Tracking Apprenticeship

Just finished our second weekend with the Wildlife Tracking Apprentices. A great couple days focusing on Sign Tracking. Looking forward to Trailing, aging and an intro to gaits next month. Here's a link to the photos on our Flickr Site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthtracks/sets/72157628032743965/with/6530870539/

December Newsletter

Follow this link to view our most recent newsletter.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Earth-Tracks.html?soid=1103715983133&aid=HXqUJtDHWIg

We have some great Wildlife Tracking Programs planned throughout 2012.

We hope you can join us on one of these tracking adventures!

Herbal Medicine Making Class

Hello Everyone

As the winter begins to set in here in Ontario (Sure has been a mild start) we have been wrapping up our year and getting ready to begin the new one ahead. Here is a link to some photos from our most recent Herbal Medicine Making Class from this past November. We make an incredible amount of effective herbal products to help us in the months ahead. Thanks to all those who attended and all the best.

Happy Healing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157628449141821

Tracks and Sign Evaluation February 2012

Track and Sign Evaluation Weekend

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting the second annual Cyber-Tracker International Track and Sign Evaluation this February 26-27th 2012. This two day event will take place near Dwight Ontario, just outside of Algonquin Provincial Park.

Space is limited to 10 participants and we require a deposit to reserve your space. Please contact us asap if you are interested. Spaces are filling fast. This two day intensive field evaluation is a great opportunity for wildlife trackers to test their skills. You will learn a great deal about tracking while immersing yourself in an environment of fellow tracking peers .

Follow this link for more information on the Cyber-Tracker Evaluation process

or email us at earthtracks@gmail.com

Algonquin Tracking Expedition

Our Annual Algonquin Tracking Expedition date is set and we are eagerly awaiting this amazing experience. It continues to be the highlight of our winter programs year after year!

Dates: February 19 - 24 (Sunday - Friday) 2012

Ages: Adults (interested teens welcome with an adult)

Location: Scenic Algonquin Provincial Park in Central Ontario, Canada.

Description: Winter tracking at it's finest. Join us on our 13th annual winter trip to the snowy, scenic wilds of Algonquin Park. We'll spend a six days in small groups tracking and trailing eastern wolf, fisher, marten, otter, moose, and more! As the sun goes down, we gather in a cozy cabin for dinner, tea, and stories from our day. Open to all skill levels of trackers - learn winter tracking tips, meet wildlife biologists, contribute to research, and warm up with delicious home-cooked meals.

Cost: $695 (USD) Includes all meals and heated lodging. Does not include transport.

Staff: Certified Wildlife Trackers Dan Gardoqui (White Pine Programs of New England) and Alexis Burnett (Earth Tracks, of Ontario)

To Register: contact White Pine Programs via email (caren@whitepineprograms.org) or by telephone.

The Wandering Herbalist

Well, it is with my pleasure to unveil the first few products that we will be introducing in the 'Sacred Waters Herbal Products' Line-up. I have been very excited to create and offer these amazing herbals once again. Today we just finished the first few medicinal salves and lip balms that will be on sale at the Guelph Farmers Market and Creemore Easter Market this Saturday. There is a general All-Purpose Salve as well as a Burn Salve. For lip balms we have a St. John's-Wort/Peppermint as well as a Calendula/Lemongrass. I'm hoping to bottle a couple tinctures as well for this weekend. Most likely an Echinacea/Goldenseal Immune System support and a Red Clover 'Blood Purifier' Tonic. Come by the market to check out and purchase these amazing Herbal Remedies. Our products will be available all year at these two farmers markets.
Once our new shipment of glass bottles and jars come in we will be slowly introducing more and more herbal products to our line up. I'm also excited to offer herbal teas come summer time. We have many new herbs that will be planted in the garden this coming season and we can't wait to begin this journey through the seasons as we work with our green friends.

Happy Gardening

The Trappers Convention -- North Bay

Earth Tracks teamed up with our good friends at Sticks and Stones Wilderness School and set up a booth at the annual Trappers Convention in Nort
h Bay last weekend. We had an amazing time, met some great new people and shared many conversations with the good folks.

There was an incredible amount of knowledge, skill and wisdom in the building and you couldn't help but feel connected to the many people who have spent their entire lives in the bush and on the land. This heritage stretches back many generations to when my ancestors first travelled to this new land and there have been many changes over the years. There were some great booths set up by the many different trappers councils from across Ontario and many people more than willing to share what they have learned over the years and help to pass this legacy on to future generations. Trapping is often misunderstood by the general public these days and this convention is good chance to meet the 'real' people who are acting as stewards of the land.

The weekend was full of demonstrations and workshops put on by various people from across Ontario. We taught two Brain-Tanned Buckskin Making workshops that were very well received and allowed us to meet and talk with many of the people who came to the show that we may have not had a chance to meet otherwise. I thank everyone who came out to the convention as well as all of the hard work that went into organizing this event. We look forward to being here again next year.

Happy Tanning

Maple Syrup Season

Well the syruping season is upon us and spring is on the way, even though we've had quite a cold snap lately. It's been betwen -10 and -18 C the last 4 nights and the sap has stopped running. Our first run lasted over a week and we have roughly 4 gallons of boiled syrup right now. Two weeks ago I tapped 65 trees in our bush and it ran steadily for the next 6-7 days. We built a wood-fired burner with a 10 gallon pan on top. I put a sap bucket over that with a small hole in the bottom of it for the sap to drip into the pan. This way we can maintain a boil with out cooling the pan too much. I have to check it roughly every half hour to 45 minutes and put more sap in the bucket. Works pretty sweet! Pardon the pun. It's a lot of work hauling all of the sap, but well worth it. Spending so much time outside and in the woods at this time of year is great, not to mention the many wildlife and nature sightings that present themselves. It has been nice to have a break the last few days, but I think I'm ready for another boil. I hope we have a good second run and send out a greeting to all those other folks scattered across eastern north America huddled in sugar shacks and carrying on the tradition.

Happy Sugarin'

Alexis

Traditional Hide Tanning Class April 7-10th 2011

Hey Everyone

We're still looking for a couple o more folks for our bi-annual Hide Tanning class happening in Honeywood in just under two weeks. If you are interested or know anyone who is please let us kno ASAP.

Here's some info below as well as a link to our website.
www.earthtracks.ca

Traditional Hide Tanning Workshop

Have you ever wanted to make your own brain-tanned buckskin? Or wanted to make beautiful soft leather from the hides of deer and other animals?
We are offering a beginner class in traditional hide tanning to take the participant through the entire process. From where to get materials to tanning hides and what you can do with your newly tanned, soft buckskin. You will learn each step in this process and have the ability to honour these animals by using them in a respectful manner. We will be focusing on tanning deer hides and will guide participants through every stage of this ‘transforming’ process. Working with hides will come naturally to those who wish to learn this ancient method of working and tanning leather. All materials will be provided.

When: April 7-10th & November 3-6th 2011

Where: Sticks and Stones Workshop - Honeywood, near Shelburne, Ontario.
Price: $350, includes all course materials, green hide, tools and materials (bring your own tools if you have them.)
Space to set up your tent for the 3 nights or bring a sleeping pad for the workshop floor style accommodation in the Round House Workshop.
Wholesome Dinners are provided for the Thursday through Sunday. Coffee/tea and good drinking water provided.
Bring your own Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks, Full Kitchen facilities available: fridge/stove wares – Bring your own dishes, fork, spoon, knife, bowl, plate, cup/mug.

Space is limited to 10 students, Don’t wait apply soon.
No Experience is Necessary!

“simply the passion learn”

For more information please contact us at earthtracks@gmail.com or call 519 217 4921

Earth Tracks 2011 Calendar

Earth Tracks Calendar 2011

Algonquin Winter Tracking Trip - February 20th-25th -- Algonquin Park

Earth Tracks Tracking Club - February 27th 10a.m. – 4p.m. – Grey County

Drum Making Workshop - March 26th-27th – Hockley Valley, near Orangeville

Traditional Hide Tanning - April 7-10th – Honeywood (near Shelburne)

Minnesing Swamp Overnight Canoe Trip – April 23rd-24th – Angus area

Headwaters Primitive Skills Gathering – May 6-8th – Kimbercote Farm, Beaver Valley

Magnetewan River Canoe Trip – May 21st-27th – Ahmic Lake to Georgian Bay

Edible and Medicinal Plants Class – June 9th – 12th – Wolf Den Hostel, Dwight

Urban Edible and Medicinal Plants – June 24th – 26th – PINE Project, Toronto

The Art of Survival – July 14th – 17th – Parry Sound Area

The Way of the Naturalist Canoe Trip – July 18th -23rd – Algonquin Park

PINE Project Youth Summer Camps – July 4th – August 12th – Toronto

PINE Project Youth Summer Camps – July 18-22nd & 25th – 29th – Huntsville Area

PINE Project Youth Over-Night Camps – August 1st – 5th & 8-12th – Huntsville Area

The Way of the Wild: Survival Quest – August 14th – 20th – Parry Sound area

The Art of Mentoring – August 22nd – 27th – Norval Outdoor School, near Georgetown

The Algonquin Experience Canoe Trip – August 31st – September 5th – Algonquin Park

The Spirit of Plants – September 8th – 11th – Location TBA

Autumn Glory Canoe Trip – September 15th – 18th – Algonquin Park

Headwaters Fall Gathering - September 30th – October 2nd – Location TBA

Traditional Hide Tanning Class – November 3rd – 6th – Honeywood (near Shelburne)

Herbal Medicine Making Class – November 18th – 20th – PINE Project, Toronto

Herbal Medicine Making Class – November 26th & 27th – Hockley Valley (near Orangeville)

That's it. A couple new additions will be added in the near future. If you have any questions or would like more information please contact us through email: earthtracks@gmail.com or phone 519 217 4921

http://www.earthtracks.ca/