Kim's Favorite Tracking Spots

Following are Kim's favorite tracking
locations and notes in and near Camp Ravencliff

Dyerville Riverbar / Leatherwood Bar - Excellent for mink, otter, and other riparian species.
Beach at Ravencliff - Often rich with otter, mink, raccoon, raven, turkey, and more.
Forest Near Ravencliff - Great for bear sign, squirrels, puma, bobcat, and a wide variety of forest species.
South Spit Wildlife Area - About an hour's drive; outstanding for shorebirds, rats, deer, raccoon, skunk, otter, and more, all  in beach sand and tidal flats.
Albee Creek Campground (State Park) - A diverse area with an apple orchard that attracts wildlife of all kinds.
Community Park Riverbar - A fun, easy-access place to explore with groups.
Ancestral Bear Trails Near Ravencliff - Ideal for following bear sign over long distances and varied terrain.
"The Wasteland" - Kim's name for one of her favorite tracking spots; an old sludge dump now full of wildlife activity.

 

Ideas for Workshop Names & Experience Level

 

Below is a menu of possible workshop titles you may use as inspiration. These are simply starting points—feel free to adapt, combine, rename, or create something entirely your own. In truth, most workshops will cover pretty much all the track and sign you find; the main difference will simply be the skill level of the group you’re guiding.  More important than the title or subject is to be very clear the “level” of the workshop: For brand new trackers?  Beginning trackers?  Intermediate?  Experienced?

And please know this: if you hold a high Level 3 certification or above, you are absolutely capable of leading a workshop. This gathering is meant to be friendly, casual, and low‑pressure. You don’t need to be a “professional teacher” or have decades of experience in Humboldt County. You just need to enjoy tracking and be willing to share what you know to those who know less. The landscape will do half the teaching for you, and the participants—especially the newer ones—will be thrilled simply to learn from someone with your skill and experience.

 

WORKSHOP TITLES... use them for real or for inspiration

Brand‑New Trackers (No Field Experience)
•Camp Ravencliff Safari: Hunting for Wildlife Evidence
• Tracking 101: Intro to Reading Track & Sign (indoors or outdoors)
• First Steps in the Wild: How to identify Tracks and Sign
• Sandbar Tracking: Finding Every Animal Clue
• Easy Tracking Outings: Trails, Scat, and More for Beginners

New Trackers with Some Field Experience
• Camp Ravenswood Safari: Looking at Tracks and Sign Without Pressure
• All‑You‑Can‑Find Tracking Walk: No Topic Left Behind
• Exploring the Eel River: Tracks, Scat, and Sign
• Following the Animals: A Holistic Look at Their World

Newer Trackers Who Have Never Participated in a TCNA Certification
• Open‑Air Tracking Lab: Observing Tracks, Scat, Rubs & More
• Building Tracking Confidence: Holistic Field Walks
• Riverbank Discoveries: Every Track and Sign We Find
• Redwood Edges & River Mud: Tracking Everything in Sight

Intermediate Trackers (No TCNA Certification Yet)
• A Taste of a TCNA Track & Sign Certification: “Mock Evals” (cert‑style practice, no pressure)
• Tracking Sandbars Along the Eel River
• Next‑Level Nature Reading: Tracks and Signs Everywhere

Intermediate Trackers (TCNA Level 1 or Level 2)
• Intermediate Adventures: For Trackers Building on Initial Outings
• Beyond the Basics: Observing the Full Wildlife Story
• A Day in the Life of the Forest: Reading Animal Clues
• Expanding Your Skills: All‑Encompassing Tracking Sessions

Intermediate Trackers (Level 3 or Higher)
• Advanced Tracking the Whole Story: Focus on Subtle Tracks & Clues
• Advanced: Every Obscure Mark on the Ground Counts
• Wide‑Angle Tracking: Discovering All Animal Evidence
• Deeper Dives in the Field: Refining Your Skillset
• Advanced Insights: Tracking the Whole Picture
• Sharpening Expert Eyes: Nuanced Signs and Tracks
• Mastery in Motion: Exploring Complex Clues

By Terry Hunefeld