Letter from Tom
Rediscover the ancient path - where nature becomes teacher, and every step awakens the spirit within
Stalking Wolf was raised free of the reservations in the mountains of northern Mexico. Born in the 1870's during a time of great warfare and violence, he was part of a band of Lipan Apache that never surrendered.
He was taught the traditional ways of his people and became a shaman and a scout. When he was twenty a vision sent him away from his people, and for the next sixty-three years he wandered, seeking teachers and learning the old ways of many native peoples, and others who lived close to the earth.
LIPAN APACHE Elder & Shaman
Renowned Tracker & Teacher
Wilderness Survival Expert
whispers of the ancestors:
the lipan apache lineage
Join thousands of students who have discovered their connection to the earth and awakened their primal skills.
Tracker School, LLC
529 Route 9, Unit #10
Waretown, NJ 08758
© 2025 Tracker School, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Dear Prospective Student,
I want to thank you for your interest in our school. As you know, our school is based on my experience of living in the wilderness and the teachings of Stalking Wolf, encompassing over 20 years of my life. Many of these teachings are discussed in my books, and I strongly recommend that you read these books before you register.
This school is not for everyone. You must be prepared to see your life and the things around you in a different light; if you are, then apply. We will grow together.
I believe that if you want to be "one" with the Earth it is not enough to just have good survival skills, but to strive for a more rounded combination of philosophy and skills. That is why each of my courses covers equally the three major categories of survival: tracking, nature observation, and awareness.
In my experience, I know that the new or beginning student can not easily survive in pure wilderness. Thus, the Standard class emphasizes skills, techniques, and workshops that will bring your skills up to a proficient level. The more difficult skills and pure survival living come later, in the more advanced courses.
Though I strongly believe in good physical conditioning and pushing oneself beyond one's expected limits, I feel that this is an individual pursuit and should come later, after the basic skills are mastered.
If you are looking for a survival school that concentrates on hard core survival and self denial, then this school is not for you. There are plenty of survival schools in the world that stress "the push," and I suggest that you attend one of them rather than our school.
In pure survival there is no want or debilitation, for the perfection of skills makes any survival situation easy. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a closer attachment to the Earth, and the skills and philosophy that will help you live in harmony and balance with Creation, then come join us.
All Good Medicine,
The Tracker School was founded in 1978 by Tom Brown Jr., America's most renowned tracker and wilderness survival expert. It was established based on the teachings of Stalking Wolf, the Apache elder who began mentoring Tom when he was just seven years old. The school has since expanded to offer over 100 classes, organized into seven sacred wisdoms.
The school quickly became one of the most respected institutions of its kind, offering hands-on courses in wilderness survival, wildlife tracking, herbal medicine, spiritual connection, and environmental stewardship. Students come from around the world to study fire-making, shelter-building, wild food foraging, ceremonial practices, and what Tom called “dirt time” - the immersive, experiential learning that fosters true understanding and instinctual wisdom.
Tracker School courses are known for their intensity and their ability to change lives - not just by teaching skills, but by reawakening a sense of purpose, belonging, and spiritual alignment with nature. Tom’s legacy lives on through the Tracker School, now carried forward by his family, highly trained instructors and long-time students.
To Tom, tracking wasn’t just about following footprints. He taught that every track is a message left behind by an animal, a person, or the Earth itself - an ongoing conversation that most have forgotten how to hear. His ability to read these signs with near-mystical accuracy became legendary, and his teachings emphasize that anyone can learn this language with patience, reverence, and humility. He believed the Earth was speaking all the time; one simply had to quiet the mind to listen.
Tom authored eighteen books, including The Tracker and The Vision, which blended compelling personal narrative with detailed guidance on naturalist skills and philosophy. He often reminded his readers and students that survival is not just about tools and tactics, but about cultivating awareness, intuition, and a deep love for all life.
Long before sustainability became a cultural priority, Tom Brown Jr. was urging his students to become caretakers of the Earth. He taught regenerative living, the use of ancient Earth-based practices to heal modern ecological damage, and the necessity of restoring humanity’s sacred connection to the land. In his view, healing the Earth and healing ourselves were not separate endeavors, but one and the same.
Tom Brown Jr., passed away on August 16, 2024, at the age of 74. His impact endures through every person who has walked the path he illuminated. A path of listening to the land, living with honor, and remembering our original instructions as caretakers of the Earth. His teachings continue to ripple through time, reminding us that true survival is not just about staying alive, but about living in harmony with the rhythms of nature and the wisdom of the ancestors.
In accordance with Tom's final wishes, the Tracker School has been entrusted to his son, River Brown. Raised in these ancient traditions, River has been an integral part of the school since his early youth. He now carries forward his father’s vision and legacy as the next generation of teacher, tracker, and guardian of the Earth.
Tom Brown Jr., was America’s most acclaimed outdoorsman, renowned tracker, wilderness survival expert, naturalist, teacher, and author whose life work has been inspiring generations to reconnect with the Earth. Born in 1950 in Tom's River, New Jersey, Tom’s path began at the age of seven when he was introduced to the ancient skills of tracking, survival, and spiritual connection with nature by Stalking Wolf, an elder of the Lipan Apache. Over the next ten years, Tom apprenticed under Stalking Wolf’s quiet but deeply profound guidance and Coyote Teachings, learning not just how to survive in the wild, but how to listen, see, and feel the Earth as a living, communicating being. This early immersion became the foundation of a lifelong mission to share the sacred teachings he had mastered.
Grandfather left his clan around the age of 20 to follow two great visions that led him throughout North and South America for nearly 63 years. The first was to master and preserve as many primitive skills as possible and the second was to seek out the essence of every religion and philosophy. These skills would have been lost today were it not for his dedication to his vision. All of this was entrusted to Tom Brown Jr., and subsequently he passed it down to his students and instructors, so that the old ways will never be lost.
Our instructors are passionate educators, seasoned wilderness experts, and lifelong students of nature. Each is a protégé of tom brown jr., personally trained by him and other leading experts in the field. With years of hands-on experience and deep knowledge in their areas of specialization, they embody the teachings and philosophy of the tracker school.
Several of our instructors have also gained national recognition through appearances on well-known survival television shows such as alone, bringing real-world experience and proven skill to their teaching. United by a shared mission, they guide students toward greater awareness, self-reliance, and a profound connection with the natural world.