Standard Wildlife Track & Sign Certification – Sep. 23 & 24, Hinton, Alberta

Monday & Tuesday, September 23 & 24, 2024 | Ages 18+ | Apply before September 12 | Limited space

This is a 2-day Standard Wildlife Track & Sign Certification workshop. It is open to any skill level and offers the opportunity for participants to earn certifications in Track & Sign from Levels 1 to Professional (Level 4). To qualify for a certificate the candidate must obtain at least 70% during the evaluation.

We recommend that individuals intending to provide formal training to others in the identification of animal tracks, or individuals intending to collect wildlife data or otherwise use wildlife track identification or interpretation to inform wildlife management or conservation initiatives, work towards achieving a Level 3 or higher certification.

The Track and Sign Certification is an internationally applied, professional-level training process used to promote wildlife tracking and ecological knowledge. The process is designed to give each participant the opportunity to personally investigate each track or sign found before the group discusses it at length. This process creates intensive levels of challenge and concentration, balanced by fun, open, and entertaining discussions that engage the group in an unforgettable exploration of animal behaviour, physiology, and ecology. This combination has proven to be a wildly effective method to immediately enhance an individual’s knowledge, and their ability to accurately interpret track and sign on their own. The process emphasises practical tracking and the development of reliable field skills, and transforms the way we see the wild world. No prior training is required to participate. Certification depends on performance.

This Track & Sign Certification will be lead by David Moskowitz. David is a professional wildlife tracker, photographer, wildlife biologist, naturalist and educator. He is a Track & Sign Evaluator with Tracker Certification North America, and is the author of a number of books, including: Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest – Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates, and; Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests.

To learn more about the workshop and evaluation format, potential participants are encouraged visit Tracker Certification North America.

What to Expect

Participants must be prepared to spend a full day in the outdoors and be comfortable in rugged and isolated terrain in uncertain weather.

Transportation, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of each participant.

Registration

We will be accepting registration applications until September 12, 2024.

In the interest of equity, half of the available workshop registrations will be reserved for those identifying as women, visible minorities / persons of colour, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, until September 6th. Interested parties may apply through the registration link on this page.

Cancelation / Refund Policy 
If for any reason we have to cancel the event (e.g. extreme weather, too few registrants), a full refund will be provided, less any applied processing fees.

Registrants who withdraw their registration for which we are unable to find a replacement will not be eligible for a refund.

Registrants who withdraw their registration, for which we are able to find a replacement registration will receive a refund, less 15% administration fees. All refunds will be by email transfer.