Family Tradition
These words and the accompanying video Were written and recorded 4 times, yet they still cant express how I feel.
I wanted my intentions to be fully understood by anyone who might wonder why I’m doing this. The answer is simple: it’s about the potential survival of both the Tracker School and Trackolytes.
After spending a month and a half in California, I received a gracious invitation from a good friend to house-sit while he’s away for the month. I seized the opportunity, using the time as valuable space for self-work and to grow my businesses in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. During this time, I also mended many fences and had the privilege of engaging in heartfelt conversations with my stepmom, Celeste. We are both still learning to cope with a life with the huge gap left by the final walk of her husband and my father.
While my brain is focused on Trackolytes and other projects, my heart and soul will forever remain down that long, sandy road at the Tracker School. After much discussion, I realized I needed to do everything in my power to protect my family’s heritage. What my father sacrificed so much to build over the past 46+ years is incredibly important to me. Not only that, but I want to use the resources available to me to help both organizations thrive.
The video tells the story, but here’s the short version: For over 20 years, I’ve been in possession of perhaps the largest collection of memorabilia tied to my father’s legacy, spanning from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Among these treasures are scraps of paper with poems he wrote, sit spot journals scribbled on park brochures, and countless other sacred items. These will be shown in digital format but will remain in family custody.
What we’ve decided to part with are the original artist-proof drawings from the field guides. These were originally done by my sister and later reworked by another artist to add more depth. Many of these have my father’s handwritten notes on the back. For example, the tracking-themed illustrations include gait patterns and measurements he carefully detailed.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be auctioning these off. Each drawing will have a minimum bid. I’m currently exploring whether Squarespace will allow me to set up a bidding system with CSV-style columns where bids can be placed without revealing too much personal information. If that doesn’t work, people will likely need to email me, and I’ll manually update the list of bids.
Regarding the funds raised, 40% of all proceeds will go directly to the Tracker School. After all, the brain cannot function without its heart and soul. I have hundreds of these illustrations—some simple, others more detailed, especially those of plants and animals.
Another way I’ve decided to give back is by offering a one-day class around the time of the memorial, somewhere in the area. The suggested minimum donation for this class is $100, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Tracker School. Afterward, I plan to stick around, volunteer for a bit, and visit some of my favorite cedar trees.
The first set of illustrations is already available for bidding! Upon waking tomorrow, I will start a timer of 72 hours. At the end, the winners will be notified, and I will immediately ship your item to you with a little something special for me. And then I will add the next batch. I’ll try to group them by theme, starting with four illustrations of animal tracks from various families. Stay tuned! If you have any questions or are looking for a specific drawing, Email me
Much love, thanks and praises to you all, and thank you for your support through the roughest point of my life!
T3