For nearly two decades, I've devoted my life to the art and science of wildlife tracking and nature awareness. As a certified Level 3 Track & Sign Cybertracker and graduate of Wilderness Awareness School's immersion and apprenticeship program, my mission is to help reactivate your original wild genius, enabling you to experience the joy & connection of solving nature’s mysteries. It … [Read more...] about Hi, I’m Brian Mertins – Wildlife Tracker, Nature Mentor & Your Guide to a Deeper Connection with the Natural World.
Naturalist Training Articles
How To Learn About Local Deer With Tracking
On this page I’m going to share how I practice deer tracking with a herd that lives near my house. With a bit of practice and observation you'll be able to apply these same strategies to learn about the deer in your own area. I’ll talk about the benefits of choosing a single place to study deer rather than going to a bunch of different spots I’ll talk about how I scout for sign I’ll talk … [Read more...] about How To Learn About Local Deer With Tracking
6 Excellent Nature Awareness Questions To Ask Outside
Six years ago, I travelled over 4000 kilometres to study advanced nature awareness strategies with some of the best naturalists in the modern world. I was lucky to have amazing mentors in my life who helped me reach my goals, but I also know that many people didn’t have this benefit. So in a world where genuine mentors of tracking & awareness are sparsely available, how can you start to … [Read more...] about 6 Excellent Nature Awareness Questions To Ask Outside
Upgrade Your Wilderness Skills In 3 Easy Steps
Here’s something to think about… What do you think causes people to reach their highest level with tracking or survival or any outdoor skill? I’ve been studying ancient wilderness skills since I was 19 years old and there’s one thing I’ve noticed about naturalists who really master their art. The best at survival don’t just study survival… The best trackers don’t just study tracks… … [Read more...] about Upgrade Your Wilderness Skills In 3 Easy Steps
Solving Nature Connection Challenges
Nature Wisdom Podcast: Episode 07 Download Episode mp3 When I first got interested in developing my nature awareness skills… there were times when found the whole process a bit overwhelming. It was about 12 years ago when I became totally obsessed with the idea of being able to follow bird alarms and locate wild animals like cats, owls and hawks. I wanted to know everything about … [Read more...] about Solving Nature Connection Challenges
How To Have Deeper Experiences With Plants, Trees, Birds And Other Wildlife
https://youtu.be/zDhLDzBJBdw Download The Audio & Nature Activity Checklist This recording of a live teleseminar shares how to have deeper experiences with plants, trees, birds and anything else that you might encounter out in nature. Here are four main topics we’ll cover: How finding a tribe of nature friends will accelerate your skills in wilderness survival, tracking, herbalism … [Read more...] about How To Have Deeper Experiences With Plants, Trees, Birds And Other Wildlife
Trudy’s Story Of The Canadian Rockies
Nature Wisdom Podcast: Episode 03 Download Episode mp3 Today I’m excited to share a really great conversation that happened just last week on a live call with my wilderness instincts mentoring community. This is where I work with a small group of people on applying the tools for reading a landscape and really energizing our natural instincts. What you’re going to hear in this … [Read more...] about Trudy’s Story Of The Canadian Rockies
How Questions Make You A Better Tracker…
https://youtu.be/9HtAmlwSccc An Essential Skill of Nature Awareness... What is the one essential quality shared by all great trackers? In this short video I'm going to share some of what I've learned about why the art of asking questions lives at the heart of every naturalists toolkit. The secret to discovering nature is all about getting curious. Do you know how to recognize and nurture a … [Read more...] about How Questions Make You A Better Tracker…
How To Learn With Nature As Your Guide
This page will introduce you to some basic routines that help people engage with nature in a high quality way. One of my main goals in mentoring people every week on the telephone is to help them embody these routines on a deeper and deeper level. As we spend time in nature exercising our awareness in new ways it helps us understand our place on a deep level and gain a sense of felt … [Read more...] about How To Learn With Nature As Your Guide
How The Right Mentor Can 10X Your Wilderness Skills
So in case you didn't know… I freaking LOVE doing wilderness skills. It's fun, it keeps me connected to the simple things in life, and it’s taught me how to more fully access my inner and outer resources in times of need. For example: I’ve taken remote survival vacations in debris shelters made by my own hands and only a bow-drill for fire. I’ve used bird language to track a … [Read more...] about How The Right Mentor Can 10X Your Wilderness Skills