Being able to use a map and compass is a valuable skill that can be used in numerous outdoor activities. Navigating through the woods is only one situation, but there are many others, such as finding directions on a car trip, accurate navigating across open water while boating, or pinpointing a hot fishing spot. Map and compass abilities are not only fun, they are easily taught to kids and provide skills that will prove useful for years.
To begin, have your kids look at a map. It doesn't have to be a topographical map; a road map or a map of your town will work. Show them how it is oriented with North facing "up", and the other compass points facing "down", left or right. Show them the symbols on the map and explain the color coding which denotes water, forested areas, higher elevations and roadways. Explain the scale of miles, and teach them how to determine distance from one point to another.
Next, teach them the features of a compass. It is best to give them a compass of their own to work with. Silva makes a beginner's compass called the Starter 1-2-3, which is inexpensive and useful for most navigating situations. Point out the different parts of the compass: the direction of travel arrow, the magnetic needle, the graduated rotating dial. Explain how the needle always points north, no matter which way you turn while holding the compass.
Once your kids have the basic map reading and compass skills down, you can combine the two. If you're teaching inside, the easiest way to do this is to draw a simple map of the room you're in and make copies for everyone. Be sure to mark North, South, East, and West on the map. Have the kids orient the maps and compasses by following these steps: lay the map on a flat surface and set the compass down on it. Through the clear baseplate of the compass, line the direction of travel arrow (or the side of the compass) up with the North arrow on the map. Without moving the compass, turn the map until the red needle and the direction of travel arrow on the compass are aligned. The direction of travel arrow, and the map are now pointing North.
Now that you have oriented the map and compass to face North, have everyone look around the room and figure out which objects are directly North, South, East and West of where they're standing. This is when a map starts to come alive for kids; suddenly the things on the map are right there where they can see them, and the directions on the map begin to make more sense.
The next step is to teach everyone how to use the compass as a navigation tool to get from one point to another. Pick two points on the map -- a starting point and a
destination. Turn the map so that the starting point is closest to you. Put the compass on the map so that the baseplate edge connects the starting point and the destination (it's okay to turn the compass to do this). Set the compass heading by turning the compass dial until "N" on the dial aligns with North on the map. Go stand at your starting point, and hold the compass flat in the palm of your hand, about "belt buckle" level. Turn your body until the red end of the needle is over the orienting arrow (pointing to "N" on the dial). The direction of travel arrow is now pointing precisely to your destination. If you were heading for a destination that was out of your view, you would look up, find a landmark that was directly ahead of you, and walk to it. Then you would repeat the procedure until you reached your destination.
When your kids have this exercise down, it's easy to expand on it by arranging a
course for them to navigate by compass from one point to another. Timed runs
through the course can add to the fun.
Compass skills can be a valuable resource for people of any age, and are fun to learn and use. Teaching kids these skills can be a fun family or group activity on a weekend or outdoor vacation, as well as a great classroom exercise for teachers.
For more information on map and compass skills, visit Silva at www.silvacompass.com.
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