Tracking as a Way of Life
A deep introduction to holistic tracking
with Arnaud Gagné
10 Module Online Course At Your Own Pace
Watch the FREE intro class here
Free Intro Class
Watch this recording of the live class for an introduction to Holistic Tracking and to get a sense of how I teach. I spent a bit more time on theory in the free class then I will in the 10 module course which will be balanced with more practice time. The recording is around 1.5hrs but give yourself an extra 1/2 hour just outside your home to do the exercise.
Tracking as a Way of Life
10 Module Course
Learning the Ancient Art of Holistic Tracking to Enhance Our Modern Lives
Start anytime at your own pace
Live class was recorded January 2025
I shared some powerful philosophies and skills in which I have been mentored in, practiced intensively and taught in-person for many years.
Don't expect a big production with fancy effects and editing but do expect life changing and worldview shifting teachings and exercises.
What happens to us as people when we seek out the animals as teachers to remember our ancient bond with the Earth and the power of our senses and nervous system when fully activated in relationship with the natural world?
In this 10 module journey, we’ll dive deep into the playful, embodied and intuitive aspects of wildlife tracking and stay attentive to the positive effects this practice has on our life among people in the modern world.
Watch this short video to get to know me and why I love to teach tracking...
“Working with Arnaud has enabled me to see a landscape that I spent most of my life around with fresh eyes and a renewed curiosity for all we can learn from the natural world. From this work, I’ve gained both the confidence and the motivation to de-educate myself from the old western teachings that no longer serve me, and pursue the knowledge that was available to my ancestors to better understand my purpose and role on this Earth.”
-Jesse Lewis - Artist/Surfer/IT Consultant
The 8 Elders of Tracking
Gathered and articulated by master tracker Jon Young, the Elders of Tracking give us access to many generations of tracking wisdom from around the world. Each Elder offers us a lens from which to see the world through and asks us questions that deepen our awareness and connection. They form the framework for the course and we will go on a journey with one of them each week.
“Tracking is like dancing because the body is happy…”
-San Bushmen Hunter in the film The Great Dance
“Tracking is the doorway to awareness and awareness is the doorway to spirit”
-Grandfather Stalking Wolf
Holistic Tracking
To track holistically asks us to draw on both our cognitive and intuitive abilities, it asks us to constantly expand the limits of our senses. In my experience, the way the art of tracking has taught me to perceive the world has given me the ability to reliably recognize what feels true for me. This has been incredibly helpful for me in navigating the challenges of living in the modern world. At the same time, tracking has also taught me to be at peace with almost never knowing the answer for certain. I believe one of the gifts of tracking is that it can help us develop a balance of personal power and humility.
“I don’t know where I’m going, but I know exactly how to get there”
-Renias Mathanjane Mhlongo, Shangaan tracker in Boyd Varty’s Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life
"Even though I have taken in-person workshops with Arnaud prior to participating in the Tracking as a Way of Life online course, I found it to be a great review and excellent introduction to Holistic Tracking. I loved how I could follow along at my own pace, listening to the recordings when it suited me. At the same time, I was part of a larger group energy field and the weekly structure and assignments kept me focused and on track.
I enjoyed sharing pictures, discoveries and mysteries in the online group forum as much as reading other people's stories, experiences and puzzling, sacred questions. While this course most certainly taught me about tracking animals in a fun and engaging way, it is also much more than that. It is indeed about a Way of Life... To me, tracking is being in tune with the world around me at all times, deeply attuned to my own inner landscape, my body and my intuition. In a beautiful and graceful way, I am learning to be fully present with everything that is and to live moment-to-moment in co-creation with something much larger than myself.
In the end, this is about creating our new future. Holistic Tracking is about connecting deeply and remembering who we are as humans - with the animals as our wise and patient teachers. Alongside Arnaud's guidance, it comes naturally. All it takes is for me to be present, curious, open and receptive. After all, living in direct conversation with all beings and all that surrounds me is the essence of who I am. It is my birthright.
This course helped me sense this inter-connectedness on a deeper level and encouraged me to make it a priority until it naturally became part of my daily life, as essential as water, air, food and sleep. "
- Bettina R, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Course Flow
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Each module's recording includes some teaching time, time to practice an exercise in nature (off of the computer!), time to reflect on your stories and time to set up the exercise for the next week or so.
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The modules also contain a summary of the exercise for the week and a downloadable PDF of the slide presentation.
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YOU WILL HAVE LIFETIME ACCESS TO THE MATERIAL. For your first time through, I recommend spending about a week on each module.
You will have access to our private online group to share your stories for the duration of your 3 month membership. You will also receive bonus handouts, videos and mini courses.
You will also get a $30 discount on unlimited one on one mentoring sessions for the duration of your 3 month membership
INVESTMENT (In Canadian Dollars)
CAD$250 + HST
Early bird sale, get CAD$50 off (coupon code: EARLYBIRDTRACKER) until May 15th
Module 1 — Foundational Core Routines & the Role of Connective Culture
Module 2 — Identifying Tracks & Sign
Module 3 — Embodying the animals & solving mysteries through imitation
Module 4 — Basics of animal gaits & track interpretation
Module 5 — The humbling practice of aging tracks & sign
Module 6 — Understanding tracks & sign in relationship to ecology
Module 7 — Internal Awareness & Inner Tracking
Module 8 — Trailing & finding animals
Module 9 — Putting on the Mind of the Animal & Trusting Impressions
Module 10 — Wrapping the Bundle
One Last Note......
Don’t let the vastness of what there is to know about tracking intimidate you if you are drawn to learning it. This course will approach tracking in a light and fun way without compromising the depth of what there is to learn. I love to take people on a journey to an ancient way of life to empower the life we live now.
“The first track is the end of a string. At the far end, a being is moving; a mystery, dropping a hint about itself every so many feet, telling you more about itself until you can almost see it, even before you come to it. The mystery reveals itself slowly, track by track, giving its genealogy early to coax you in. Further on, it will tell you the intimate details of its life and work, until you know the maker of the track like a lifelong friend.”
- Tom Brown Jr.
About me, Arnaud Gagné
My tracking journey began over 20 years ago when I read Tom Brown Jr's books and started obsessively practicing what I was learning. It was during that time that I found out about Jon Young's Kamana naturalist training program which I became a graduate of. Over the 8 years it took me to complete the program, I became very passionate about tracking and bird language.
I met Jon Young in person in 2016 and started apprenticing directly with him in 2020 through the Shikari tracker training. Jon was himself mentored by Tom Brown Jr since he was a young boy.
Throughout my many years as a deep nature connection mentor and facilitator, holistic tracking has been my favourite skill and philosophy to teach. I've seen it deeply transform the way people perceive nature and the world in general.
I make no claims to being a master tracker, I am a deeply passionate apprentice. I have touched the magic of this ancient art just enough to want to continue to grow in it for the rest of my life and pass it on to as many people as I can.
Learn more about me and Connection Pathways here.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or if you're wondering if this program is the right fit for you.