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Trude | profile | all galleries >> docent_day >> oc_wild_winter_workshop_2012_jim_lowery tree view | thumbnails | slideshow
Perfect day at Laguna Coast Wilderness
Perfect day at Laguna Coast Wilderness		 Ranger Winter Bonnin welcomes OC's finest environmental educators
Ranger Winter Bonnin welcomes OC's finest environmental educators		 Expert tracker Jim Lowery teaches tracking and the 4 Directions
Expert tracker Jim Lowery teaches tracking and the 4 Directions		 Tracking in the EAST is about wisdom, perspective, and seeing the whole picture along with the details
Tracking in the EAST is about wisdom, perspective, and seeing the whole picture along with the details
We investigate ground squirrels or cottontails. What do we know and What questions do we have?
We investigate ground squirrels or cottontails. What do we know and What questions do we have?		 Our team finds extensive ground squirrel burrows. Some with debris outside (spring cleaning!)
Our team finds extensive ground squirrel burrows. Some with debris outside (spring cleaning!)		 We followed their runways and even got down at their level
We followed their runways and even got down at their level		 We found vegetation they nipped and broke open their elongated scat
We found vegetation they nipped and broke open their elongated scat
We found a few tracks and scratches in the dirt
We found a few tracks and scratches in the dirt		 I noticed solitary burrows had twigs over the opening. Perhaps for protection?
I noticed solitary burrows had twigs over the opening. Perhaps for protection?		 Runs go straight to laurel sumac in open areas but twist more next to cover. Can you suggest why?
Runs go straight to laurel sumac in open areas but twist more next to cover. Can you suggest why?		 We see a squirrel. It went that way! No, that way!
We see a squirrel. It went that way! No, that way!
We discussed our discoveries and questions
We discussed our discoveries and questions		 Tracking in the SOUTH is about details, patience, and commitment to understanding what happened
Tracking in the SOUTH is about details, patience, and commitment to understanding what happened		 One group practiced making imprints in sand to read pressure points and direction
One group practiced making imprints in sand to read pressure points and direction		 Our group had photos of a raccoon track pattern. We mimicked how it walked to make that pattern. (photo not taken today)
Our group had photos of a raccoon track pattern. We mimicked how it walked to make that pattern. (photo not taken today)
I guessed the raccoon paused to look over its right shoulder but did not stop (photo not taken today)
I guessed the raccoon paused to look over its right shoulder but did not stop (photo not taken today)		 You have to really understand the animal in this moment on this landscape
You have to really understand the animal in this moment on this landscape		 Break for lunch and to watch a gopher snake move and make its track.
Break for lunch and to watch a gopher snake move and make its track.		 Such eagerness and joy of our group even though we have seen snakes many times
Such eagerness and joy of our group even though we have seen snakes many times
Tracking in the WEST is about intuition and humility and not needing to explain or justify
Tracking in the WEST is about intuition and humility and not needing to explain or justify		 With eyes closed, we tried to send strong visual images to our partners.
With eyes closed, we tried to send strong visual images to our partners.		 It really worked for some pairs but not for others.
It really worked for some pairs but not for others.		 With eyes closed, our partners then lead us to some tracks beyond these sycamores
With eyes closed, our partners then lead us to some tracks beyond these sycamores
We hovered our hand over a track and tried to feel the direction and size (photo not taken today)
We hovered our hand over a track and tried to "feel" the direction and size (photo not taken today)		 Tracking in the NORTH is about seeing familiar objects with fresh eyes
Tracking in the NORTH is about seeing familiar objects with fresh eyes		 We looked at sycamore and mistletoe with new excitement
We looked at sycamore and mistletoe with new excitement		 I discovered seeds wiped on the sycamore branch from a bird. Perhaps mistletoe seeds from a phainopepla?
I discovered seeds wiped on the sycamore branch from a bird. Perhaps mistletoe seeds from a phainopepla?
I was grateful for a day in wilderness with peers and an expert tracker
I was grateful for a day in wilderness with peers and an expert tracker		 Many thanks to OC Wild Women for organizing the event
Many thanks to OC Wild Women for organizing the event		 Four Directions of perspective, details, intuition, and openness
Four Directions of perspective, details, intuition, and openness		 We walked away renewed, refreshed, and relaxed from our wild day in nature
We walked away renewed, refreshed, and relaxed from our wild day in nature

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Guest 06-Feb-2012 18:43
That was beautiful! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together.

Carolyn
Guest 06-Feb-2012 18:40
Hi Trude,

Journalism through pictures....you freshened my memory of this day. Thank you so much!

Gigi
Trude03-Feb-2012 04:38
Orange County Wild offers an annual Winter Workshop of specialized outdoor training for county-wide naturalists, rangers, and environmental educators. Guest speaker this year was Jim Lowery of Earth Skills who introduced "Tracking and the Four Directions", a way of approaching the natural world with an array of different skills and types of awareness. You can learn more at his website athttp://www.earthskills.com. I was very impressed by his depth of knowledge, humility, and teaching through questioning. It was a spectacular day!
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