History

Board and Staff

MWC BOARD MEMBERS

Tom Brown, Jr., Chairman
Tom Brown, Jr. is America 's premier outdoorsman, renowned tracker, teacher, and author.   At the age of seven, Tom met Stalking Wolf, a Lipan Apache elder. For the next 10 years the man whom Tom came to know as “Grandfather” spent his time teaching Tom a multitude of primitive skills, including; tracking, hunting, survival,  and awareness, on land that we now call “The Medicine Waters”.   In 1978, based on Grandfather's teachings, Tom opened The Tracker School, which has been training adults in these essential survival and awareness arts ever since. Today, the Tracker School has expanded to include over 75 classes, divided into the seven course tracks of: Philosophy, Teaching, Healing, Vision, Scout, Survival and Tracking. Tom and his wife Debbie founded of The Children of the Earth Foundation in 1999. To learn more about Tom Brown, Jr., visit The Tracker School website at www.trackerschool.com .

Karl Direske, President
A sort of 21 st century renaissance man, Karl Direske is; an avid outdoorsman, advocate for the earth, certified Energy Healer, and lead facilitator for The Hero's Journey.  By trade, Karl is an amalgam of civil-engineer and project manager, with a passion for innovative building techniques that help change the way people interact and relate to the most essential of the Sacred Order, shelter.  Karl also works integrally with Tom Brown, Jr., as Business Manager for Tom and his Tracker School .

Rick Berry, Treasurer
Rick Berry, Director of The Children of the Earth Foundation, began with the Tracker School in 1986 at the age of 15. Rick has been teaching these skills for the past 15 years as a naturalist outdoor teacher and survival instructor. Rick spent two years in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey as a caretaker for the Tracker School. After caretaking Rick started to work with the Tracker's Coyote Camps in 2000 and in 2004 began as the director for The Children of the Earth Foundation dedicated to passing on these ancient skills to children.

Ellyn Schmitz, Secretary
Ellyn Schmitz has been a long-time student at the Tracker School since 1993. She has close to 20 years experience helping businesses develop and retain customers by providing database marketing and analytical solutions. Some of the non-profit organizations she's worked with include American Marketing Association, American Bar Association, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her work for Medicine Waters Conservancy, Ellyn is active in her local community restoring natural areas and protecting high-value ecosystems from destruction.

Malcolm Ringwalt
Malcolm is a long-time instructor for Tom Brown Jr. at his Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival School. He is an original member of the Coyote Thunder Medicine Society founded in 1982 as well as an indispensable part of the Philosophy Course staff. Malcolm began offering Vision Quests through the Tracker School then founded Earth-Heart in 1985 to continue this work and provide other programs which focus on a holistic, mind/body/spirit approach to health, healing, and personal growth. He has a Master's degree in counseling psychology, is an advanced clinical hypnotherapist, and is an ordained minister and pastoral counselor. Malcolm was instrumental in developing the Tracker School's original caretaker program at the primitive camp, being the first caretaker for two years.

MWC STAFF

Debbie Tremel
Debbie began with the Medicine Waters Conservancy in November 2006, working for both Medicine Waters and Children of the Earth Foundation. She brings over 20 years of experience in non-profit management through the YMCA as well as volunteer experience in the leadership of other non-profits including the Tumwater Education Foundation, Kiwanis, Tumwater United for Families and the Nisqually Valley Conservation Association. Debbie developed a passion for the work of these foundations when she began taking Tracker School classes in 1999.