Goal:
To keep people involved with the SDTT and continue to train transect leaders, instructors, and other active volunteers on an ongoing basis so that the team is self-perpetuating.

Features of the Apprentice Program:

• There will be no charge for participating in this program, but SDTT donor membership is strongly encouraged. We’ve done our best to keep our programs affordable, and we appreciate the time and effort put forth by our volunteers, but as part of putting on a quality program we do have expenses.
• The apprentice program is customized for each participant based on his or her goals, interests, and availability. Participants will be expected to put in at least 100 hours in various SDTT activities. Transects, assisting with classes, tracking walks, deer DNA study (or other specified field research), and continuing education workshops all have minimum participation requirements totaling 40 hours. The remaining 60 hours may be earned with any combination of these activities. Journaling (max 5 hours) and article writing (max 5 hours) are optional and can be used for a maximum of 10 hours total. Other Tracker or Naturalist training (Tom Brown, Jon Young, MTRP docent, etc.) can also count up to a maximum of 40 hours. Relevant past experience can be applied towards the 100 hours. (See below for more details.)
• Mentors will be available for each apprentice. We will attempt to match apprentice and mentor based on areas of common interest and level of intensity. This is not a teaching relationship as much as it is a resource for discussion. The apprentice is expected to reach out and make contact with the mentor. The apprentice should try to participate in activities with which the mentor is already involved. It is required that an apprentice have at least one one-on-one session with their mentor so that there will be something on which to base an evaluation. This is a program in development; feedback from both mentor and apprentice is needed.
• An Apprentice becomes a Tracker when he or she has completed the 100 hours, and a consensus that advancement is appropriate is reached among mentors who have had contact with the apprentice. The promotion from Apprentice to Tracker will be recognized in the Clear Print and at the next SDTT lecture or event. The new Tracker will be presented with a Certificate and a SDTT name badge. We would like the new trackers to introduce themselves by writing an article for the next Clear Print about their experiences as an Apprentice.