Village

Every person in the Game of Tracking is called a Tracker. A Tracker is mindful, always observing the world around them. A Tracker pays attention to subtle clues and seeks out how to be truly helpful. A Tracker adventures by the Trackers Code. Youth in the Game of Tracking are players on a Trackers Team. While roles of adults are Guide, Guardian, and Elder. Meanwhile, other players, places, and pieces in the Game of Tracking include a Camp, Þhing (Thing), and Story Basket.

Trackers Team

Youth Roles

Youth in the Game of Tracking hold the role of Trackers and play on a Trackers Team. The Game of Tracking should be self-directed by youth who organize themselves into Trackers Teams.

Adults Roles

Adults in the Game of Tracking hold the role Guide, Guardian, or Elder and play in a Trackers Family or Trackers Village or they work for a Trackers Affiliated Organization. Guides are mentors and alloparents who inspire, motivate, and energize youth to organize into self-directed Trackers Teams. Guardians are parents, caregivers, and family members fully responsible for raising the youth participating in the Game of Tracking. Elders are connected individuals with many years of life or skill experience who support and guide the entire family and village to gather, grow, and follow the higher purpose. Elders also vanguard self-direction, making sure all other adults do not unduly interfere. All professional Trackers Guides or Elders working for an official Trackers Orgranization are required to be background checked and must follow all practices found in the Safety & Quality Guide.

Camp

To understand the Game of Tracking, we must understand where we play that game. A Trackers Camp is a place every Tracker finds for themselves where they observe and connect with nature and one another. Visiting the same place in nature every day has a profound impact on a Tracker’s relationship to it. While grand wilderness vistas are fantastic, a Tracker also forges a deep connection to nature by spending time in our backyards and parks.

Types of Trackers Camps

There are several kinds of Trackers Camps:

Village Camp Where community and many generations gather.

Family Camp A special place where your family can gather.

Team Camp Where kids in a Trackers Team visit to play and train skills together.

Secret Camp Where an individual Tracker goes to connect to nature.

All Trackers Camps are located outside-–the only exception is a windowsill Secret Camp. Every Tracker should have one core Secret Camp, but you can also have others you visit. When at any Secret Camp, help caretaker for the land to encourage more wildlife diversity. Through your actions, invite more wildlife, both flora, and fauna, who contribute to the health of the ecosystem.

Trackers Tip Choose a close, convenient location for your Secret Camp, so it’s easy to get there every day. It can be in a nearby park, your backyard, or even your windowsill.

Þhing (Thing)

A Þhing (pronounced Thing) is when family and friends connect, have adventures and feed the Village through the Game of Tracking. Þhings can include any gathering, including organized camps.

Types of Trackers Þhings

There are several kinds of Trackers Camps:

Meetups Min - 8 a season. Weekly afternoon meetings of Trackers Teams.

Expeditions Min - 2 a season. Regular campouts either full day or overnight.

Season Min - 1. Seasonal celebration with Extended Family planned by Teams.

Gathering Min - Yearly. Regional or greater gatherings of Trackers from all over.

The term Þhing is inspired by the historical term that noted an assembly of Vikings. The letter Þ is called a þhorn (thorn) is a letter in the Old English, Gothic, Old Norse, Old Swedish, and modern Icelandic alphabets. It can be pronounced with a "th" sound.