Join us for the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project's first Practice Assessment

November 2-3, 2024

Various locations in and around the Twin Cities Metro

Facilitated by Jonathan Poppele

Cost: Free-will donation

This two-day long, CyberTracker style, "mock evaluation" offers a low-cost, low-pressure opportunity for participants to get a taste of a CyberTracker certification, practice for an upcoming certification, and get feedback on their progress in track and sign interpretation. We encourage everyone who is interested to apply for a spot. If you have never participated in a CyberTracker Certification, you may wish to read this description and this FAQ on the Tracker Certification North America website. This Practice Assessment is NOT a CyberTracker Certification, and participants will not receive any type of certificate. This is a practice opportunity. Participants can expect an immersive two-day experience, detailed feedback, and a sense of how they may perform on a CyberTracker Certification should they take one.

Similar to a CyberTracker Certification, the Practice Assessment will take place at one or more locations in and around the Twin Cities Metro Area and will run from approximately 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sunday. Note that Daylight Savings Time ends November 3. Clocks will "fall back" on Sunday, giving us an extra hour of sleep.

Registration is limited to 10 participants. We will select applicants whose participation we believe will advance the club's mission to promote the art and science of wildlife tracking. We are interested in applicants who are new to the CyberTracker teaching and assessment style; as well as those actively involved with the club.

Participants who do exceptionally well on the Practice Assessment will be offered a scholarship for a future CyberTracker Certification.

To apply for a spot in the Practice Assessment, please fill out this form. We will accept new applicants until the program fills.

This program is offered by free-will donation, with a suggested donation of $50 - $100. Donations are not required, no one will be turned away for financial reasons, and we will not accept donations until after we have finalized the roster of participants.

Jonathan Poppele holds CyberTracker Track & Sign Specialist certificates in two regions: Southern California and Central Minnesota. He is the founder of the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project and author of Animal Tracks of the Midwest and Bird Tracks: A Guide to 55 North American Species. Jon has participated in 24 CyberTracker Track & Sign Certifications with eleven different evaluators on two continents.