About Our Programs

Programs and Services we offer:

• Distance Learning Courses
• Education Programs
• Adventure Programs
• Tracker Programs
• Tracker Mentoring
• Tracker Evaluations
• Bushcraft programs

A short description of each (hyperlinked items are in BOLD font):

We offer Distance Learning Courses in online, correspondence, and hybrid formats. These can be combined with experiential (full body, full brain, immersion experience) programs in-the-field. Distance learning courses can be taken as stand-alone components, but are intended to supplement educational programs that occur in-the-field to create a richer and deeper understanding of the subject material.

We have a website with a dedicated Learning Management System for online courses at TrackerMentoring.com.

In-the-field, Experiential Education Programs are co-designed with the faculty leader of your group. We provide the baseline information and experience rooted in ecology and culture, and incorporate specific activities and experiences within the faculty leader’s speciality. We offer these across Africa, depending on your group’s interest and budget.

For example, a recent course focused on tourism and hospitality. The safari industry in South Africa is one of the country’s biggest contributors to the economy, and guides and trackers are the backbone of the safari industry. We provided a full safari experience by guiding 20 students and their professors, in three different types of venues ranging from a tented camp, to a luxury lodge, to a bed-and-breakfast in one of the most famous townships from the Apartheid era. Students were able to observe and contribute to all aspects of venue management, for a behind-the-scenes perspective. They were given reflective assignments and team-building activities by their professors, all while viewing Africa’s famous and exciting wildlife, and exploring the history and culture. For a more detailed description of how we integrated our expertise, see the Educational Adventure Program for University Students example page.

We also offer Adventure Programs for people who are not trackers, teachers, or students – although we guarantee you will learn a lot about Africa, tracking, and African ecology while you are with us. These are usually small groups and are custom designed to the group’s area of interest, whether that be in Africa, India, South America, the USA, or elsewhere. If you would like to arrange an adventure program for yourself and approximately 8 friends or family members, please see the African Safari Adventure page for a detailed example.

We offer a few different types of Tracker Programs. First, some are strictly short-term courses on Track and Sign Identification and Interpretation, others are strictly Trailing, and still others are a longer-term combination of both the aforementioned, mixed with a healthy dose of animal behavioural observation. We regularly schedule such courses, according to demand. Please contact us for our current prices and schedule. In the meantime, if you’d like to arrange a  tracking-focused program for yourself and 8 friends or family members, please see the example African Tracker Experience page for a detailed example.

Kersey Lawrence and Lee Gutteridge are both qualified Senior Trackers and can assess trackers on the CyberTracker System. We offer private Tracker Mentoring by arrangement, and frequently conduct Tracker Evaluations in Africa and North America. Lee is the most qualified guide in Southern Africa, a Scout Guide with many additional specializations. He is also the author of 9 field guides and books, and a highly reputable trainer of guides for the ecotourism industry in Africa. Kersey is the only woman in the world to have earned the Senior tracker certification, and has a Ph.D. in the ecology and culture of tracking. With Lee, she is the co-author of The Tracker Mentoring Manual, a how-to guide to developing a process to learn tracking, on your own, wherever you are. You can download her published research here. She also studied the art and science of teaching and was a university lecturer for a decade, obtaining a certificate in college instruction and a teaching award.

Sandy and Cal Reed live and work in the midwestern/Appalachian region of the USA, where they have land in both Ohio and West Virginia. They run Nature Awareness and Bushcraft programs, including bow making, flint-knapping, arrow making, original fire making techniques, introduction to wildlife tracking and earth living skills. They are ethical and honorable hunters and gatherers of food from the land, and mentor others in these ways of life. They also host CyberTracker Evaluations through Tracker Certification North America. Sandy serves on Tracker Certification North American’s Outreach Committee and is a certified Level 4 Professional in Track and Sign and Level 3 in Trailing in the United States. She is also certified Level 3 in Track and Sign and Level 3 in Trailing in South Africa. Cal is a certified Level 3 Track and Sign and Level 1 in Trailing in the United States. He is also certified Level 2 Track and Sign in South Africa. Cal works professionally in water quality, by trade, and Sandy has been an educator for over thirty years in science and STEM.

Shane Hawkins resides in western New York. For the first 17 years of her work life she was employed at a small animal and exotics veterinary hospital and wildlife rehabilitation center. She transitioned to the nonprofit world in 2004 and has served as executive director of a music and arts education organization since 2009. Shane is certified Level 4 Professional in Track & Sign, and Level I in Trailing in North America. She serves on Tracker Certification North America’s Professional Development Committee, is a contributor to WildTrack’s footprint identification technology (FIT) program and is a participant in NY state’s Master Naturalist training program.

Hillary Lisowski graduated from the University of Connecticut, where she majored in Animal Science, with a focus in Animal Behavior and a Minor in Wildlife Management. While at UConn, she took a Field Animal Behavior course that inspired her fascination with wildlife observation and led her to study abroad with Nature Guide Training in South Africa.  Since then she has worked as a nature guide, mushroom forager, owl biologist, ecological landscaper, teacher and EMT and has tracked wildlife in 48 states. Hillary recently moved back to Connecticut after living on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State for 6 years. Recently in Connecticut she created and continues to host the monthly Original Wisdom Tracking Club. Hillary is Tracker with CyberTracker in two continents. She holds a Track and Sign Level 3 certification in the United States and a Track and Sign Level 2 certification in South Africa. She serves on Tracker Certification North America’s Professional Development Committee and leads Connecticut’s monthly Wildlife Tracking Meet-up.

You can read more about Kersey, Lee, Sandy, Cal, Shane and Hillary on our About Our Team page.

Please contact us for more information.