COURSE DESCRIPTION Are you new to CyberTracker certifications, and want to try one out before taking a full weekend? Or maybe you're taking one of the certifications later this week, and want to make sure your score is as good as it can be? In this workshop, you'll participate in a fully field-based practice certification.

This is the closest you can get to a true TCNA certification "eval" without actually participating in a real live field certification.  We cannot imagine a better way to prepare. 

Instructor Jonathan Shapiro has taken almost 20 Track & Sign certifications, earned two Specialists and three Professionals, and is intimately familiar with the evaluations' format and scoring system. In this day-long practice certification, he'll create the same experience as a real certification, but without the stress and "fear of failure" that may accompany an official score. Even experienced certification participants and trackers of all skill levels will benefit from this incredible day in the field.

Structured just like a real certification, you'll have the opportunity to answer questions about the track and sign that we find in the field, and then participate in a discussion about the techniques and processes that high-level trackers use to arrive at their answers.

CyberTracker certifications are the gold standard for tracking skills, and are also powerful learning tools. Whether you've never taken a certification before and want to try it out, or are looking for some practice to prepare for your next eval, this workshop will give you new insight, strategies, and information about tracking, wildlife, and how to prepare for and take certifications.

This "mock" practice certification will take place entirely in the field (weather permitting). Should the weather be inclement, we will make it work indoors with plenty of track replicas, feathers, images on a laptop, real-life skulls, etc.  No matter what the weather, this will be an incredible training and preparation for a future certification.

The questions will be dictated by what we find, and topics may include gaits and feeding behaviors, marking and territorial sign, clear (and not so clear) track ID, behavior interpretation, skull and bone ID, bird tracks & pellets, bird feathers - any question that may be asked on a TCNA certification.

Instructor Jonathan Shapiro has earned three Professionals and two Specialists in track and sign, and has spent over a decade honing his observation skills and process. He's made a lot of mistakes along the way, and the lessons he's learned have helped him create the unique approach to observation and process that he'll offer in this workshop.