There is no better time than right now to learn or hone up on your compass skills. I had signed up for a Mountaineers navigation class on March 14th as a refresher since it has been about 7 years since I took my last one officially. Of course, that was cancelled but I still want to get some practice in for when I am able to get back out on the trails.
Anyone will tell you that navigation is a life-long learning process, you need to practice it on a regular basis with different formats: map, compass and GPS. If you haven’t taken a course or it has been awhile since your last one, now is the perfect time to practice from the safety of home or your own neighborhood.
Luckily, not only are there plenty of books on navigation and orienteering, there are YouTube videos too! So while I am cooped up at home or out exploring my neighborhood, I can get my compass out and put it to good use. Sure, my neighbors might think I’m a little strange but these days who cares?
Here are some fun ways to learn and practice navigation and orienteering at home (or close to home):
- Read up on navigation skills, quiz yourself or a friend online.
- Watch a video and practice the techniques shown with trees, cars, buildings and other landmarks in your neighborhood.
- Get out some of your Green Trails or Nat Geo maps and practice reading them along with plotting out courses as if you are lost and had to get back to the trailhead or camp.
- Locate a copy of your neighborhood from Caltopo, identify local landmarks and geographical terrain while you are out walking.
- Create a navigation course of your own or find one local to you where you can practice your skills. Ask someone from your house to join you so you can talk skills out as you practice them.
The possibilities are endless!
Not sure where to get started? See below for some videos and links to help you with the above ideas…
A Comprehensive List of Navigation Books
Videos
A basic how-to from REI…
Along with how to read a topographic map…
Ah, the classic “Put Red Fred In The Shed”…
Black Hat Bushcraft even has a video on how to set up your own navigation course (as part of a 7 video series)…
Course Ideas
If you don’t have the space needed to set up a navigation course in your backyard, it is possible there is one in your very own neighborhood. For example, my local Forest Park has a orienteering course open to the public. They have a map and directions available online. Orienteering USA offers a map of permanent courses on their website, along with training tips. If you live in other parts of the world, don’t worry. You probably have a resource, too. Here are Canada and Britain, for example. And when all else fails, there are the plans from the Boy Scouts. My favorite, though, uses a simple green space to practice taking a bearing.
Orienteering
Orienteering itself is the sport of navigation.. And if you really would like some orienteering excitement from the comfort of your couch, check out the Top 10 Most Popular Orienteering Races In The World. I have to admit this looks pretty fun! Can you see yourself doing something like this with your family or friends? Practicing social distancing, of course.
Want to learn more about orienteering as a sport? Check out these easy to follow videos from the International Orienteering Federation:
So, while we are stuck inside or close to home, take this opportunity to touch up on your navigation skills. Invite your family to join you and make a contest of who can be more accurate in their map reading skills or arrive somewhere in the neighborhood first.
Safely, of course!
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