Date: April 22-26, 2019
Time: 08:00 a.m., Monday, April 22, 2019 through 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2019
Location: YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps, 1380 East Arbutus Lake Rd., Traverse City, MI
49686. This is a first class camp which houses up to 200 young people and counselors
during the season from May to October.
Course Costs: Make payable to JHPTS or PayPal account Joel@jhardin-inc.com.
$200 for “sworn” Law Enforcement Officers; $450 for all other interested persons.
Tuition includes classroom materials and use of facilities all meals and dormitory bunk
space. Students will arrive on Sunday, April 21st. Meals begin with breakfast Monday
morning and end with lunch on Friday, April 26th before your departure.
A $100 deposit is required to reserve space in this professional tracking class and must be
received prior to April 15th, 2019. Balance must be paid at registration. Bring your own
sleeping bag or similar and toiletries including a towel.
Meals & Accommodations: Dormitory style accommodations are provided Sunday through Thursday nights. Meals and snacks are provided from Monday breakfast through Friday Lunch. This will be a dual level training course inviting JHPTS certified trackers and all other interested persons with no previous law enforcement or search and rescue experience. Training will focus on law enforcement officer initial response and investigation of possible criminal misconduct incidents and or verifying reports of missing persons and initial search operation.
There are NO prerequisites for this training presentation. This tracking course is open to all
persons with tracking interests regardless of previous experience or training. All tracking
students will be provided training at an appropriate level for their development and upward
progress.
Course Content: Novice and Basic Tracker Training Levels. This will be a 46 hour
course beginning at 8:00 am Monday April 22rd, 2019 with registration and lecture including
power point presentation to provide Novice and Basic tracker understanding of training
methodology, techniques and procedures. The presentation supports field training by
providing student understanding of training methods, manner and objectives. “Tracking” is
a first response primary search resource used to verify witness statements, establish the
“PLS”, direction of subject travel and following the physical evidence to the missing person.
Field training will allow “student tracking team” experimentation and “hands-on” practice of
fundamental tracking techniques. Novice students will progress from initial identifying a
print, to “step-by-step” every track concept of following an identified sign line and practical
tracking team response.
Advanced Tracker Training Levels: This is a “skill development” training program for
Apprentice and Journeyman level tracking students. Students at these levels have acquired
Basic Tracker understanding and will be introduced to practical tracking techniques and
applications necessary to become a viable resource for SAR and law enforcement initial
response and investigations. Advanced Trackers will locate and examine scenes, preserving,
documenting and presenting tracking evidence, while working simulated crime scenes.
Additionally students at this level will be learning training and advanced tracking techniques
and methodologies. They learn how to locate, document and secure tracking evidence as
well as presenting their knowledge and skill.
Student Needs: Students should be physically fit and equipped for SAR & law enforcement field response. Field practice will continue during any inclement weather, students should be properly prepared with wet/dry, cold/hot weather gear. Knee pads may be helpful. Students need to bring a pen/pencil, note pad, small measuring tape, 5/8 inch doweling or similar, 36 to 40 inches long, with three rubber bands to use as a tracking stick and a two or three cell incandescent flashlight.
Registration: Students should pre-register to secure class placement by April 15th, 2019 with a $100 deposit made payable to JHPTS or payment to PayPal account, Joel@jhardininc.com. Mail registration form and $100 deposit made payable to JHPTS to: Kevin Willis at 7500 Odawa Circle, Harbor Springs, MI 49740. If you have any questions regarding the class or class location or facility, please contact: Roger Willis, 231-242-1670, Email- rwillis@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov. Pre-registered students failing to attend this course without a reasonable excuse will be assessed the $100.00 service fee.
Sponsor Information: This course is sponsored by 3-Fires Trackers in Affiliation with
JHPTS-VTATI. All law enforcement personnel, SAR volunteer mission responders and
operational coordinator personnel or Homeland security personnel and others with sincere
interest in learning “professional” tracking are invited to attend.