Rangers Apprenticeship: Year-Round Mentoring

Tuition

Reserve your place with a $50 non-refundable deposit. Tuition is divided into 9 monthly payments. Your first payment is due September 10. We will contact you after you register to set up your Payment Plan.

OPTION 1 Single Days Available for Grades 1-5 and 6-12
$50 deposit, then nine monthly payments of $105 (total $995)

OPTION 2 Overnights Available for Grades 6-8 and 9-12
$50 deposit, then nine monthly payments of $193 (total $1,787, includes all overnights, camping and food)

Family Discount 10% discount is available for siblings registering together.
Returning Apprentice Discount based on consecutive years attended.
Scholarships Limited scholarship awards are available for families in need. Contact Us.

Discounts and scholarships cannot be combined.

Location

Drop-off SE Portland Headquarters - 4617 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon
We provide transportation to epic wilderness sites where we cook by the campfire, build shelters, and harvest from the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this program require prior experience?
No, in fact our Apprenticeships works best with varying levels of experience. Similar to a martial arts dojo, more advanced students are occasionally charged to help teach a skill to beginning students. With oversight from a guild mentor, this proven method helps creates a true learning community.

How much time commitment will my child need to give to independent study?
This is up to you. This time spent training away from mentors is purposeful and is equally important as guided training. The primary goal of this training is self-sufficiency and competency. It is up to the Apprentice and their family to determine how much time is spent. We encourage but do not require an average of 2-hours a week of personal study working on skills projects, tracking (parents may need to take their kids to a greenspace) and more.

What does my child get out of this? Do they become an awesome outdoors person?
Yes and more. The Rangers Guild is about developing personal accountability for the larger community. Our perspective on "survival skills" entails trusting your well-being to knowledge, awareness, and respect for the wilderness and your teammates. Through this trust, we innately cultivate a great sense of purpose and responsibility. This is not disciplined study simply for self-discipline sake. It is about profound experience that cultivates competency and a richer awareness of the world we live in.

What am I getting my child and our family into?
Trackers offers really "fun" summer camps. We are often touted as one of the best out there. Yet the Rangers Apprenticeship goes far beyond that one week camp experience. At Trackers, our legacy originates from a deep well of outdoor skills best learned through intensive apprenticeship. The depth of this training is akin to and, in many respects, more encompassing than a martial art. Training here will exceed anything found in most "scouting" programs. It requires great focus and diligence on the Apprentice's part. We also believe such rigorous study in nature-based skills actually enhances academic and physical capability. The ecological thinking inherent in animal tracking fosters an incredibly functional breadth in puzzling together systems and understanding exactly how the world "works". The calm focus and diligence required for outdoor survival skills offers real experience in humility, patience, and thoughtful long-term planning. Our Curriculum of Shadows builds an incredible depth of awareness for both details and good timing (an often undervalued but very poignant skill set).

What is the role of program mentors?
Program mentors are the best of Trackers instructors and representative of the Rangers Guild. They are coordinators and developers of all logistics and curriculum in our field days. During the program they introduce diverse skills of the Rangers Guild, providing ample foundation for your child to practice during independent study if they are so motivated. They also tailor their curriculum and mentoring to each individual Apprentice, checking in consistently to assess students' feelings of well-being in the program. They are often a phone call away when your family has a question about a skill, best places to embark on independent study, or how your child is doing in the program.