Combined Track & Sign Workshop & Evaluation

Overview

This tracking workshop combines training and evaluation, beginning with a three-day programme focused on general track and sign before moving into a two-day CyberTracker evaluation. The training and evaluation are delivered as separate disciplines. While the evaluation is an independent assessment of tracking ability, it is also very much part of the learning process, offering valuable insights and feedback that build on the workshop itself.

Course Content

The track and sign element of the course focuses on recognising the marks and traces left by mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and, on occasion, insects. Participants will study foot morphology and the identification of tracks, feeding signs, droppings, beds and resting areas, as well as skulls, bones and feathers. The course blends classroom theory with practical fieldwork, taking place across several venues in order to encounter as many species as possible.

The evaluation takes place at a different location from the training. This is to avoid being assessed on the exact material covered during the workshop. However, a track and sign evaluation is an excellent learning experience in its own right and should be regarded as a continuation of the training, reinforcing knowledge and developing practical tracking skills.

Details of the evaluation process can be found here.

Details

These programmes are run and evaluated by John Rhyder who is certified as a senior tracker having scored 100% in both track and sign and trailing in specialist evaluations. This is the highest assessed level possible in the CyberTracker system. John is also an evaluator for the CyberTracker system in both track and sign and trailing and acts as the External evaluator for track and sign in Europe.

As part of the course, we’ll spend time outdoors on field trips. This may involve walking for extended periods on uneven ground and being in areas without regular toilet facilities, so a reasonable level of fitness and preparedness is recommended. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to get in touch.

Fees

The cost of a track and sign workshop/evaluation is £550 per person with a maximum of 11 participants on the programme.

Booking

Please read the following information before booking:

Terms & Conditions – by booking on to our courses you agree to our Terms & Conditions
The Course Kit List

Please note this is a self catered course and although it is non residential you are welcome to camp at our site if you prefer. There will be some travel to other venues although we will endeavour to car share as much as possible.

NB: Camping is not integral to these programmes, it is something we offer for the convenience of our students it is not part of the course fee. With this in mind please be aware that should you choose to stay on site you will be expected to help with the small tasks, that facilitate the smooth running of the camp.

You need to be over 18 years of age to attend these programmes.

Course Dates 2026

If this course is full please contact us to be placed on a waiting list for cancellations. Should enough people express an interest we may run extra dates. We can also run these events at a location of your choosing.

Course: Track and sign workshop/evaluation
Location: Near Midhurst West Sussex
Date: 6-10 May 2026
Time: 8.30 - 4.30
Course leader: John Rhyder
Course size: 10 (maximum)
Cost per person: £550

Fully Booked

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About CyberTracker

CyberTracker is a two-part evaluation system developed in South Africa by Louis Liebenberg, now used worldwide. It covers track & sign identification and trailing—following wildlife or people through tracks, signs, and behaviour. The combination of these two elements is tracking: identifying, interpreting, following, and ultimately finding. Evaluations run at standard and specialist levels; in Europe we host standard assessments and occasionally specialist ones.

Why Cyber?

For anyone wondering about the cyber aspect of cybertracker, this refers to a data capture programme developed by Louis Liebenberg to allow information on animal populations to be recorded by trackers in the field. It is available for free on the cyberTracker website but does not form any part of the evaluations.

Workshop/Evaluations at other venues

Please contact us if you are interested in hosting a combined workshop/evaluation in the UK or Northern Europe.

COURSE REVIEWS

What a fantastic workshop and evaluation this is! The combination of theory and practical work gave the course structure and provided something for everyone, irrespective of their knowledge and previous experience. John is an excellent teacher, supportive, relaxed and knowledgeable. I learned so much, not only about track and sign, but also about Cybertracker, its history and evolution. John shared his collections of animal feet, casts of tracks, scat, feathers and bones and many stories about his experiences with evaluations and tracking in other parts of the world.

Michelle Pinard

Seriously one of the best workshops and evaluations I have ever been on! Not only did I learn so much, but John’s witty humor and engaging teaching style made the experience thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommend John as an expert guide and educator. Thanks for sharing your expertise, John! It was an awesome week!

Jennifer Draime

I really loved the detail and time taken to discuss all the track and sign we found and especially hearing the thought process behind ascertaining what everything was. The evaluation process was also such a great learning tool. I was worried it would just be about testing knowledge and not about a continuation of learning. The whole experience was wonderful and added to by the enjoyment of camping up at the woodland camp with others on the course.

Rosemary Thomas

Many many thanks for a superb learning experience. I found last week very demanding but also absolutely fascinating. It raised my tracking skills to a whole new level. It was a bonus to scrape level1 especially as I made several mystifying decisions! Your course has actually increased my enthusiasm for learning more so I shall keep my eye for further courses.

Mike Collins

The Track and Sign workshop and Evaluation course. Another top course from the Woodcraft School. It shows how good they are by the number of people who like me were returning students. John and David were great teachers with loads of knowledge and experience.The whole Cyber tracker set up is straight forward and the amount of stuff you learn is amazing, definitely worth every penny.