Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Tracker Courses

Woodland Tracker

Hot on the success of the Wilderness Immersion Course and Tracking Fundamentals course, the Woodland Tracker will be taking place this weekend. (25th)

The Woodland Tracker is an intermediate technical tracking course that covers micro tracking, speculative and systematic techniques. We look at gait patterns and also delve deeper into field-craft techniques and ageing tracks and sign.

We have some places left so please give us an email bookings@woodlife.co.uk

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The Immersion course once again proved a great success and we received some tremendous feedback from our inaugural Tracking Fundamentals course.

It’s all systems go as we move from tracking-led to bushcraft-led courses for summer. We will also be attending the usual shows this summer plus a few other that we will be revealing soon.

Let us know if you want to  be part of it. Have a look at our courses and events page http://www.woodlife.co.uk/course-events-calendar/

Tracker Courses

Woodland Tracker

Hot on the success of the Wilderness Immersion Course and Tracking Fundamentals course, the Woodland Tracker will be taking place this weekend. (25th)

The Woodland Tracker is an intermediate technical tracking course that covers micro tracking, speculative and systematic techniques. We look at gait patterns and also delve deeper into field-craft techniques and ageing tracks and sign.

We have some places left so please give us an email bookings@woodlife.co.uk

IMG_3811IMG_3818IMG_3819IMG_3820IMG_3827

The Immersion course once again proved a great success and we received some tremendous feedback from our inaugural Tracking Fundamentals course.

It’s all systems go as we move from tracking-led to bushcraft-led courses for summer. We will also be attending the usual shows this summer plus a few other that we will be revealing soon.

Let us know if you want to  be part of it. Have a look at our courses and events page http://www.woodlife.co.uk/course-events-calendar/

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Forest Tracker

Last weekend saw the pilot of the Forest Tracker Course – and what a course it was!

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All the ingredients for a good weekend were there. It was dry, it was warm (during the day at least), we were in an ancient forest, and we had great people to share the experience.

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The Forest Tracker is designed to put all the other Woodlife Trails tracker courses together and take it up a notch. We introduced an Immersive Zone-in technique, looked at sensory tracking and paleo-movement and added some more tracking techniques into the toolbox.

Some of these techniques proved particularly useful now we are encouraging the trackers to track at ever faster speeds to close the time/distance gap to their quarry. Not easy when you have to think of all the other field-craft factors involved.

But it was the trailing techniques that we were concentrating on. This is a particularly difficult skill in any environment. Not only must you get close, but you must follow the quarry. There was some successes – but with all things practice will makes better. As with all things in tracking - It doesn’t take long to learn – but it takes a lifetime to master.

Our Forest trackers are at least on the road to Mastery!

Our Woodlife Trails Tracker courses are:

  • Tracking Fundamentals Day
  • Wilderness Immersion Course
  • Woodland Tracker Course
  • Forest Tracker Course

Details on our course list page

Forest Tracker

Last weekend saw the pilot of the Forest Tracker Course – and what a course it was!

IMG_3733

All the ingredients for a good weekend were there. It was dry, it was warm (during the day at least), we were in an ancient forest, and we had great people to share the experience.

IMG_3719

The Forest Tracker is designed to put all the other Woodlife Trails tracker courses together and take it up a notch. We introduced an Immersive Zone-in technique, looked at sensory tracking and paleo-movement and added some more tracking techniques into the toolbox.

Some of these techniques proved particularly useful now we are encouraging the trackers to track at ever faster speeds to close the time/distance gap to their quarry. Not easy when you have to think of all the other field-craft factors involved.

But it was the trailing techniques that we were concentrating on. This is a particularly difficult skill in any environment. Not only must you get close, but you must follow the quarry. There was some successes – but with all things practice will makes better. As with all things in tracking - It doesn’t take long to learn – but it takes a lifetime to master.

Our Forest trackers are at least on the road to Mastery!

Our Woodlife Trails Tracker courses are:

  • Tracking Fundamentals Day
  • Wilderness Immersion Course
  • Woodland Tracker Course
  • Forest Tracker Course

Details on our course list page

Monday, 9 December 2013

Diploma Weekend

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We had a great weekend to finish off the year at Hatfield Forest.

The weekend was dedicated to our Diploma students who have just commenced Level 2 of the programme.

For most, level one was completed in the summer and the weekend saw the commencement of level 2 practical skills.

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This included axe skills led by JP where the different types of axe and there uses was covered. Of course safety aspects, carving and axe use techniques were also covered as well as sharpening techniques.

In the afternoon Pablo gave an introduction to bird tracking.

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Having a course weekend at this time of year wouldn't be complete without the requisite festive drinks and chicken curry cooked up by JP himself.

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Thanks to all those who came along and our new assistant Austin who provided the base-camp assistance.

Diploma Weekend

IMG_3514

We had a great weekend to finish off the year at Hatfield Forest.

The weekend was dedicated to our Diploma students who have just commenced Level 2 of the programme.

For most, level one was completed in the summer and the weekend saw the commencement of level 2 practical skills.

IMG_3527IMG_3536

This included axe skills led by JP where the different types of axe and there uses was covered. Of course safety aspects, carving and axe use techniques were also covered as well as sharpening techniques.

In the afternoon Pablo gave an introduction to bird tracking.

IMG_3539

Having a course weekend at this time of year wouldn't be complete without the requisite festive drinks and chicken curry cooked up by JP himself.

IMG_3529

Thanks to all those who came along and our new assistant Austin who provided the base-camp assistance.

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Countdown to the Forest Tracker Course

Forest Tracker

The finishing touches are being put on the latest in our tracker courses; the Forest Tracker.

The Forest Tracker course to be held this weekend will be a pilot to see if everything works out. Our discerning clients will be none other than the Woodlife Trails crew and selected trackers from around Britain.

Expectations will be high and there will be little room for error. So, what can the participants expect?

This tracker course focuses not only on the delivery of some new tracking techniques especially designed for British woodland environments but it will concentrate on surveillance and trailing techniques. Throw in a new Immersive Zone-in Technique, some paleo-movement, sensory tracking and bird-track ID and it promises to be an interesting weekend.

Putting this into practice is key and a special exercise where participants will be trailing wildlife for an extended period has been developed which we believe will enhance senses to new heights or should I say return them to what they were 12,000 years ago.

Difficult? You bet it will be but then again this is a level 3 advanced course. Good luck to everyone coming along.