Infallible12thNovember
I was once talking to a leader of another major Wilderness School. They told me that while challenges and difficult things occur at their school they need people to believe they're infallible. To them, it seemed critical that however human they happen to be this perception of trust is more important then a story that's real.
Yet to me "infallibility" does not define trust in a survival situation or even in a village. Real outdoor survival actually illustrates how vital it is to know the limits and gifts of the people you're with. Especially the perceived leaders. This intelligent discernment is not judgment, its simply mapping our possibilities.
I get tired. I make mistakes. I have ideas I feel are brilliant when they often translate into brilliant failures. Nearly every day I joke that the only thing I'm actually good at is "sucking". To paraphrase the Dread Pirate Roberts from the Princess Bride, "Anyone who says differently, is selling something."
Trackers runs outdoor camps and programs, we put out press and we even peddle products. Yet to me that business should only serve to rebuild healthy neighborhoods and families connected to the land.
Its important to know that our instructors, administration and community members are far from infallible, they're human. They're people who really, really care about the individuals and families they work with, striving to cultivate safety and personal growth. They deeply love the land they live and hope against hope that their tiny efforts somehow help change things. I don't know what else to say. I don't know how else to describe my family at Trackers. I sincerely believe that empathy and care is the only thing that actually makes us great.
Community Events...
Sunday December 6, 2009, 9am-6pm…
TEAMS Immersion Taster Day at the Homestead
Journey to the Trackers Homestead to visit one of the most epic
landscapes on Earth. Learn the basics of wild edible plants, wilderness
survival skills and tracking. This taster is for individuals
interested in our 3-month seasonal terms, 9-month Fellowship, Master
Degree or Permaculture immersion programs.
Sunday December 13, 2009, 10am-3pm…
Family Holiday Party at TrackersHQ A holiday party for
all ages with soup and cookies. We take donations of toys for kids in need. Plus, Kris Kringle even makes an appearance.
Upcoming Classes...
Preventing Colds: Cedar & Oregon Grape Tincture Nov 15
Wilderness Survival Basics Nov 21-22
Boat Building & Folkcraft Skills Share Jan 4-8 Come for 1-day or 5
Wilderness First Responder Jan 27-Feb 5
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Michael Galante Nov 12, 2009 4:57 PM
The notion of anybody being infallible is just plane naïve thinking. I just got done taking the TrackersNW bow making class under the tutelage of Andrew pinger and Jason Hovatter Craban I had a fantastic time were we learned together how to make a primitive bow out of a nothing, well what seemed like nothing, actually was a piece of wood. Going into the class , I had no delusion of grandeur that my instructors or the process of making a bow was infallible, far from it. The only thing remotely infallible about the course was the sense of accomplishment I had when I finally got to shoot the bow that I made. Now that was a infallible (perfect) moment.! :-) Thanks to Trackers NW for making it real. I'll defiantly be back for more. |
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Dan Fontaine Nov 12, 2009 1:53 PM
It would be interesting to track the lineage of the notion that infallibility is important. My suspicion is that the trail is short and that it does not pass through any sort of wilderness. |
