Stories & Courses in this issue...

• Thaddeus Smarter Than MacGyver Kayak Building Class
• TrackersNW Comes Out Article in the Oregonian
• We Really Do Theater Under the Tuscan Sun

Read the full issue online

Thaddeus: MacGyver's Smarter Brother
Does that make Thaddeus evil? Would he be MacGyver's arch nemesis if he was his smarter brother? Probably not, Thaddeus is one of the nicest people I ever met. So maybe that makes MacGyver evil. This was my fancy way of saying that Tad (short for Thaddeus) can make anything from nothing. Case in point, one day I saw him pull the Umiak (our traditional whaling boat) over onto and island in the Columbia with a group of 11 kids. They trooped from the shore to cut down a small scrub tree with a knife, then lash it to the boat with another branch as the boom, rigging a HIGHLY effective sail out of nothing but rescue rope and a blue tarp. May other favorite Thaddeus story is when he had kids in our after school program bring in a broken appliance to take it apart and fix it. He is the guy you most likely want to be stranded on a deserted island with. AHEM!

Meanwhile Tad is teaching Traditional Skin on Frame Kayak Building Course starting the first weekend of January. There is allot of Kayak Building courses where you build your boat from a kit BUT in great Thaddeus (and TrackersNW) tradition he REALLY wants you to do it from start to finish. This where you REALLY learn to build boats. Where you get on customized to your body.
Who 16-adult , Participant Limit 5 persons
When 5 weekends Jan 5th- Feb 3rd, 8am-5pm (with breaks)
Where The Scout Pit, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland OR Map It

TrackersNW Comes Out
An article came out in the Oregonian about us. Check It Out. We admit it, we took two our teen students deer hunting. I hope this is okay with with folks. I realize here might be differing opinions among our readers, friends and community members whether or not hunting is right or wrong. Yet in our quest for transparency, we want to people to fully know that we did it and why we did it. I usually don't like to quote from our own web site but this might help...

We are all on a journey back to more real relationships with the land and each other. Growing up in the city, country or suburbs, many of our grandfathers or grandmothers were never able to take us wandering in the woods, take us fishing or hunting. Together we can change that. Hunting is called the Great Dance by the bushmen of the Kalahari. We walk in the animal's footsteps as we track it. We run and walk as it does. We stop where it stops. We see what it sees and feel what it feels. Hunting by traditional methods means getting closer to the animal and needing to know, and empathize with it VERY well. It becomes a form of wordless conversation with the animal itself. For hunter gatherers this is life and this is death. As TrackersNW we honor our human heritage in ourselves while we recognize the diversity of sensibilities and opinions. So while we do hunt and harvest animals, we ONLY hunt in classes specified for it. TrackersNW honors all animals as relations and life that sustains our own.

I wanted to share the article with folks because I felt that the author Bill Monroe did an excellent job. It was very focused on Ardin and Paul, rich and sincere. I would love it if people wanted to email him (there is a link to his email in the article) and give him kudos.

We Really Do Theater Under the Tuscan Sun
The longest day of the year is coming up (the winter solstice, Dec 22). It made me think of a class. In case you don't know me well enough by now, please let me explain. I think of our programs as "theater". Not that we are putting on a show (usually) but that we are there to take a real physical and gritty journey through a story while still being safe! So to me, what STORY we are ENACTING is always important. I always ask the question, "Do I want to be there?" As a result, I often end up gaining as much as the participants; especially when we allow for improv and true passion in EVERYTHING we do.

So back to the class... The solstice is significant because the Sun, solar power for the Earth, is lowest in its journey in the sky. In winter, in our part of the world it actually rises in Southeast. In winter in the southern hemisphere it rises in the Northeast! Getting it yet?

All this helps me find direction without at compass. But the Sun is tricky. In the Spring equinox it rises directly in the East and in the summer solstice (in our hemisphere) it rises in the Northeast. So how do you figure it out directions if it is always changing. Wouldn't it be great if the Sun rose directly in the East all the time. Of course not, that would be boring! Finding compass directions without a compass is inspiring, great fun and forces to REALLY problem solve! In fact, more than simply the Sun that can help you find direction, there is the stars, story maps, tracking, ecotones defined by birding by ear and all other kinds of arts that help you look at the world from a Birds Eye perspective. So back to the class again... What if we met every Solstice and Equinox and explored these "aidless navigation" techniques. Four times a year to find your way by the Sun, find your way by the birds and ecotones, by the tracks. We could be like ancient wanderers and wayfarers but in the city. In between those 3 months of four seasons we all do independent learning for nature observation. This class does not actually exist but we have until the beginning of spring to figure it out. Contact Me if you are interested.

OTHER Upcoming Stuff

• Derrick Jensen Q&A (Mythmedia)
• Full Time Adult Immersion
• Tracking Classes
• Animal Classes

Derrick Jensen this WEDNESAY From our friends @ Mythmedia. REMEMBER tickets are "will call" If you have ordered you can pick them up at the lecture (they are waiting there for you). NO LINES. Wednesday, 7pm @ Disjecta (230 E. Burnside) This is a Q & A with Derrick! Meaning less lecture and more one on one!

Full time Adult Immersion Program I am more and more happy that we have created this program.The quality of applicants is incredible. They are the ones who will define this program. Please remember, early application deadline ends near the end of January. We make our decisions for our fist wave of applicants. So sending in early increases your odds of making it into the program.

Animal Tracking Series Some people believe an Animal Tracker only follows footprints on the ground. Tracking can be that, but also much more. The Animal Tracking Ultimate Series brings the best instructors to you. In many other programs, instructors consider themselves your "mentor" but a real tracker considers herself a collaborator.

Session 1-Eye of the Tracker Have you ever skinned something than ate it? Here's your chance to get hands on experience and expert guidance in skinning and butchering with local primitive skills experts of TrackersNW. All animals are treated with respect, and remains are put to use as food or tools.
Who 14-adult
When Sat, Jan 19, 2008 10am-3pm
Where Portland, OR

Session 2 -The Mind of a Tracker A tracker’s mind creates living maps and stories telling us about an entirely different world moving on the edge of our awareness. Start to build your own stories of the natural world and walk through your edge.
Who 14-adult
When Sat, Feb 2, 2008 10am-4pm
Where Portland, OR

Session 3 -Know Nothing! If you have taken an animal tracking class before, be prepared for an entirely different experience. This class goes until dawn the next day. This class takes place at NOON until DAWN the next day. Be prepared to up all night tracking!
Who 14-adult , session 2 required
When Sat, Mar 1-2, 2008
Where Portland, OR

Animal Classes Skinning 101 Have you ever skinned something than ate it? Here's your chance to get hands on experience and expert guidance in skinning and butchering with local primitive skills experts of TrackersNW. All animals are treated with respect, and remains are put to use as food or tools.
Who 14-adult
When Sat, Jan 19, 2008 10am-3pm
Where Portland, OR

Traditional Hide Tanning Join local primitive skills experts of TrackersNW to learn and practice traditional method of brain tanning to work with skins and hides from small mammals, elk and deer. Some of the softest and most beautiful buckskins are created using this ancient method.
Who 14-adult
When Feb 16-17, 2008 10am-3pm
Where Portland, OR