Labor Day Week
Tracker Gathering
at 64-acre YMCA Camp Ravencliff on the Eel River
Nine Days of Tracking, Trailing and endless curiosity.
Arrive when you wish, depart when you must.
September 4-12, 2026, Humboldt County, Northern California
This is only the third Humboldt Tracker Gathering in 20 years—2006, 2016, and now 2026. It's a rare chance to step into a living legend's world, surround yourself with people who share your curiosity about the wild, and return home seeing animal signs everywhere you look.
Hosted at YMCA Camp Ravencliff along the scenic Eel River, this 10-day gathering from September 4 -12 is designed for trackers of all experience levels—from absolute beginners to seasoned experts. Camping, cabins, YMCA kitchen, multiple refrigerators, dining hall, showers and restrooms available for $25 a day with all proceeds donated to YMCA Camp Ravencliff and the TCNA financial access fund. Early Bird Special: $15/day if registered before May 1, 2026.
Arrival Times: Our earliest check-in day is Thursday, September 3, 2026. Our opening ceremony will be held in the Camp Ravencliff Lodge at 6pm that evening including a free tracking presentation with Kim Cabrera. Your actual arrival and departure dates are totally choice.
A full slate of 9 days of clinics and workshops by various leaders begin first thing Friday morning, September 4 and continue daily up to and including all day Saturday, September 12.
Inspired by the Legendary Kim Cabrera
by Terry Hunefeld
Kim is a tracking icon with dual specialist certificates and a massive following through her Facebook groups including "Animals Don't Cover Their Tracks" and Bear-Tracker.com. I consider Kim a legend in tracking—one of the first women in the world to hold not one, but two specialist certificates. Her amazing ability to interpret and see things that others miss has inspired many of us to further our tracking expertise. Kim has produced countless instructive videos and vignettes (especially from the Eel River Valley near her home). She has built an educational website for new trackers. Kim devotes her entire life to this work - helping, encouraging and inspiring new trackers. Many of us consider her a legend, and this is my chance to finally meet her in person on her home turf.
A Smorgasbord of Activities... Something For Everyone
Activities for all levels of trackers: The Tracker Gathering aims to foster a welcoming space for all levels of trackers... where participants can learn, connect, and immerse themselves in nature without pressure or rigid structure. This event is about building camaraderie, turning newcomers on to the joys of tracking, and supporting the growth of our community. There is no set schedule for you... you decide when you arrive, which activities you will enjoy and the date of your departure. Everyone's itinerary will be different, thus a "Smorgasbord"
Daily Workshops (the smorgasbord): expert trackers from around the country will conduct workshops throughout the day for very reasonable fees. All workshops have participation limits (usually around 10 participants). These workshops focus on skill building in tracking, trailing, wilderness skills and other related subject. There will be programs for beginner, intermediate, and very good trackers. We are still building out the workshops as of March 21. You can view the current status on the calendar.
A Melting Pot: The Tracker Gathering will bring together trackers from all around North America. Whether you're drawn by Kim's insightful videos from the Eel River Valley or simply eager to explore redwood country, this is your chance to meet like-minded trackers, share stories over a meal in The Lodge or around the campfire, and discover how much deeper your connection to wildlife tracking becomes when you're surrounded by people who notice what most miss.
Customize Your Own Experience: The Tracker Gathering embodies a "choose-your-own-adventure" vibe, allowing you to customize your experience. Stay for just a couple of days, the full duration, or anything in between. Each day and evening will feature a variety of workshops, group outings, and communal activities, with plenty of flexibility to mix and match.
Evening Meal-time with Kim: Trackers are welcome to use the large, spacious commercial kitchen for meal preparation. We will have full use of the dining room in The Lodge for getting to know each other, exchanging tracking tips, swapping stories, casual discussions and opportunities to unwind with each other. Kim plans to be at every evening meal, so this is your chance to connect personally, ask the questions you've always had, and share how her work has shaped your own tracking path.
Free Evening Tracking Clinics: At 6:00pm each evening in The Lodge, an expert will present a free clinic on tracking, trailing, or a related subject along with a Q&A period. Subjects such as feather ID, skull ID, survival skills, tracking stories, writing about tracking, obscure track ID, identifying browse sign on plants are just a few of the potential topics. We are still lining up and organizing these clinics as of March 21. You can view their current status on the calendar.
All Proceeds Support the TCNA Financial Access Fund and YMCA Camp Ravencliff.
It's All About You and Your Schedule: Arrive when you wish. Participate in events that speak to you. Leave when you must.
See the Calendar of Events here: Calendar
Stunning Location and Ideal Conditions
Nestled in the heart of ancient redwood country, YMCA Camp Ravencliff spans 64 acres of meadows, wooded hillsides, and riverfront terrain, providing an isolated yet accessible haven for exploration. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Eel River, the camp borders Redwood State Park, granting direct access to groves of towering ancient redwoods and a plethora of tracking hotspots. Whether you're tracking a sandbar along the low-flowing Eel River or wandering dusty roads, the setting promises an unforgettable blend of tranquility and adventure.
In September, the mild weather and low river expose fresh tracks in mudflats and dusty roads—perfect for practicing what you've learned and building the confidence to read the landscape on your own back home. Dusty dirt roads throughout the area hold impressions exceptionally well, while nearby bends and stretches of the Eel River—many on public land—offer diverse habitats teeming with wildlife clues like scat, rubs, and feeding sites.
Beyond the camp itself, Kim is compiling a list of her favorite tracking locations for workshop leaders within a 30-minute drive, many of which are featured in her popular tracking videos and vignettes. These spots include sandy riverbanks, forested trails, dusty dirt roads and open meadows, ensuring a rich variety of environments to practice in.
The camp's serene, isolated feel is balanced by its convenience—it's just a short drive from the charming small towns of Redway and Garberville, where you'll find groceries, gas stations, and other essentials.
Workshops and Activities
Multiple Daily Workshops From Which To Choose: At the core of the Tracker Gathering are daily workshops led by Kim Cabrera, Mike Cox, Terry Hunefeld, Jonathan Shapiro, Zander Balthaser, Sam Giovanetti, Jon Poppele, Mallory Clarke and other experienced trackers, writers and survival experts. Many of these sessions will be intentionally approachable, catering to newer and intermediate trackers. Other workshops are planned for intermediate and skilled trackers. We will have enormous fun!
Workshops: Length/Locations: range from 3 hours to full-days. Most will be held out in the field, some indoors or a combination of both. Many workshops will take place right on the 64 acre YMCA grounds in the Redwood Forest where Kim has filmed more than 80% of her hundreds of famous videos. To top it off, there are half a dozen more tracking sites within a 30-minute drive from the camp that will also be explored in workshops. Workshop & events calendar
Skill Levels: To accommodate varying skill levels, workshop leaders will specify who the workshop is for: Beginners, Intermediate or Advanced. Leaders will tailor offerings based on experience levels; expect a mix of beginner-friendly sessions like "Tracking 101: Intro to Reading Track & Sign," "Mock Evals" (certification-style practice with zero pressure and no stakes), "Tracking Along the Eel River" (hitting nearby mudflats).
Whether you're just entering the track & sign world, improving your abilities or refining advanced skills, this is where tracking stops being a hobby and starts feeling like a way of seeing the world.
Will You Lead A Workshop?
If you hold a high (98-99) Level 3 Certification, you're warmly invited to lead a tracking or trailing workshop, especially for new, inexperienced or intermediate trackers, many of whom may be taking their first steps into this craft. Because Kim’s Facebook community now reaches more than 80,000 people, we expect many new trackers to join us, curious and eager to learn the basics in a friendly, low‑pressure setting.
This gathering is intentionally casual and welcoming, a place where experienced trackers can share what they know without needing to be “professional teachers.” Your presence—and your willingness to lead—would mean a great deal. Read More About Leadership
Workshops allow one-on-one instruction and a lot of getting up close and personal with the tracks.
Above are 3 photos of Matt Nelson while conducting Track & Certifications all across North America
Two TCNA Track & Sign Certifications
The featured events are two official Tracker Certification North America (TCNA) Track and Sign certifications conducted by evaluator Matt Nelson, marking his return to the circuit after a well-deserved break to finish his house and welcome a new baby. These standard evaluations are scheduled for Sunday-Monday, September 6-7, and Wednesday-Thursday, September 9-10. Early bird tuition for each event is $475, limited to 11 participants (Early bird special $425 if registered by May 1). If you're ready to test your skills in a supportive environment, these certifications offer a structured path to advancement through Tracking Certification North America (TCNA). Workshops will take place during and around these dates, allowing participants to prepare, observe, or recover without missing out on the fun. Even if certification isn't your goal, participating in the process with Matt or joining a "mock eval" workshop, will provide valuable insights into obscure track and sign ID skills. All certification proceeds will be donated to the TCNA Financial Access Fund
Visit the TCNA Certification Page and/or REGISTER for one of the certifications.
Lodging - All Proceeds For A Good Cause
Super Affordable Registration: Nestled along the beautiful Eel River, this accessible property offers incredibly affordable lodging and day-use options at just $15 per day (earlybird price, $25/day after May 1) whether you choose a cozy cabin bunk or a scenic camping spot. Your stay includes full access to the expansive 64 acres of grounds right by the river, along with modern amenities like clean full bathrooms, refreshing hot showers, a welcoming lodge featuring an enormous fully equipped kitchen, multiple refrigerators plus walk-in coolers for all your storage needs, and complimentary tracking events held every evening at 6 p.m. to enhance your experience.
Proceeds from these donations will be split between YMCA Camp Ravencliff and Tracker Certification North America.
TCNA created its Financial Access Fund to support individuals facing financial or contextual barriers, particularly those from communities underrepresented in wildlife research, conservation, and outdoor education.
Camp Ravencliff has their own scholarship and financial aid fund that opens the door to life-changing adventures for children from low-income families and urban communities who might otherwise miss out.
Reserve your spot at the Tracker Gathering.
Reserve Your Spot
registration link
Reserve your spot while there's still space; we'd love to share the trail with you. This is your opportunity to meet Kim on her home turf, track the Eel River with her on one of her four workshops, follow black bear stomp trails through the ancient redwoods, lead a workshop or simply be part of a legend in the making—hope to see you under the redwoods!
Spots are limited to keep the gathering intimate and personal and to ensure there is adequate camping space and cabins for participants. After you reserve, should you wish to add more days at a later date, you may do so, even if new reservations are closed.
UNIQUE, COLLABORATIVE, JOY-FILLED
The Tracker Gathering is an experience that really can't be compared with anything else. It's not a certification course or random, stacked workshops—it's a welcoming, low-key celebration where trackers of all levels learn side-by-side, share stories that spark new insights, and leave with a renewed sense of wonder at the wild world around them.
Trackers from across North America will come together to explore redwood country, share stories in the lodge or around the campfire, and deepen their skills through hands‑on experiences and daily free clinics on topics ranging from feather and skull ID to obscure tracks and plant browse sign.
With a choose‑your‑own‑adventure format, you can stay for a couple of days or the full week, mixing and matching workshops, group outings, and communal activities entirely on your own schedule.
Evenings bring us to The Lodge where we can prepare our evening meal and enjoy it with other trackers. Kim will attend each evening meal, giving you space to share a quiet moment with her and swap stories with fellow trackers.
Every moment is designed to build camaraderie, spark inspiration, and strengthen the bonds of a community that learns, laughs, and grows together, all while supporting the TCNA Financial Access Fund to make professional‑level tracking training more inclusive.
Navigating the
TrackerGathering website
Roadmap: TrackerGathering website directory
Workshops clinics, presentations and more workshops
Reserve & Register to attend the Tracker Gathering
TCNA Certifications with Matt Nelson
Links for Payments and Donations
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Calendar of Events
YMCA Camp Ravencliff
PRIVACY AND REMOTENESS: The YMCA camp is busy in June and July with three different long sessions for school-age children. By early August, its quiet. Nobody is there except the animals... and... in the first week of September, trackers.
CABIN OR TENT? Your day use donation entitles you to tent camp or grab a cabin bunk bed. Cabins do not have electricity so consider bringing your own battery operated lighting. The Lodge has plenty of electric outlets for charging batteries, portable chargers, phone and laptops.
BLAZING FAST WI-FI: The Lodge will have fast broadband Wi-Fi from Starlink. Cell phone coverage is good from the lodge and the cabins.
The Facilities
YMCA Camp Ravencliff is fully equipped for a comfortable group experience, with the entire site reserved exclusively for our gathering after the busy early-summer season. Choose a bunk in one of 11 rustic cabins (each with 8 bunk beds) or camp somewhere in the 12 tent camping areas complete with fire rings for that classic outdoor vibe. Life for us will revolve around "The Lodge" with enormous dining and meeting areas , a fully equipped commercial kitchen, three refrigerators and a walk-in cooler), making meal prep fun and easy. Hot Showers and bathrooms with running water are available in multiple locations around the camp.
"An Incredible Event"
In September, something rare will happen in the ancient redwoods: trackers who arrived as individuals leave carrying a sharper lens on the world. Fresh tracks in river mud, a coyote's quiet passage through ferns, the subtle browse of a deer on a familiar trail—all begin to tell stories you never noticed before.
This gathering isn't just an event; it's a gentle reset for how you move through wild places and everyday ones alike.
If the idea of walking away with that quiet shift in perception—and some new friends who understand exactly why it matters—resonates with you, come join us.
Reserve your spot while there's still space; we'd love to share the trail. Spots are intentionally limited to keep the gathering intimate and personal—hope to see you under the redwoods.
Ravencliff History
Camp Ravencliff celebrated its centennial in 2025.
Archaeological studies have established that the hillside Camp Ravencliff now occupies has been inhabited by human beings for at least 4,000 years. At least two major groups of Native Americans used the site as a winter village to which they returned year after year.
In the 1930's, the YMCA in Eureka purchased four acres on the west bank of the Eel River near Redway and established Camp Ravencliff. Some of the camp buildings date from that era. The original cabins and shower house were located close to the river, and were washed away in the 1964 flood. During that flood, the raging waters tore the deck off the lodge and water inside the lodge was a foot deep.
In the 1960's the YMCA purchased an additional 60 acres of surrounding meadow and woodland from local owners. In 2019 The Sonoma County Family YMCA acquired Ravencliff from the YMCA of the East Bay.
