New Student at Tracker School

C

CM_Rick

Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
1,402
I am very happy, and equally excited, to report that I have just payed my tuition and enrolled in Tracker School. I have been studying tracking and survival for a while now with the hopes of one day attending Tracker School, and the time has finally come. I get to meet a legend, Mr. Tom Brown Jr., and better still, I get to learn directly from him, person to person.

I am so very excited about this. I will be posting, here, quite a bit of my experiences. My class is scheduled for the second week in May. I cannot wait.
 
Very cool!
Im looking forward to learning through
your posts.
I wondered about a class like this,would it be advisable
to bring one of those digital audio recorders that
you could just "turn on"
instead of taking notes?
I probably would be overwhelmed at the amount of material
I was getting and would never remember it all.

Anyway,nice going!

looking forward to learning from you,
free of charge! ;)
 
Congrats.gif
 
fugawee said:
Very cool!
Im looking forward to learning through
your posts.
I wondered about a class like this,would it be advisable
to bring one of those digital audio recorders that
you could just "turn on"
instead of taking notes?
I probably would be overwhelmed at the amount of material
I was getting and would never remember it all.

Anyway,nice going!

looking forward to learning from you,
free of charge! ;)
Click to expand...

I think the key is the hands on, you would remember much better by doing, so I do not think it would overwhelm you at all.
 
fugawee said:
Very cool!
Im looking forward to learning through
your posts.
I wondered about a class like this,would it be advisable
to bring one of those digital audio recorders that
you could just "turn on"
instead of taking notes?
I probably would be overwhelmed at the amount of material
I was getting and would never remember it all.

Anyway,nice going!

looking forward to learning from you,
free of charge! ;)
Click to expand...

I don't think they allow anything other than a note book. It is in the rules that they do not allow any type of audio or visual recorders. I guess it would take away from their business. It is, for the most part, all hands on and actual experience, so it will be easy to retain. I have a decent amount of prior knowledge going in, so I should be good.

I have no problem sharing my gained knowledge for free, that's what we do here anyways, right?

mymindisamob,

thanks man
 
I have gone to several of Tom Browns courses. I doubt if the rules on recording the classes have changed, but audio recordings were allowed, but no video. The Standard Course is pretty close to his first wilderness survival book, I would suggest reading it right before you go, and do take a camera to photograph the charts and drawings that will be presented. Some of the charts are way too long to copy quickly. Do take notes, but if you have read the book so it is fresh, you will probably just need to write down the points that fill in what the book did not fully cover.

You probably will not see much of Mr. Brown, but the instructors are fully qualified and you will be very busy. Some projects might seem silly or "camp crafty". They are there to break up the intensity and to give your mind a break.

You are going to have a great experience, and May is a good time of year. Bring your insect repellent!

Of course, double check the list the school will send you on what is allowed.
 
Man that sounds really cool! I didn't think Tom tought there much anymore.
 
When I went to my classes they allowed only pictures taken they record the lectures and you can purchase them at the end. Tom has been taking more of a personal roll in a lot more of his classes then he used to; but his instructors do take a good load of it. Are you taking the one in New Jersey or California. I had a great time at my classes and now you will too. Take something to sit on your butt will get sore! Also, take a decent knife, you won't need a rambo knife just something to carve with. Any Questions feel free to ask.
 
I took the Standard Course in 2005 and the Advanced Tracking Course in 2006. I had a great time in the Standard. It was my first self reliance course I ever took.

The Standard was about 90% classroom. There were 12 to 16 hour days of lecture. Most of our hands on was related to carving a bow drill and making it work.

Tom Brown lectured for maybe 1-2 hours a day for 3-4 of the days. He did not talk to anyone. He gave his lecture then walked out. Hopefully nowadays he is teaching more. Back then he did not engage in conversation with any students and took no questions. Hopefully that has changed.

His teaching staff was great though and we learned a lot from them. Billy O'Connell taught the majority of the courses (including the tracking portion). He was great. Approachable, funny, and he knew his stuff. All the instructors were great.

Recommend the following:

1. A soft comfortable cushion for your seat.
2. A good notebook and pen. You will be taking a lot of notes.
3. A good knife for carving and whittling.
4. Some food of your own. They feed you but nice to have some variety.

You will have a great time.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I really appreciate it. I'm in college now, and am quite used to taking a lot of notes. Luckily for me, I do really well with lectures as well as hands-on learning. I hope Mr. Brown is going to be a little more engaged with us students. Doesn't matter to me though, I know I will be working very close with him in the future. My long term plan is to go through his tracking teachings all the way. He has a new "intensives" program that sounds incredible. This will be invaluable for me as I plan to work for the Park Service as both a biologist and a SAR agent. I had an epiphany when going through this last economic depression, of which I was hit pretty hard. I decided to change my life and combine my two passions, the wilderness/wildlife and history. The Park Service gives me a career opportunity for both at the same time. I almost went into the military, but the wife wasn't having it. I promised her school instead. Turns out to be one of our best decisions (Beside every great man, stands an even better woman). Things are looking better everyday as I get closer and closer to living my dream.

I plan on keeping a comprehensive journal and posting a complete review. Not only of my first class, but of my entire journey at Tracker School.

My gear list:
tent- Gander Mountain 2 man
my sleeping bag
standard issue canteen, cup, and mess kit
knives- Tracker T1 and TOPS shadow hunter
Olympus x-935 digital camera
note book and pens
my leather journal
swim trunks & towel
bio soap
TP
10 essentials kit
scotch brite pads and a rag or two
I need to procure a solar charger for the camera and my phone (I'm a parent or I wouldn't even have one)

Can you guys think of anything else?
 
cushion, got it. I was going to bring my camp chair (omitted from list), but it isn't all that comfortable to write in. A cushion would be much better. I've got a good aluminum clip board, too.

I'll check out Joel Harding, but I'll probably stick with one instructor at a time just to keep the information and style straight.
 
Congrats! I took the Standard course a couple years ago, and had a great time. It's a ton of info to take in, so definitely bring your camera, a notebook, and a couple good pens. I broke my rollerball on the first day and had to use a ballpoint for the rest of the course...lame. You'll be taking lots of notes and it's helpful to do that as comfortably as possible, which is why the cushion is also a good idea.

Something I brought was a small haversack or bag to keep your water, snacks, pens, notebook, repellent, etc. organized and on your person so you don't have to walk back to the tent every time you need something. Seems obvious but I noticed most people didn't do this.

Take care, and have fun!
 
Oh, I'll have my pack with me. I don't go anywhere, especially camping, without it. I've gotten attached to it. Thanks for the well wishes, tycho. Same to you, man.
 
I took my Standard in 1990. Tom taught quite a bit then. And YES, take the cushiest butt cushion you can. People will be offering you money for it before you are through! ;)
 
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