Forest Kids: Free, Independent & Skilled
By Molly Deis, Trackers Founder & Mom When it comes to Trackers, I often tell parents this could be the beginning of a lifelong journey. Our mission is to equip kids with skills that help them thrive in nature, sparking a connection so deep it reshapes we all see the world. Tony, my husband and […]
Trackers Halloween 2024 – Coloring Contest
🎃 Trackers Coloring Contest · Halloween 2024 Halloween Contest Our very first Trackers coloring contest! Two spooky pages, so every kind of Halloween artist could find one to love. 🦇 🏁 Contest EndedYou can still download this page for coloring at home.Find the latest contest here → Click the page to print it and color […]
Ask Your Kids About…
There are certain things at Trackers that kids connect with in ways we never anticipated. These experiences have emergent properties that seem to take on a life of their own. Ask your kids about the following Trackers traditions: Goblin Market Kids have fun trading handcrafted, leftover, or found trinkets in this beloved tradition. The Goblin […]
Here We Do Hard Things!
Have you ever built a wilderness survival shelter in late fall with nothing but the clothes on your back? No sleeping bag, no blanket—just you and the forest. One such shelter is called a Debris Hut. It requires an enormous amount of leaves—nearly four feet thick all around—to provide enough insulation. It’s tough to build, […]
20 Years of Trackers
Celebrate Connection, Community, and the Land When: September 7, 2024, 10:30 am to 2:30 pm Where: Bull Run Education Center (BREC) – Sandy, OR What: Potluck & Community Celebration RSVP Here Two decades have passed since our Trackers community began, rooted in a core belief of connection—between people, across generations, with nature—and with an understanding […]
Why Apprentice?
Building Skills and Friendships At Trackers, we believe that learning shouldn’t stop when summer ends. Which is why we’re always excited to offer our year-round Apprenticeship programs, designed to help kids continue developing their skills and friendships throughout the school year. Running one weekend a month from September to May, these programs provide an incredible […]
Kids Need Simpler Times
Every generation waxes nostalgic about the simpler times of their youth. I’ve seen it with Boomers, with Gen Xers, and even Millennials reminisce about “back in my day.” Recently, I had a conversation with a thoughtful Gen Z individual about how different “kids” are today. What we often fail to realize is that we’re both […]
Celebrate Summer
Greetings Trackers Families! Summer is in full swing and we are having a great time at Summer Camp! I love greeting families at the door and welcoming them to Trackers, and seeing the looks of fun excitement on camper faces. There’s a comforting arc to each week where kids get settled into the routine of […]
The Trackers Compass
How the Trackers Compass Works At our camps and programs, we use the Trackers Compass to lead us through the Game of Tracking. Each Guild aligns with one direction of the compass—Action Call, Code, Mission, Purpose—creating a connected mission for growth and collaboration. Action Call Outlines character traits you and your Team need to excel […]
Trackers Compass – A Compass Story
The blog post “The Trackers Compass” tells a mythological tale about three children, Robin, Annie, and Maxine, who discover a mysterious path in an ancient forest. They meet a mystical woman who gives them a special wooden compass, known as the Trackers Compass, which invites them to play the “Game of Tracking.” This game involves rediscovering ancient skills and knowledge, categorized into four groups: Rangers, Mariners, Wilders, and Artisans, each representing different aspects of survival, navigation, and nature stewardship. Entrusted with the compass, the children eagerly embark on an adventurous journey, ready to explore and learn from the forest’s secrets.