Animal Tracking—our first workshop!

Wild Kin put on our first parent + me workshop, and had a great turnout! Thanks to all the families that braved the rain.

We found lots of tiny tracks, some scat among the rocks, and several small animal burrows. We used a field guide to identify squirrel and dog. Lindsay told a beautiful story about a raccoon and a woodrat.

splashing and investigating the creek for tracks

I want to share a little bit about why animal tracking is an important part of our program at Wild Kin.

By studying what our animal friends leave behind, we get to learn more about their inner lives and habits. We notice patterns, and questions arise that spark our curiosity.

tiny tracks on the trail Saturday

I remember when I first got excited about animal tracking. I had beginners luck—the first time I went out tracking with intention I found a lot of deer tracks. I noticed that there were tracks everywhere in this one area, and that some of those tracks were sunk deep into the soil, while others were light and barely perceptible. Did this deer jump, leaving a deep impression in the mud? Was it lightly grazing on this bush over here? These are the kind of question you can’t answer by going online or looking in a book! Later I found what looked like a coyote track. I remember my heart began to race with excitement the same way it would during the end of a good movie when everything is being revealed. Suddenly I saw the whole thing! Deer narrowly escapes coyote by leaping over this brush here, out of sight. Suddenly these animals look different to me now, and I want to know them. I feel differently when I step outside.

we found small rodent tracks in this metal pipe! Is this someone’s home, or just a passageway?

Tracking is also about dropping into our senses. I believe that teaching our children to be present is one of the greatest gifts we can give them in modern times. When we’re tracking we really want to look and listen. What are the birds doing? What kind of weather are we having? If I want to actually find the animal who is the maker of those tracks, I better move slowly and quietly.

tracking treasures

So through tracking we deepen our relationships, we drop into our senses, we slow down, and we notice patterns. We get a little more comfortable outside with our nature family.

-Kat