Trackers can be a GREAT fit for families and kids inspired by what we teach. Trackers may NOT be a good fit for families who have individual needs we cannot meet or we do not align with. Every participant needs to be ready to build resilience and grit and capable of handling fast-paced, action-packed transitions. They must be excited to follow essential safety instructions and care for their Team through challenges. Here’s the breakdown to help you decide if Trackers is the right choice for your family:
Trackers IS a Good Fit for kids who...
- Can stick with the group at all times and consistently follow essential safety instructions.
- Embrace challenges and adapt when things don't go their way.
- Can handle fast-paced, action-packed transitions without batting an eyelash.
- Can abstain from digital devices & media devices to engage the real world.
- Demonstrate self-motivation and self-direction.
- Prioritize community and nature over personal interests, showing care for others.
- Thoughtfully handle physical and weather-related challenges.
- Are eager to cultivate resilience and grit, becoming antifragile (as defined by developing a growth mindset and thoughtful adaptability for challenges).
- Show an interest in foraging and farming wild plants, insects, fish, or other animals.
- Aspire to become an outdoor skills badass with superpowers and abilities beyond mere mortals.
Our program may NOT be a fit for kids who...
- Cannot stick with the group at all times or consistently follow essential safety instructions.
- React negatively or become demanding when faced with challenges or things don’t go their way.
- Find it challenging to adapt fast-paced, action-packed transitions.
- Find it difficult to abstain from digital devices & media.
- Might depend heavily on external motivation and guidance.
- Are unable to handle physical and weather-related challenges effectively.
- Are not open to strengthening their resilience and grit.
- Feel uncomfortable with foraging and farming wild plants, insects, fish, or other animals.
- Have a tendency to prioritize personal interests over team and group interests.
- Lack a genuine passion for wilderness skills training.
Good Fit
Please only register if reading this truly inspires you to continue with Trackers Earth and our programs.
IMPORTANT All children must be able to remain with their group and follow safety directions at all times. This includes during activities and all transitions. If their child cannot follow these terms, Guardians agree to immediately drive out to location with no delay and retrieve their child from the program for the well-being of staff and all other participants. If additional staff is required to supervise a child refusing to remain with their team, we can apply a $50 per hour charge for the two additional staff members needed for supervision. There are no refunds given when a student is asked to take a break or leave a program for behavior consequences.
Behavior As Choice Policy (AKA Because Knives)
At Trackers, we keep our expectations high for youth because we do real and challenging activities. We use wood carving knives with other real tools to learn wilderness survival! Teens work by blacksmith forges at 2300° F. Kindergartners light campfires (in winter). And everyone respects the wilds and forest we thrive in.
These things make us different from other camps. We trust youth to act responsibly.
We do not water down the deeper skills we share or the wild places we explore. We believe youth are capable of great things and we dedicate ourselves to that true potential. Nearly every kid can step up to that expectation. They appreciate honesty and trust as we discuss real world results of choices they can make. To maintain this high level of expectation, there are some behaviors we cannot accommodate.
It’s About Choice
We recognize everyone makes choices that are personal to their own needs and experience. We don’t define behavior as good or bad. But some behavior choices may simply conflict with the needs of the Team. Remember, your child is part of a team: Every Trackers Team has more than one camper.
We Take Direct Steps
With most behavior conflicts, we use redirection, reminders, or conversation. We can apply natural consequences, like taking a short break after ignoring boundaries. If the behavior choices that conflict with the Team continue, we begin our Fair Share Process.
Fair Share of Attention - Process
Our ability to guide youth depends on how they align their contributions with their Trackers Team and Village. Guides cannot spend excessive time addressing one participant at the expense of other youth in the program. The Fair Share process begins when a participant makes choices that demand more than their Fair Share of attention.
Please note, we immediately move to the next step if they miss commitments, choose defiance, or misunderstand the outcome of their choices.
- Step #1 - Commit to Team: Participant, Guardians (Parents) and Guides agree together to work towards the well-being of the Team and Village. The participant immediately engages in community service. This could include picking up trash, doing dishes, or any activity that contributes to the well-being of the community.
- Step #2 - Guardian Outreach: After a conversation with the Site Director and/or General Managers, we will call home and let the guardian know the approaches that staff has tried and ask for advice or for suggestions that work at home.
- Step #3 - Go Our Separate Ways: Staff will follow through with consequences. The participant is expelled from the program, forfeiting any registration fees. Depending on the behavior, they may not return to Trackers Earth programs.
IMPORTANT Very few youths choose actions that bring them to step #3 (Go Separate Ways). It’s important to note, dangerous or obstinate behavior can skip directly to any step in the Fair Share Process. While rare, we may require Guardians to Respond Swiftly.
Trackers Staff will choose consequences that reflect the challenging behavior to the best of their ability. It WILL NOT be a punishment, nor referred to as such. It WILL BE presented as a strategy to return the entire group to the equilibrium necessary to continue to function as a healthy community or team.
There are some behaviors that may result in immediate dismissal from the camp program. These include, but are not limited to: physical violence, possessing alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, possessing weapons with intent to harm, damage or theft of property, sexual misconduct and bullying (including hate speech).
Respond Swiftly
Guardians are required to IMMEDIATELY pick up their child at any site and youth will not return if the following applies:
- Dangerous Behavior: Anything impairing the ability of staff, students, and families to keep each other healthy and safe. This includes the unwillingness to stay with the team.
- Openly Defiant: The dangerous behavior needs to be a choice, or openly defiant. Accidents can be forgivable and become teachable moments.
- Lacking certainty of future compliance: If we're not 100% certain that in the future, the participant will make choices that keep everyone safe.
Stand With Us
We need the active support of every youth, Guardian, and Guide to stand up for these essential goals. At Trackers, we trust kids. Most rise to our high level of expectation and thrive there. Kids come to Trackers to discover adventures they may not find elsewhere. They value the opportunity to do something challenging, real, and meaningful. With clear expectations, youth can safely play and work together as a Trackers Team while learning a timeless craft and care for family, nature, and many generations beyond.
Pottery & Blacksmith camps are located at our Annex just a few blocks from our SE Portland HQ.
