Upcoming Programs At A Glance - Fall 2010 through Spring 2011
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| Special Event: Predator Tracking with Paul Rezendes
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Oct 2 Plaster Casts - New Salem, Massachusetts
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Oct 30 Berkshire Bears - Charlemont, Massachusetts
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Nov 13 Great Places: Fife Brook - Monroe/Florida, Massachusetts
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Nov 20 Map & Compass - New Salem, Massachusetts
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Dec 4 Animals Preparing for Winter - West Central Vermont
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Jan 15 Intro to Tracking, New Salem, Massachusetts
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Jan 22 Tracking: Re-learning an Ancient Art - New Salem, Massachusetts |
Jan 29 Bobcats in Vermont - Southern Vermont
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Feb 5 Tracking Fisher - New Salem, Massachusetts
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Feb 6 Carnivore Tracking - New Salem, Massachsuetts |
Feb 19 Moonlight Snowshoe - Petersham, Massachusetts
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Feb 19 - Feb 22 Winter Intensive - Orange, Massachusetts
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April 9 Tree ID - Mt. Tom, Massachusetts |
April 16 Early Spring Birding - Belchertown, Massachusetts
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May 14 Mid-Spring Birding - Belchertown, Massachusetts
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May 21 Tracking: The Finer Details - Chesterfield, Massachusetts |
May 28 Great Places: Dunbar Brook, Monroe, Massachusetts
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June 11 Late-Spring Birding - Belchertown, Massachusetts |
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June 18 & 19 Tracking Campout - Petersham, Massachusetts
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June 25 Aging Tracks - Chesterfield Massachusetts
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July 9 Black Bear Research Project - New Salem, Massachusetts |
July 10 Black Bear Research Project - Petersham, Massachusetts |
July 16 Black Bear Research Project - Charlemont, Massachusetts |
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July 17 Black Bear Research Project - Savoy, Massachusetts |
July 23 Black Bear Research Project - Barkhamsted, Connecticutt |
July 24 Black Bear Research Project - Granville, Massachusetts |
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July 30 Black Bear Research Project - Heath, Massachusetts |
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Fall, 2011, Date to be announced: Keeping a Naturalist's Journal - with Clare Walker Leslie - at Walnut Hill. Stay tuned! |
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Predator Tracking with Paul Rezendes
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Saturday, January 8, 2011; 10 am - 3 pm |
| Sorry, this program is full - contact us if you would like to be placed on the waiting list |
Sunday, January 9, 2011; 10 am - 3 pm |
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| Sorry, this program is full - contact us if you would like to be placed on the waiting list |
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Join Paul Rezendes, renowned tracker, photographer, and author of Tracking and the Art of Seeing and The Wild Within, on a daylong adventure following the trail of a predator through the winter landscape. This is tracking the way it used to be - using direct observation and experience to become intimate with the animal's world through its tracks and sign. |
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This is a rare opportunity to learn from the man who many consider to be the "grandfather" of New England tracking. Paul's unrivaled powers of observation and unique perspective have helped thousands of people reconnect with the natural world.
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Tuition Fee: $65/day (Choose either Saturday or Sunday - this is a one-day program) |
| This class will meet in North Central Massachusetts. |
| Sorry, Saturday is full. Sunday still has a few openings (as of November 9th). |
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Please note: this program will run only if there is sufficient snow cover.
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Great Places: Fife Brook
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Saturday, November 13, 2010, 10 am - 2 pm |
Fife Brook "is arguably the best mixed old-growth northern hardwood-hemlock stand in Massachusetts" (Bob Leverett, 1993) The area contains Eastern Hemlock, Red Maple, American Basswood, Sweet Birch, and other hardwoods, up to 350 years old. Join Bob Leverett, cofounder and Executive Director of the Eastern Native Tree Society (ENTS), as he shares the secrets of Fife Brook as it cuts a spectacular, narrow, steep gorge surrounded by ancient trees untouched by human hands. Hiking will be in steep terrain and off trail, a specialty of Bob’s. |
with Bob Leverett, the Guru of Old-growth Trees
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Limit: 15 Fee:$50/person
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This class will meet in Monroe, Massachusetts, in the north-east Berkshires. |
Animals Preparing For Winter
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Saturday, December 4, 2010 10 am - 5 pm
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Naturalist-extraordinaire Alcott Smith will lead this program in the wild high-country of west-central Vermont, where cold weather has arrived and snow may already be falling. From the scatter-hoarding of gray squirrels to the larder-hoarding of red squirrels, nature has evolved a myriad of different survival techniques among animals. Black bears may still be about, or they may be tucked away in their remote dens, but most mammals will remain active all winter long, and their survival is nothing short of miraculous. The focus of the program will be their remarkable adaptions and their preparations for the harsh winter months. We are likely to see sign of moose, black bear, beaver, otter, fisher and many other animals.
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Please note: This will be a full-day off-trail in rugged country. Participants must be in excellent physical condition and must have proper footwear and clothing.
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with Alcott Smith
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Limit: 15 Fee:$50/person
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This program will take place either in Rochester, Vermont, or Hubbardton, Vermont, depending on conditions at the time. Brandon, Vermont, between the two locations, is a good choice to find lodging.
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Tracking Fisher
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Saturday, February 5, 2011 10 am - 3:30 pm
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The fisher is our largest member of the weasel family. Having been extirpated by the fur trade many years ago, it has made a comeback to this area in recent years. After this long absence, it has filled a niche as one of the top carnivores in the forest. Fast and strong, the fisher is an efficient and tenacious predator, seemingly as at home in trees as on the ground. John McCarter, one of the northeast’s leading trackers, will lead this exploration of the fisher’s world as its trail winds through the nooks and crannies of our wild areas. As you learn about the fisher you will come to admire and respect this misunderstood and often unfairly-reviled forest dweller. The class will be held in north central Massachusetts, an hour-and-a-half from the Boston area.
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Hiking will be moderate to strenuous, mostly off-trail and with considerable bushwhacking, so participants must be in good physical condition.
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with John McCarter
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Limit: 12 Fee:$50/person
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Limit: 12 Fee:$50/person
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This program will meet in New Salem, Massachusetts.
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Quabbin Carnivores
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Sunday, February 6, 2011 10 am - 3:30 pm
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Join John McCarter in an adventure exploring the world of southern New England carnivores as we follow their track and sign through remote territories difficult to reach. |
John McCarter is one the most knowledgeable and respected tracking experts in the Northeast. He was senior staff instructor for Paul Rezendes Tracking And Nature Programs, and made the find of a lifetime when he discovered the remains of a cache and scat near the Quabbin Reservoir in 1997, the only uncontested proof of the existence of Mountain Lion in New England.
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This course will be held at the Quabbin in north-central Massachusetts, an hour-and-a-half drive from the Boston area.
Hiking will be moderate to strenuous, mostly off-trail and with some bushwhacking, so participants must be in good physical condition.
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with John McCarter
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Limit: 12 Fee:$50/person
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This program will meet in New Salem, Massachusetts.
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Full Moon Snowshoe Adventure
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Saturday, February 19, 2011, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
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Enjoy an enchanting night time trip illuminated by light of the rising moon. We may see signs of flying squirrels or the tracks of foxes, hear the howls of coyotes or the hoots of owls. Shimmering drifts of snow, wind whispering through pine trees, ice-laden cliffs reflecting light of the moon, amazing shapes of ancient tree trunks emerging from the dark - all combine to inspire the imagination. Bring the family, or treat your loved one to a memorable evening. We will provide the hot cocoa and homemade cookies to warm you up afterwards! Dress warmly and bring snowshoes (we have a few pairs available for a modest fee). If there is a lack of snow we will hike to partake of winter’s moonlit magic. Either way, wear extremely warm boots. This program will meet in Petersham, Massachusetts.
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with Nick & Valerie Wisniewski
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Limit: 15 Fee: Adults, $15, Children $5
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Note: not recommended for extremely young children.
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This program will meet in Petersham, Massachusetts.
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Winter Four-day Tracking Intensive
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Saturday, February 19, 2011, at 10 am, through Tuesday, February 22, 4 pm
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This program includes 4 days and 3 evening sessions. The small group size will allow us to move easily through the forest and cover more territory than on most programs. The small group size will also insure individual attention and will enable all students to fully participate in interpreting the clues of animal life that we encounter. Each day we will track in a different location, paying special attention to track patterns, reconstructing animal behavior, exploring subtleties of animal track and sign, and taking all the time necessary to investigate questions that arise. Evenings will be spent viewing 35-mm slides and digital images of animal track and sign, studying animal skulls, bones, and other materials, and further exploring questions that came up during the day’s outing. The program will start on Saturday morning, and end late Tuesday afternoon.
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Days will be long, and hiking will be moderately strenuous, mostly bush-whacking off-trail, so participants must be in good physical condition. Previous tracking experience is a plus, but is not necessary.
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with Nick & Valerie Wisniewski
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Limited to 10 participants - $350. Lodging for three nights with breakfast will be available for an additional fee at Walnut Hill for the first three registrants - contact us for lodging details.
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Tracking: The Finer Details
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Saturday, May 21, 2011 10 am - 3 pm
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This class will teach how to track animals and people under different conditions. Through various exercises and techniques, you will learn to see the wealth of information left on the forest floor. You’ll spend a lot of time on hands and knees, nose to the ground, examining the most minute details of tracks. You’ll learn to recognize and follow a trail over surfaces that make tracking very difficult.
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Kent Hicks is an expert in human tracking whose assistance is sought by many organizations. He is considered by many trackers to be one of the leading authorities on the art and science of aging tracks. Kent will teach you how to apply this knowledge to your tracking to bring it to a higher level, whether human tracking or animal tracking. Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate, or an advanced tracker, this class is a must! Many expert trackers have taken this class from Kent several times, expanding and enriching their tracking skills.
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This course will be held in the foothills of the Berkshires along the wild and scenic Westfield River in western Massachusetts. Bring pen, paper, and something waterproof to kneel on.
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This class (taken either today or previously) should be considered before taking Kent's Aging Tracks class in June.
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with Kent Hicks
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Limit: 15 Fee: $50/person
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Great Places: Dunbar Brook
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Saturday, May 28, 2011, 10 am - 2 pm |
Dunbar Brook has one of the most extraordinary combinations of scenery and forest in all Massachusetts. Dunbar represents the best of Massachusetts wild lands. Join Bob Leverett, cofounder and Executive Director of the Eastern Native Tree Society (ENTS), as he takes us to some of the secluded spots of Dunbar, where the combination of moss-covered boulders, old growth forests, champion trees, tumbling waters, and just sheer exquisiteness is guaranteed to please. For those who are unaware, Bob is an old-growth forest researcher who has mapped out virtually all the old growth forests in Massachusetts for DCR and/or environmental organizations. Bob is also a mathematician who has developed tree measuring techniques to achieve great accuracy. He will take us to some very special trees and remeasure them. So, join us for an unforgettable event. Hiking will be in moderately steep terrain and off trail, a specialty of Bob’s. |
with Bob Leverett, the Guru of Old-growth Trees
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Limit: 15 Fee:$50/person
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This class will meet in Monroe, Massachusetts, in the north-east Berkshires. Bob will be taking us to a different area of Dunbar Brook than he has in prior programs. Surprises await! |
Summer 2011 Black Bear Research Project
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This field study course will be a unique opportunity for in-depth study of bear ecology through the observation of bear communication as exhibited in their marking behavior. Participants will work as research assistants, collecting and recording data and mapping the locations (we will train you on the techniques involved). We will be visiting seven sites in Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. These sites have been the location of intense bear activity for a number of years, including what we have come to call "Bear Ritual Trails." These sites hold intentional marking by Black Bears, including rubbing, biting, clawing, straddling, and whammying of trees. In addition, there are ritualized patterns of walking that have left footfalls of bears for years, sometimes even generations. On the way to and from these unique sites we will explore for new bear sign to add to our knowledge and understanding of these amazing animals. This is a unique opportunity for you to learn about bear sign, while assisting us in collecting data that will help add to human understanding of these intelligent creatures.
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Participants must be sensitive to the natural environment, and must be respectful of the animals whose sign we are studying. We are very conscious of our own intrusions into these sites, and we strictly limit our visits.
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with Valerie & Nick Wisniewski
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Fee:$50/session. Students may participate in one or more sessions. $200 covers the cost of all seven sessions, allowing you to pick as many as fit into your schedule. To register for these bear research programs, contact us by email and phone us as well so that we can discuss pertinent, important details. walnuthilltracking@verizon.net 978-544-6083
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Black Bear research program locations and dates: |
New Salem , Massachusetts, Saturday, July 9 |
Petersham, Massachusetts, Sunday, July 10 |
Charlemont, Massachusetts, Saturday, July 16 |
Savoy, Massachusetts, Sunday, July 17 |
East Hartland, Connecticut, Saturday, July 23 |
Granville, Massachusetts, Sunday, July 24 |
Heath, Massachusetts, Saturday, July 30 |
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Prerequisites: Some knowledge of bear sign is helpful, but not required. |
| Walnut Hill Tracking & Nature Center |
| Nick Wisniewski and Valerie Major, co-founders |
| Valerie Major began her life-long study of nature accompanying her father in the forests of Arkansas. She continued her training as a fifteen-year student and three-year apprentice with Paul Rezendes. She has taught outdoor skills to youth and adults for twenty-five years. Valerie keeps a link with her native heritage as a board member and teacher at the Eastern American Indian Cultural Center. Valerie encourages the spirit of inquiry and exploration through her primitive, experiential, teaching method. |
| Nick Wisniewski is an expert on animal tracks and sign. He was a long-term student and three-year apprentice of master tracker Paul Rezendes, with whom he maintains close personal ties. His on-going tracking projects include animal surveys for wildlife sanctuaries, and a multi-year effort to document Mountain Lion track and sign in southern New England. A life-long naturalist, he became fascinated by tracking in 1984 after encountering fresh Wolf scat and tracks while on an extended solo trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in Minnesota. His passion is using animal tracking as a unifying method for nature study and exploration. |
| Special Guest Teachers |
| John McCarter was the senior staff instructor for Paul Rezendes Nature Programs, and has taught for many organizations throughout New England. He has been tracking wildlife for more than twenty years and is among the region's leading authorities on animal tracks and sign. John made the discovery of a lifetime when he found a Mountain Lion scat in the Quabbin Reservoir reservation in 1997, which has been dna-verified by two independent labs. |
| Bob Leverett is the East's premier interpreter of old growth forests and is credited with discovering many of the previously unrecognized ancient sites here in the northeast. Bob's expertise is unparalled and his opinion is highly sought by professional forest experts, conservation organizations, and the general public. His encyclopedic knowledge of trees and the forest is matched only by his infectious enthusiasm. He has discovered many places of majestic beauty in his search for "the monarchs of the forest." |
| Alcott Smith is an ecologist of the highest caliber and conducts research and leads field trips for many conservation organizations in New England. From his childhood he has maintained a lifelong commitment and unwavering allegiance to the indigenous fauna of northern New England. Beyond an active role in the perpetuity of endangered species, he revels in sharing his passion with others and excels in his ability to bring to life the relationship between our wild fauna and its habitat. |
| Kent Hicks uses his tracking skills to assist local and state authorities and search and rescue teams in locating lost and missing persons. He has trained Royal Canadian Mounted Police, FBI agents and other law enforcement personnel. Kent's tracking knowledge of humans and animals is unexcelled. An "un-sung" talent, he is considered by many trackers to be the region's leading expert on aging of tracks and sign. |
| Rob Leverett is a recognized expert in "primitive" tool making. Of Cherokee-Choctaw ancestry, he has taught many classes in schools throughout New England, as well as at Native American events. Rob possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of American indigenous people and their cultures and history. He has amazing skill in working with natural materials, and the objects he produces are literally beautiful works of art. He is an inspiring teacher, and his enthusiasm is contagious. |
| Bob Tremblay has been working as a professional outdoor guide since 1982, and has a B.A. and M.A. in Outdoor Adventure Education and Leadership. During his 20 years as an outdoor leader he has guided thousands of people on diverse outdoor adventures including backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, rock and ice climbing, and dog sledding. Bob loves to share his passion for the outdoors with others. |
| John Green is a reknowned naturalist and professional photographer. He has lived in Western Massachusetts for over thirty years and travels widely exploring and documenting nature with his awe-inspiring photography. We are honored to have him join our teaching staff! |
Tracking & Nature Center 
