May/00 Survey results
(updated Jun 1/00)

• The survey was sent out by email on May 19, and the last response was received on May 30.

• I received 20 responses, out of a total of 39 sent out (including myself).
      In other words, only a 50% response rate
• Of these 20 responses, 6 were from people who have never been to a gathering (as far as I know)
      ie, 30% of the responses were from those who have never been to a gathering.
• Not everyone answered every question.
• Some of the responses were from couples.  In all cases but one, they chose to send one response as a couple.

• After each question I inserted the comments that people wrote in response to the question's topic.
• All general comments have been placed after Question 7.
• All comments have been edited for clarity and as well to adhere to my promise to keep all responses confidential. However, the original meaning of all comments has been preserved, and I have not excluded any comments.
• I will continue to keep all responses confidential as to who said what.

• I have rearranged the order of the choices for each question to put them in order from most popular to least popular.
• Where appropriate, I have placed my interpretations of the survey results in italics after each question.

• Please read the comments that people have made, in all parts including Part 7.  These are honest and very illuminating.  Each comment item is from a different person (ie, only one per person).

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the survey.

1a. What would you like to do at Ontario Tracker gatherings?

16% - Nature study: plants (edible, medicinal, other), animals, birds
14% - Tracking
13% - Awareness exercises
12% - Physical skills, such as firemaking, hides, bow/arrow, flint knapping, wild edibles, etc etc
11% - Spiritual Skills, such as sweat lodge, pipe ceremonies, meditations, healings, etc
9% - Hikes
8% - Caretaking
8% - Scout exercises
5% - Just hang out and relax
4% - Children's activities

66% want to do various skills: physical, spiritual, tracking, nature study, awareness.

Other activities (please specify), & Your comments:

• Drumming, sweatlodge
• Spiritual skills: but need a use for them other than just doing them for the sake of doing them. Need a purpose; need to put power into them for some useful purpose.
• Children's activities sometimes, maybe to a lesser degree as these are what seem to comprise the current meetings (other than hang out and relax)
• A chance to discuss and exchange ideas
• Opportunities to drum and heal would be great

Nature study tops the list.  We don't do a lot of this at the gatherings.  Looks like we should plan gatherings around nature study, tracking, awareness, physical skills, and spiritual skills.

60% - Yes
25% - Don't care
15% - No

If so, what topics can you suggest:

• Either is fine, so long as there is hands-on as well: tracking!
• Flint knapping
• Nature study, I don't know much about nature and I want to learn more.
• Any of the above listed in 1a
• Survival skills can be taught by an Ontario Tracker member okay (ie, share what we are good at in a workshop format)
• Scout stuff & Spiritual skills

The workshop idea is popular.  The hard parts are: 1) finding someone to lead the workshop, and 2) being assured that a reasonable number of folks will attend once someone is lined up to lead one.

65% - No, it doesn't matter
35% - Yes

• There are other teachers besides Tom, and different people bring their own skills and information. On the other hand, the Tracker School does deal with a wide base of knowledge.
• Yes: These gatherings are, after all, "Tracker" gatherings. Go to other gatherings for other topics

71% - Have only a couple of planned activities for the weekend
29% - Have lots of planned activities and are busy all the time
0% - Have no planned activities, just let whatever happens happen

People definitely want to DO stuff!

• As long as we have the choice to participate or not.
• One must always be free to choose to participate, not be "expected" to.

37% - Yes
37% - Depends on what the other group is into
26% - No

74% say yes, or it depends

• It has to be in line with the Tracker philosophy
• If it's of personal interest to me
• These type of events should be the exception, not the rule. Scouts are good in small doses. We should be communicating our ideals with others.
• As long as there is a structure and focus to study some skills

Pretty evenly divided here....I read this as "Maybe yes, and only if they are into what we're into"

44% - Yes
28% - No
28% - Depends on what the other group is into

72% say yes, or it depends

• It has to be in line with the Tracker philosophy
• I would like to help teach others about what we have found of so much value in the Native ways
• These type of events should be the exception not the rule. Scouts are good in small doses. We should be communicating our ideals with other.
• The down side of another group coming is if they are not knowledgeable about what we are doing, then there is a lot of teaching time going on.  That's good, but I do that all the time anyways.

I read this as saying that Trackers want to share what they've learned.

30% - Too far away or no transportation
23% - Too busy to come
20% - Family commitments
14% - Gatherings are boring, not enough going on
7% - Not enough focus on Tracker stuff
2% - Gatherings are too busy, too much going on
2% - Don't like the places where the gatherings are held
2% - No accommodation or activities for very young children
0% - Don't like the people who attend
0% - Gathering is too narrowly focussed on Tracker stuff alone
0% - Not all that interested in Tracker stuff anymore

73% don't come because it's too far and/or they're too busy

• I don't come because of my anti-social tendencies
• I find 2 days to be too long
• The original members have dissipated (ie, from the first few years of the "Toronto Trackers" group)
• Attendance is poor (this is a "Catch-22")
• I don't want to be at a gathering that has activities for children or very young children
• I often have to work, or I have another camp to attend
• I have limited finances
• No focus at gatherings. No structure or organization to study. If Tracker meetings are about socializing and "guessing" Tracker skills rather than having a focused study - that's okay for others but it's not for me. I would like to get together to practice skills without people wandering in and out and losing focus. I would like a set outline rather than trying to do something without having any guidance at all.
• I have a busy recreational racing schedule that keeps me away.

Distance (and the related problems of time and money) remain a big problem.  On the other hand, if people really REALLY wanted to come, they'd get there somehow.

25% - Tracker skills practice
22% - Sharing of knowledge: to learn and share what you know
22% - Fellowship: hang out and chat, make friends, do stuff with others of like mind
14% - Sweatlodge and ceremonies, healing
9% - Drumming sessions
8% - Just simply get away for a weekend

69% come for skills practice and/or sharing of knowledge and fellowship

33% - In the country
27% - In the bush
24% - People's houses
16% - Doesn't matter
0% - In the city

Your Comments:

• Not in the city if there is no bush within walking distance.
• Definitely not in the city
• Maybe this is a good differentiator. People who are truly bound to the land will be most at home on the land. This is the place we were meant to be. Most of us are swallowed by the human machine. We will definitely divide the numbers this way, but we may also then have the type of people who are truly into the "Tracker way".

20% - North of Toronto
20% - West of Toronto
17% - Within 3 hours drive of Toronto
17% - Anywhere in SW Ontario
12% - East of Toronto
7% - Within an hour's drive of Toronto
7% - Anywhere in Southern Ontario

63% - Yes
37% - No
(Note that these usually have the poorest attendance of all gatherings!)

Ok, so where are all you people when we actually have a gathering in the bush???

Your Comments:

• It's nice to have gatherings where food and accommodation are already provided so we can spend more time exploring and learning, and not worrying about setting up camp for sleep, or fire for eating.
• Too bad for those who don't come to the wilderness gatherings! They do not know what they are missing. After all we are Trackers and Trackers do not do stuff in cities but in the wilderness.

46% - Anyone who has an interest in Tracker stuff
31% - Doesn't matter, but only people with some knowledge of the gathering's topic or focus
19% - Anyone who wants to come, regardless of interest
4% - Only those who have either read Tom's books or been to the Tracker School
0% - Only those who have been to the Tracker School

Looks like anyone is welcome so long as they have a definite interest in Tracker stuff (77%)

Your Comments:

• People who do not share our philosophy may disturb the group, especially if we are doing spiritual activities.

44% - Yes
44% - Yes, but depends on gathering topic
12% - No

If yes, what ages:

• Any age
• Any age is ok
• 5 and up -- unless smaller children supervised by parents

If yes, should there be special activities for them?

83% - Yes
17% - No

Your Comments:

• No, except kids who are "mature" enough to participate in some activities
• So long as their parents maintain responsibility for them
• Any age as long as someone (probably the parents) knows they will either take part in the activities or have arranged other activities for them
• I don't want to get away from it all by getting away to watch examples of bad parenting skills with disobedient brats (I'm also a burnt-out social worker).
• Depends on age
• I will not come when there is a children-oriented weekend. I like interacting within a completely adult group.

Looks like you are saying that children are welcome, but they need to be supervised.  Of course, someone needs to organise the "special activities".

70% - Monthly (like now)
15% - Every second month
15% - Quarterly
0% - Weekly
0% - Twice a year (say, spring and fall)
0% - Never: Cease having gatherings

"Monthly" wins.

Your Comments:

• Quarterly only if we do not have enough places to go. Every second month sounds good, as people seem to become more and more busy and may not have time to come.
• Planning sessions one year in advance is good.
• If you are single once a month is good. If you are married with kids, this is too often.
• Every 2^nd month: living so far away I can't make it every month

• Confidentiality is not an issue with me, perhaps a group discussion would be beneficial

• Here is my two cents worth. We really do want to go to a gathering, but our weasly excuses are mainly A) we prefer not to have to drive to the Toronto area (far away for us),  & B) our  young child, joy of our lives, but constrainer of free time.  We do wish we had discovered your group before we became parents!

• If attendance is dropping, then holding meetings less often makes sense. The current attitude may be, oh well I can't make this one, but I'll got to next month's. If meetings are less frequent then they may seem more special. On the other hand a small group of dedicated people is better than a bunch of no-show-ers.

• Between meetings people should do their dirt time so that they come prepared for the gathering's focus. Bring ideas, skills to share. Do your homework.

• Main reason I don't go is I was too busy and couldn't afford the trip (either in time or money). Now, it's too far to travel esp. since I'm not overly fond of southern Ontario...or even cottage country for that matter.

• I am not comfortable with spiritual gatherings with people who do not have enough background. I work as a helper for a Native person who performs ceremonies for institutions (treatment centres, prisons etc.) primarily with Native people and I am acutely aware of the extent of knowledge, detail and ongoing commitment necessary to carry out these functions. Also this involvement ( path ) is taking up much of the time I'd otherwise commit to Tracker stuff. It's important to keep up the Tracker gatherings though -- networking and skills for unforeseen times yet to come.

• I really like having children along and feel it only adds to the weekend. It reminds me of powwows with all the kids running about. Sometimes, though, they should have other activities than the adults. I would really like to do more wilderness camping, although I admit I have difficulty getting to events. I sometimes do get bored as it seems no one wants to do anything - youth and adults alike.

• With regard to spiritual practices, these defintely need to be led by competent people who have experience.  I really like the gatherings where I learn and share and do a lot of things -- afterwards I go home feeling very fulfilled.

• It's nice if the gathering is held at least somewhat near to a wilderness area (park, woodlot, etc.) so people can go for walks if they don't like the activity that is taking place.

• Putting some thoughts into this, we need to define what we want to do as a group. What is our mission? Currently it seems that we have none other than "let's get Tracker people together". My feeling is this is what has driven newcomers away. They may ask, "what am I doing here?". I find as well that the things that really got people excited at the Tracker School do not happen at the meetings. My original reasons for seeking out a Tracker group were as follows (and in this order):
  1) To learn
  2) To share
  3) To do something that would have a positive impact on the state of the world. By being part of a group you should become more aware of things as there are more eyes watching. Also by being in a group you may be able to accomplish things that you might be able to do by yourself.
  4) To make new friends with common interests.
  5) To spend more time in the outdoors and learn "the way". To me we all tend to walk around in a daze. I think if you are a person who has a bond to the land, there are times in your life where you get glimpses where you see the land with a clarity and understanding. Much like one of those 3D photo's where you stare at it and stare at it, then all of a sudden the image jumps out at you. That is why I liked the movie "Matrix" so much. There is a splinter nagging in your mind. You know there is something there. Like a realm that you wink into at times.
  Maybe this is a good question: Why did you come to your first Tracker meeting? What were your expectations? Were those expectations met?

• I have access to land and wouldn't mind hosting something - but only under the conditions that people would come and focus on studying. From what I gather most people just want to get away and socialise - which is okay but it is not what I want. This is one reason why I do not come to gatherings or have chosen to invite others to the land I go to. I practice my skills with friends in the city and that is what satisfies me. A note about healing/sweats/ceremonies: I am not comfortable doing this with the current Ontario Tracker group. I feel that there are inexperienced members who, because they have been taught a particular ceremony, now feel they can lead it without having understood that knowing a structure of sacred space does not necessarily equal being able to hold a sacred space for others. That is, just because we all know how to physically build and run a sweat doesn't mean we all have the ability to run one on the other levels.

• It's one thing to do a survey and see the results.  But quite another for action to be taken.  And I for one am definitely not interested in having a "leader" tell me what to do.

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