supporter rate)
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Location: Within a 20-minute radius of Ashfield, Massachusetts
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Contact Kathy Dean to register or with any questions. A registration form will be sent upon request.​
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Stories in the Snow:
Winter Tracking
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February 28, 2025, 9am - 3:30pm
(back up weather date 3/1/26)
Location within 30 minutes of Greenfield, MA
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.
Visit Vermont Wildness School for more info or to register.
BIRDING BY EAR & SKULL ID WORKSHOPS
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Birding by Ear Workshops
​​2026 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.
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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 how that relates to animals’ natural history including their sensory adaptations and behavioral tendencies. Participants are 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 animal skulls from their own collections if they choose.​
Contact Kathy Dean if interested in scheduling a mammal skulls workshop in central New England.
NATURE WALKS & WILDLIFE SURVEYS
Nature Walks & Programs
Kathy 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. 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, 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 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 wild 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.