Yes, I have been to the school. Start with a few of his books. Keep a very open mind. Go to the "Standard" class as required. Ignore and save for the cost of the class you will not regret the expense! Reading the books are nothing like what you will walk away with. The instructors are top notch and yes Tom will be there also.Your class mates will include your average hippy types to elderly ladies, with a mix of a few military types and average outdoorsman. It is not a physical class but very long mental days and I mean until all the info is covered and that could be 7 am til midnight. Sometime around Thursday you will have the "Oh I get it" moment. Yes it is 1st grade as his classes go but when your done you will be tracking mice in dust and building fire by rubbing 2 sticks etc. The real work will be when you get home. When you read his books and you get to the point that you say "thats not possible" push thru the wall and prove the material right or wrong! In time you will be tracking as much with your ears and heart as you will with you nose to the ground. Tom in the Standard class is not your focus. Do not go if you wanr a photo op. As a teacher he is passion in a nutshell. The class can be emotional but I have not seen Tom bite anyone yet. I do not work for the school if you were wondering.