Resources

Many of us wish we could be as lucky as Tom Brown, Jr. and have an authentic elder mentor us in the wise old ways of a native.  Tom Brown and Jon Young are quick to point out that those elders do exist for us in the form of books, field guides, audio tapes, and video tapes.  Many skilled, well researched individuals have documented their knowledge and experience for us.  What follows is a prioritized list of recommended resources for the budding naturalist and tracker.

The Essentials

• Seeing Through Native Eyes- Understanding The Language Of Nature by Jon Young (available as six 90 minute audio tapes or 8 CDs) - Absolutely our #1 recommendation!
• Peterson Field Guides: Venomous Animals & Poisonous Plants by Foster and Caras - It is a good idea to become acquainted with the hazards, and it is reassuring to see how few there are in North America.
• The Kamana Naturalist Training Program by John Young - This serves as a blueprint for how to learn the most from the precious time you spend in the field.
• The Great Dance: A Hunter's Story (75 minute video tape) - A stellar documentary that embodies what is described in the Seeing Through Native Eyes tapes.  !Nqate is a hunter.  His home is the Kalahari.  His people depend on him for their survival. This film is about his story, told in his words.  Request this through your library (likely via inter-library loan) or purchase via their web site.
• Advanced Bird Language- Reading the Concentric Rings of Nature by Jon Young (available as six 90 minute audio tapes or 8 CDs) - The birds are the alarm system of the woods.  Understanding bird language is the key to observing nature as you see it in nature videos. 

Tracking

• Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species by Mark Elbroch - This comprehensive, very recent work appears to leverage the very best aspects of many previous works on the subject while correcting errors and omissions in those works.
• Bird Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species by Mark Elbroch with Eleanor Marks - Perhaps the first such comprehensive book on the subject of tracking as it applies to birds.
• Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking by Tom Brown, Jr. - A thorough grounding in the essentials.  Includes many exercises and recommendations on how to learn tracking.
• Tracking: Mastering the Basics by Dr. James C. Halfpenny - Three hours of video provide a short version of Jim`s famous two-day, field and lecture introduction to basic tracking. Includes video shot during Jim`s field and classroom lectures
• Tracking & The Art of Seeing by Paul Rezendes - Beautiful photos, excellent coverage of scat and other sign, and other helpful info about mammals.
• The Science and Art of Tracking by Tom Brown, Jr. - Focuses on interpreting tracks rather than identifying the maker of the track.

Survival

• Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival by Tom Brown, Jr.
• Tom Brown's Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival by Tom Brown, Jr.
• Tom Brown's Field Guide to Living with the Earth by Tom Brown, Jr.

Plants

• Kit for Making Herbal Medicines by John Gallagher - An unbelievable kit and learning system, from a very top-notch herbalist/mentor, for under $50 (introductory price - I can't imagine this will last long).
• Newcomb's Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb - Excellent tool for identifying wildflowers of the Northeastern US.
• Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants by Tom Brown, Jr. - This entertaining read focuses on how to uses about a hundred common plants.  Does not focus on identification of the plants so use this book in conjunction with a Newcomb's or Peterson guide.
• Peterson Field Guides: Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Foster and Duke - Focuses on plant identification; a little weak on how to use the plants.
• Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants by Lee Allen Peterson - Focuses on plant identification; a little weak on how to use the plants.
• Plants of the Rocky Mountains by Linda Kershaw, Andy MacKinnon, Jim Pojar - This book truly sets a new standard for plant identification books.  A valuable addition to your field guide collection if it is outside of your bioregion - a "must have" if you live near or will visit the Rockies.

Birds

• The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley (National Audubon Society) - THE authoritative book for identifying birds in the US.
• The Birders' Handbook by Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye - Rather than focus on identification, this book describes lots of important information about bird behavior, life cycles, nesting, habitat, etc.

For Children

• Sharing Nature with Children II by Joseph Cornell  (activities and exercises)
• Dear Children of the Earth by Schim Schimmel  (beautifully illustrated)
• Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell  (activities and exercises) 
• Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival for Children by Tom Brown, Jr.
• A Kid's Herb Book by Lesley Tierra  (beautifully illustrated)
• Children of the Earth...Remember by Schim Schimmel  (beautifully illustrated)
• Tracks in the Wild by Betsy Bowen
• Animal Tracks Literacy Project by Steve Engel (a lesson plan and material for teachers, parents, or troop leaders)