Weekend Wildlife Tracking Adventure with Master Tracker George Leoniak

Join us for a day of adventure and mystery by following animal tracks and trails through fields, forests, and wetlands.

We will learn about the behavior of the local mammals in the area by:

• examining tracks and signs the animals leave to understand how they interact with their environment
• interpreting track patterns and gaits, so we can learn to visualize how these animals move through various terrains
• observing the morphology (structure) of different species’ feet and how that structure dictates the footprints animals leave behind

The wild animals will become our teachers for the day and as a group we will encounter many mysteries to explore. We’ll have opportunities to share individual insights about what we encounter and learn about our own process of connecting to the world around us. Participants will leave with a clear process for approaching track identification and interpretation. All the fundamental tools of learning the art of animal tracking will be packed in to this one day and with them you’ll have the resources to learn more.

At the end of each day, we’ll sit by the warmth of a fire as we recount the day’s mysteries, adventures, stories and more!

Please Note:
On Saturday evening from 6 to 8pm, join George and other Wild Earth Staff for an evening of stories, discussion, a slideshow and more. This portion of the weekend is optional and free of charge to anyone who is signed up for the weekend class.

This will take place at the Wild Earth Office – 2307 Lucas Turnpike – High Falls, NY. Please bring your own dinner.

About the Instructor

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Tracking is quite possibly human beings’ first art and discipline – predating even our earliest records scratched into cave walls. It comes from a time of deeper equality and respect between humans and the natural world. The Mindful Tracker offers courses and programs to immerse yourself in this practice and, in doing so, to find more than animals – but a deeper understanding of self. 

Meet your guide, George Leoniak, an internationally known and certified tracker for over two decades who has worked and partnered with the giants of tracking: Paul Rezendes, Mark Elbroch, Jon Young, Charles Worsham, and Tom Brown Jr. In addition, George holds degrees in Biology and Psychology (BA) as well as Conservation Biology (MS). 

His Certifications include: 

• Senior Tracker Certificate from Cybertracker Conservation
• Track and Sign Specialist Certificate (New England and Southern California)
• Training Specialist Certificate (Southern Vermont)
• Track and Sign Evaluator for Cybertracker Conservation (North America)

For more information about George, visit his website.