What to Take & What to Expect
at a Tracker School Class

• Your gear will be tossed into a trailer along with many other bags and packs for the trip to camp. Pack accordingly. (ie, your stuff may be on the bottom and get squished, or even wet).
• The Tracker School doesn't want you to drive to the primitive camp. Usually you will park at the Citta Boy Scout Camp and get a ride to the Primitive Camp. They'll tell you where to meet for a specific class. One of the main practical reasons is there simply isn't anywhere to park more than a handful of vehicles.
• Therefore, you must bring everything you need with you -- you can't go back to your vehicle part way through the class.
• There is no "indoors" at this camp. You will be outdoors for the entire class.
• There are now portable outhouses there (in past years you would have to sit outdoors for this, rain or shine). Larger classes (such as the Advanced Tracking and Advanced Standard) have multiple porta-potties ("Mr. Bobs" is the provider the school uses -- you might hear them referred to as "the Bobs") available for use. Other classes in for a day trip, such as Philosophy classes, may only have a few available.
• There is no electric power whatsoever available there.
• Bathing is in the stream (no soap allowed) or in a primitive shower facility. There is a shower tent with gravel floor available for bucket showers.  It alternates men one day and women the next. It is well away from the stream. You fill a bucket from the stream, carry it to the shower and have at it.  There is absolutely no soap allowed in the stream and bio soap only in the shower. Shower bags are not necessary unless you can't take the creek water (that is slightly  on the chilly side).
  The stream has a tarp that is placed across it to separate the upstream men's area from the lower women's area with certain times for taking a bath (nude) and other times for swimming (in swimsuits). 
• If you bring extra food or snacks for yourself, bear in mind that you will be outdoors, and wild animals may be attracted to your food if it is not put away very well.
• Bear in mind that it does rain (!), so you might want to consider using waterproof ink pens because the dampness and the rain will create havoc with ink in your notebooks!  A zip-lock baggie, or several, will also prove handy for field trips away from the camp to carry notebooks and prevent damage in case of rain (true for in-camp lectures, also).
• If you can, bring a folding chair/seat for the lecture area.  It will help you see better, and support your back. Please place it so as to not block the view of others.
• Drinking water is provided and purified at the camp.
• Cell phones work out there, depending on the company you are with.
• Bring gloves to protect your hands, and foot injuries do happen if you go barefoot, plus the sand can get pretty hot at times.

Classes at the Citta Boy Scout Camp

• Classes are held in an indoor lecture hall. This has recently been rebuilt (2001).
• The acoustics in the new lecture hall are horrible. If you are at all hard-of-hearing, sit close to the front.
• There is electricity available for plugging in tape recorders.
• There are indoor washrooms, as well as outdoor facilities.
• There may be showers available (lukewarm, not hot), depending on the time of year. Otherwise you can usually take a bucket of hot water out to a private spot somewhere for a bath.
• The Citta Boy Scout Camp is adjacent to Wells Mills Park, which is a nice place for a walk in the pinelands forest.
• Vehicles are parked nearby, so it is very easy to retrieve stuff from your vehicle if you need to.
• Accommodations are outdoors - a tent is necessary. Usually people are allowed to sleep in the lecture hall, but there is no privacy there, and it means that you will be the among the last to go to bed and the first to get up.
• Plates, bowls and cutlery are provided, but not cups. However, some classes take a field trip to the Tracker Primitive camp, and if you have a meal there you will need your own plate, bowl and cutlery. 

"Back-to-Back" Classes: in between the classes

• You are usually allowed to hang out between the classes. If both classes are going to be at the Boy Scout Camp, you can usually hang out there. Similarly for the Tracker Primitive Camp. If the two back-to-back classes are at different locations, they'll tell you where you can hang out.
• Sometimes very basic simple food is provided for those staying between classes. You may wish to be sure by bringing your own food for that time.
• Remember that you need to bring everything you need for two whole weeks.
• During the break between the two classes you may be able to get together with those who have cars and get a motel room to clean and eat. There is also a state park where you can shower fairly close by.

• Sometimes a class that is scheduled for the Citta Boy Scout Camp has to be moved to the Tracker Primitive Camp. You may wish to plan for this "just-in-case" scenario.
• Theft: Generally speaking, there are decent people attending these classes. However, there have been the occasional rare exceptions over the years. Therefore, as anywhere, take appropriate care of your valuables.
• You can only be contacted at the class in the event of an emergency.
• Cell phones seem to usually work at the class locations.
• Tracker School policy: No pets, no drugs, no alcohol, no children, no video recorders, no protected bird species feathers (i.e. raptors, birds of prey, etc.)

• School store: don't reply on something being available at the school store. The inventory fluctuates in both what is stocked and quantity of items stocked. Generally batteries and blank tapes are always in stock.

• Showers/bathing: there is very limited time and facilities available for this.

• Most classes involve some work with a group and/or a partner. Groups and partners usually need to be selected at the start of a class. The group you are in can sometimes make your class experience either memorably good or occasionally a real downer.

• All classes are divided into groups for the purpose of helping with chores. These include cooking and food preparation, cleaning up after meals and other things. Sometimes these obligate you to get up rather early in the morning.

• Food is basic -- it not a gourmet experience. However, it is usually adequate. Special dietary needs can usually be accommodated. Vegetarian options will be provided as needed.
• If Tom or the instructors say you don't need your notebooks/camera/tape recorders when you go off on a field trip or walk, bring them anyways!
• Get there as early as possible/permissible. Claim a tent spot and a spot in the lecture hall right away.
• There ARE lots of ticks in New Jersey, and they do sometimes carry Lyme Disease. Take appropriate precautions. For more info on Lyme Disease, visit the Wildwood Survival website.