What They're Saying About Jonathan's Teaching Style

“If you possess an ounce of curiosity and a love of wild nature then Fox Paw School will meet you there and grow inquisitiveness into investigation. Everyday was a joy; roaming for sign, discussing the process for identification, mimicking gaits, extracting as many clues as possible from the environment, and discovering whatever surprises mother nature had for us. Jonathan uses a variety of tools in his teaching, and seems to be equally enthusiastic to engage students on whatever level they may be at, from a total novice like myself, to the seasoned trackers in our cohort. The atmosphere is welcoming, warm, and collaborative. The course is designed in such a way that you can expand your learning deeper and deeper in between classes if that is what you want. The skills and understanding I have gained from Fox Paw have enriched and changed how I explore, see, hear, smell, touch, and read nature. I can't recommend it enough!”

Ben Mattingly, Montpelier VT

"Tracking with Jonathan has been an incredible way to help build my tracking skills and awareness of natural history. He is a knowledgeable guide who is also invested in teaching the process. I’ve not only learn about tracks but also how to become a better tracker. He emphasizes honing direct observations, taking plenty of time for students to learn how to really see a track or sign before considering interpretation. This simple yet highly effective process has empowered me to go further on my own as a tracker, seeing nuances and subtly I didn’t before. I appreciate the balance Jonathan offers between time for formally learning new concepts with time in the field reading the stories of the landscape. He has lots of patience for questions and gives space to hear from everyone in the group. The group setting has been key in accelerating my learning, as others ask questions I wouldn't have considered and see nuances in the tracks that I had not. I would highly recommend taking a class with Jonathan. His energy and desire to keep wildlife tracking and naturalist skills alive are powerful and carry through to this programs and into his students. I have learned so much through his tracking apprenticeship and am eager to continue the journey as I look forward to my first tracking evaluation.”

Rose Richter, Mount Holly VT

“The Fox Paw School apprenticeship was a wonderful experience. It has opened up so many new paths of  connection to the world around me that had previously gone unnoticed. It has  been nothing short of a transformational experience.  A huge reason for the success of the program is the superb teaching of Jonathan. In  addition to having an immense repository of knowledge, their teaching styles are filled with patience,  enthusiasm, humility, and creativity. Information is presented in an accessible and digestible way, with  questions and curiosity encouraged at every turn. This creates an ideal learning environment to  strengthen and grow one's connection to the natural world and become reacquainted with knowledge  often overlooked in our modern society.”

Andrew Gribbin, East Montpelier VT

“Jonathan's tracking apprenticeship was, like all of his courses, incredibly in depth, yet approachable. Our class consisted of people just dipping their toes into the world of tracking to people who had received their professional certification --- and all were engaged and interested due to the lesson and teaching format! The community aspect was great too, with a lot of people sleeping over in the little shop and sharing in on a potluck dinner. Overall, the content covered was digestible and applicable to real-life scenarios. We covered a wide range of material, but it never felt rushed or overwhelming. Jonathan himself is a great guy, and encourages questions, pointers, and discussion during his classes --- furthering to the learning and community aspects. Overall, I would highly recommend Fox Paw School's tracking apprenticeship to anyone interested in animals, tracking, the natural world, or just getting out in nature in general!”

Audrey Dowell, Thetford VT

I loved the Naturalist Apprenticeship! At the beginning of the year I felt so overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge out there. Over the year, I learned more and my capacity to learn grew. Now I have a solid base and the framework to keep on learning.” -- Harley Copeland, Corinth VT

"Jonathan is an excellent teacher and communicator. He is very skilled at guiding students through the  sometimes overwhelming amount of information needed to become a competent naturalist. While he  focuses on students learning mostly through field experience, his classroom presentations and  homework (always optional) are carefully designed to solidify your knowledge base between sessions. I have taken classes at multiple wilderness schools in different states over the years and I can  confidently say that Jonathan really stands out as a teacher."

 Janet Dowell, Thetford, VT