Portland Transported After School Outdoors Program (TAO)
The Trackers Transported After School Outdoors (TAO) program is 2-5 days a week of unforgettable outdoor skills and artisan crafts. We pick your child up from their school and take them into a fantastic world of adventure and ancient skills.
An After School Outdoors Program
The afternoon begins as the Trackers Bus transports your child from their school to TrackersHQ. For earlier pick-ups, we offer supervised homework or free time. Once all the students arrive they can freely choose to join in a Guild activity until their parents pick them up. Activities include...
Rangers Guild Outdoor Survival, Animal Tracking and The Way of the Ranger: Awarenees & Invisibility
Wilders Guild Wild Plants, Homesteading and The
Way of the Wilder: The Wilder's Garden
Mariners Guild Fishing, Boat Building and Water Ecology
Artisans Guild Theater & Storytelling, Fine Craft Work and Team Leadership
Our curriculum of outdoor and traditional skills provide the most well rounded experience of any after school program. See below for...
Free Trial Weeks March 12-16 or May 7-11
Try our Transported After School Outdoors program from one day to a full week. RSVP
Self-Transport
Self-transportion from schools Trackers does not pick up from is an option. Parents work out mutual carpools. If enough students attend we eventually add that school to the pick-up schedule for the Trackers Bus.
Age Groups
Because Guild activities are mostly free choice and a collaboration with instructors, age-appropriate groups naturally occur. Though in certain key activities we may separate our age groups as follows: 5 years old, 6 years old, 7-8 years old, 9-10 years old or 11-13 years old.
Trial Day
Trackers wants to help your family decide if our program is the best fit. Begin by signing up for a 1-day trial at anytime.
Register for Transported After School Outdoors Program
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to RSVP |
Ages 5-13
Free
Free Trial Week March 12-16 or May 7-11, 2012 2pm-6pm |
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to learn more |
Ages 5-13
Membership options ranging from $200-$399
a month 2-5 days a week with holiday breaks 2pm-6pm |
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to choose a day |
Scholarships
We have scholarship awards available of up to 10%-25% of tuition for families in need. Submit a scholarship application
Membership
Monthly Membership Join us for a Winter, Spring or Fall for every day Portland Public Schools are in session.
Year Membership Join us for all three seasons in a school year for every day Portland Public Schools are in session. Yearly students also can attend Trackers "No-School Days" for no additional fees.
3-day or 2-day a Week Option The more cost effective options are the 5-day week programs, though we do provide 3-day and 2-day a week options.
Contact Us to Learn More
Sample Week
MONDAY |
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
School Pick-up Guild Activities Parent Pick-up |
School Pick-up Guild Activities Parent Pick-up |
School Pick-up Guild Activities Parent Pick-up |
School Pick-up Guild Activities Parent Pick-up |
School Pick-up Guild Activities Parent Pick-up |
Typical Day
2pm-3:30pm School Pick-Up, Homework Time & Nature Play Fitness We pick your child up from your school. Since different schools release at different times, we begin with homeOur Outdoor & Environmental Educator Training Program and free play. The homework and free play time is fully supervised (not tutored).
3:45pm-5:15pm Guild Activities Our instructors introduce the Guild activities for the afternoon. Children can choose from a Rangers, Wilders, Artisans or Mariners craft or adventure. Since this is Trackers we always have an option that goes out of doors (come rain or shine) while indoor choices are also provided for the comfort and interest of the student. The free choice inherent in the Guild activities empowers students to work within their comfort level and inspiration. Check out our Guild Activity Descriptions or look at a Sample Week.
5:15pm-6pm Parent Pick-Up and Classroom Care As Trackers we believe in caring for the places we learn in and share as a community. We take this time to leave the place we train in better than we found it. This ethic of caretaking is a vital part of our program. You pick up your child inspired and happy from an afternoon of adventure immersed in nature and the arts.
Potential Guild Activities
Rangers Guild The Rangers Guild are scouts of the forest. Campers train stealth, tracking and wilderness survival skills. If you ever loved the books My Side of the Mountain or Lord of the Rings the Rangers Guild is where you want to be.
Rangers may build a shelter, learn to carve wood, safely make fire with no matches, craft simple bows or train outdoor fitness arts through fun stealth games. Rangers are also master naturalists, they know the language and sign of all birds, beasts and plants that live in wild.
Wilders Guild Named in honor of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Wilders Guild offers homesteading activities. Campers could make cheese from farm fresh goats milk to bring home or press apples in the cider press while dancing to fine fiddle music.
You may find a Wilder starting seedlings for planting in family gardens or even working on fiber arts projects. They make pickles and preserves, help cook nourishing meals, weave baskets, spin, knit, use plant dyes and other natural materials for coloring fabric and sew their own clothing.
Mariners Guild The Mariners Guild trains the skills of the water and sea. Mariners may research ocean life and create aquariums and terrariums to learn about aquatic creatures. They could tie knots and even partake in artistic knot work.
Kids may even get an opportunity to help out building a canoe or other traditional skin on frame boat in the wood shop. Most importantly, the Mariners Guild goes fishing and kayaking! While they may not guarantee a catch, campers always have a good time sitting by the shore and casting. With the Mariners Guild you can always count on them to come home with a safe adventure on the water and a tall tale about the "big one that got away."
Artisans Guild The Artisans Guild encompasses a diverse range of craft and skills. They are storytellers and crafts people. Instructors trained in the dramatic arts teach theater improv games that build confidence, creativity and teamwork.
Artisans also offer incredible craft activities: from safe and successful metal working projects for younger kids to more challenging blacksmithing techniques for older students. Every week we offer free choice woodworking projects, plus campers have the opportunity to express their own story through painting and other art media.
Transportation from your school
We offer a range of local schools as pick up sites. Every instructor is trained to work with youth and chosen for their high level of safety and competency as drivers. While this is primarily a transported program, parents are also welcome to drop off their children as early as 2pm. See below for a list of schools where pick-up is available.
Additional Schools
If you come from a school that is not listed, we are likely be able to arrange pick-up with 3 or more students registered. If you come from a school that is able to arrange transportation through their own bus system, let us know. To learn more about extending pick-up/drop-off options Contact Us
Available Schools
Schools we currently pick-up from...
SE Portland Schools
Pick-up 5-days a week
• Llewellyn Elementary School
• Richmond Elementary School
• Abernethy Elementary School
• Winterhaven Elementary School
• Capitol Hill Elementary School
SW Portland Schools
Pick-up 3-days a week
• Grout Elementary School
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