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Kitimu says: "Every real tracker starts by studying their own tracks first! Head outside, find some soft ground, and discover how your feet tell a story. Walking, running, sneaking — each one leaves a different clue. Let's go, Cub!"
🎒 What You Need
Soft ground (sand, mud, or damp soil)
Ruler or measuring tape
Pencil & notebook
Your worksheet
📋 How To Do It
Find your tracking ground: Look for a patch of soft sand, mud, or damp soil — somewhere your feet will leave a clear print. Smooth it flat with your hand or a stick before you start.
Make your walking tracks: Walk slowly across the soft ground in a straight line. Stop at the other side and turn around to study your prints. Notice the shape of your shoe or foot.
Measure your tracks: Use your ruler or tape to measure the length, width, and depth of one clear print. Write these numbers down — this is your tracking data!
Now run across: Smooth the ground again, then run across the same patch. Stop and compare — how are the running tracks different? Are they deeper? Further apart? Is the toe pressed in harder than the heel?
Record your findings: On your worksheet, draw both your walking track and your running track side by side. Label the differences. You've just discovered how pressure and speed change tracks — exactly what real trackers look for!
Ranger Tip: Real trackers in the bush can tell whether an animal was walking, trotting, or running just by looking at the depth and spacing of its tracks. You're learning the same skill right now!
Safety note: Watch where you step — avoid sharp objects, thorns, or glass in the soil. Always wash your hands after working with mud and soil.
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Take a photo of your walking vs running tracks and share it in the Junior Rangers WhatsApp group!