Navigation Tools and Activities LEADERS KNOW THE WAY 5/22/2017 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

California Cadet Corps Curriculum on Map Reading

“Navigation Tools and Activities”

5/22/2017

LEADERS KNOW THE WAY

Navigation Tools and Activities Agenda

• B1. Using a Compass
• B2. Alternative Direction Finding Methods
• B3. Pace Count
• B4. Moving by Terrain Association
• B5. Global Positioning System GPS
• B6. Compass Course
• B7. Orienteering
• B6. How to Design an Orienteering Course for

your Unit

• B8. Geocaching

USING A COMPASS

• B1. Use a lensatic compass to navigate a course.

Lensatic Compass

The lensatic compass is the most common and simplest instrument for measuring direction

Lensatic Compass

Parts of a compass

• Thumb Loop
• Cover
• Sighting Wire
• Eyepiece
• Sighting Slot
• Bezel Ring
• Index Line
• Compass Dial

Thumb Loop Secures compass in closed position Serves as wire loop to assist in sighting objects

Thumb Loop

Cover Protects face of glass crystal

Cover

Sighting Wire Used to sight objects

Sighting Wire

Eyepiece Aids in sighting azimuths Locks compass dial in place

Eyepiece

Sighting Slot Used in sighting azimuths

Sighting Slot

Bezel Ring Used in pre-setting a direction in night compass work. Each click represents three degrees

Bezel Ring

Index Line Stationary black line used as a reference line

Index Line

Compass Dial Indicates direction in mils and degrees

Compass Dial

Techniques of use

Two techniques are employed when using the lensatic compass

• Center hold technique
• Compass to cheek technique

Center Hold Technique

Preferred method

Advantages

• It is faster and easier to use
• It can be used under all conditions of visibility
• It can be used over any type of terrain
• Accurate to within 11 degrees
• It can be used w/o removing eyeglasses

Note: If you have a metal belt buckle, use

• f this

technique may induce error in the magnetic needle.

Compass to Cheek Technique

Advantages

• Works only with the Lensatic compass
• Accurate to within 3 degrees (much more

accurate than Center Hold Technique!)

• Used for Intersection and Resection

Fold the cover of the compass containing the sighting wire to a vertical position; then fold the rear sight slightly forward. Look through the rear-sight slot and align the frontsight hairline with the desired

• bject in the distance. Then

glance down at the dial through the eye lens to read the azimuth.

Compass to Cheek Technique

1 2

3 4

Presetting a compass

• Hold the compass level in the palm of the hand
• Rotate it until the desired azimuth falls under the fixed black

index line

• Turn the bezel ring until the luminous line is aligned with the

north seeking arrow. The compass is now preset

• Assume the centerhold technique and turn until the north

seeking arrow is aligned with the luminous line.

• Proceed in the direction of the sighting wire.

Presetting a Compass

Bypass an Obstacle (And Stay Oriented)

Detour around the obstacle by moving at right angles for specified distances. Example: Moving on an azimuth of 90° change your azimuth to 180° and travel for 100

• meters. Change your azimuth back to 90°and travel for 150 meters. Change your azimuth to

360°and travel for 100 meters. Then, change your azimuth to 90°and you are back on your

• riginal azimuth line.

Offset

• A planned magnetic deviation to the right or left of an azimuth to an objective .
• Use it when the objective is along a linear feature (road/stream)
• Compensates for precision errors and ensures that upon reaching the linear feature, the

user knows whether to go right or left to reach the objective.

• Ten degrees is an adequate offset for most uses.

Each degree offset moves the course about 18m to the right or left for each 1,000m traveled. Note the image should indicate 180m

• ffset, not 100m.

ALTERNATIVE DIRECTION FINDING METHODS

• B2. Demonstrate how to find the four cardinal directions without a

compass during cloudless daytime and nighttime hours.

Sunrise and Sunset

• It depends on latitude,

and time of the year

• In general:

– Face sunrise=East – Face sunset=West

Q: It’s July and you’re walking into the setting

• sun. What’s your course?

A: 300°

Step 1: Place stick in ground and mark tip of shadow with stone. Step 2: Wait 10-15 minutes and mark new position of shadow tip. Step 3: Draw a straight line between the 2 marks . Step 4: Stand with the first mark to your left, you are now facing north

Shadow-Tip Method

Step 1: Point the hour hand toward the sun Step 2: The south line is mid-way between the hour hand and 1200 (1300 during Daylight Saving Time)

Watch Method

North Star

• It is not the brightest star
• Less than 1 degree off of true north
• Use the pointers of the Big Dipper, 5 times the distance
• North star is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper

PACE COUNT

• B3. Determine your 100m pace count for flat ground, uphill, and downhill

terrain.

Pace Count Intro

• It’s used to get a rough measurement of how

far you’re walking.

• A pace count is the number of paces it takes

you to walk a certain distance – usually 100 meters.

• Everyone’s pace count is unique – you have to

measure your own.

• Your pace count will change with conditions

Pace Count Course

• To set up a course, use a measuring tool to

measure 100 meters (not yards).

• Put a Start Line and a Stop Line that won’t get

erased by stepping on it.

• The individual walks from the Start to Stop

Line, counting every step or every other step

• 100 meters-

Tip: Count only when your left (or right) foot hits the ground. You wont have to count as high!

Pace Count Calculation

• Don’t talk while you’re pacing, just count!
• Don’t take big or little steps. Just take steps

that are normal to YOUR pace.

• When you reach the Stop point, note the

number of paces it took you.

• Walk back to the Start Point, counting your

paces again.

• Average your two counts.

Pace Count Variations

• Pace changes on different slopes:

– Uphill = shorter steps = Higher pace count – Downhill = longer steps = Lower pace count

• Pace changes in different conditions:

– Vegetation/Rock/Snow/Wet = shorter steps = Higher pace – Dark / Low visibility = shorter steps = Higher pace

Double Paces per 100m GOOD MODERATE BAD FLAT 60 70 80 UPHILL 70 85 100 DOWNHILL 55 65 90 What are your Pace counts? Slope Conditions

Using Pace Count

• To measure distance while walking, start

walking on your course and count your paces

• Every time you reach your pace count you’ve

gone 100 meters.

– Make a note, tie a knot in a cord, put a pebble in your pocket, or move the 100m Ranger Bead.

• Start your count over and keep repeating until

at your destination or at your total pace count

• Task: You have to walk 1.2 km west on a flat road
• Background: Your flat pace count on easy terrain

is 60 paces (every other foot) and you’re using pebbles to keep track.

• Action

– Place 12 pebbles in your right pocket, and start walking west. – Count every right foot strike. – When you get to “60”, move a pebble to your left pocket and start your count over at “1” and keep moving pebbles every time you count to “60”. – When you move all 12 pebbles to your left pocket you’ve arrived at your destination

Pace Count Example 1

Pace Count Example 2

• Task: Your squad leader tells you to go recon the path

you’re on 800 meters ahead and wait there for the squad to catch up. It’s a fairly steep uphill hike and it’s foggy.

• Background: Your uphill pace count in moderate conditions

is 85 paces (every other foot) and you have a string in your pocket to tie knots in to keep track.

• Action

– Start walking on the path – Count every right foot strike. – When you get to “85”, tie a knot in the string and start your count over at “1” and keep tying knots every time you count to “60”. – When you have 8 knots in your string you’ve arrived at your destination.

Pace Count Example 3

• Task: You are the Navigator for your adventure race team and

you have to go 7.5km on a course of 172° over easy terrain. There are a series of uphills and downhills to traverse.

• Background: Your easy pace counts are uphill:70, downhill: 55,

flat:60. You’re using ranger beads to keep track.

• Action

– Start walking 172° and count every right foot strike. – If the next 100m is mostly

• Flat: Then use a pace count of 60 to move a 100-m bead
• Uphill: Then use a pace count of 70 to move a 100-m bead
• Downhill: Then use a pace count of 55 to move a 100-m bead

– After every 10 100-m beads, move a 1-km bead – When you’ve moved 7 1-km beads and 5 100-m beads you’ve arrived

Check on Learning

Calculate your Pace Count for as many of the conditions in this table as possible. Estimate the rest.

Double Paces per 100m GOOD MODERATE BAD FLAT UPHILL DOWNHILL What are your Pace counts?

MOVING BY TERRAIN ASSOCIATION

• B4. Given a map only, describe or demonstrate, how you would move

from one point to another using terrain association.

Why Move by Terrain Association

• More forgiving of mistakes
• Far less time-consuming than dead reckoning
• It may be the only option if you do not have a compass

– Or if you are off track (lost pace count or off course)

• Errors made using terrain association are easily

corrected

• You can easily make adjustments based upon what you

encounter.

• This is how you navigate to the neighborhood grocery

store

How to Move by Terrain Association (1/3)

1. Determine your Starting Position

– Estimate your location on the map (If possible) – Identify key features on the map you should be able to see

• Terrain (hilltop, valley, ridge,

depression, and saddle)

• Water (Lakes, rivers, streams,

ponds)

• Man-Made (buildings, roads,

bridges, high-tension lines, towers, and fences)

– Look up to find feature matches (the more the better) – Orient your map the same direction you’re facing – Confirm your location on the map

How to Move by Terrain Association (2/3)

• 2. Determine your Destination (on the map)
• 3. Create Checkpoints on your planned route that

take you to your destination.

Each chekpoint should have a prominent feature for you to confirm your arrival such as crossing a river, passing abeam a tower, etc.

How to Move by Terrain Association (3/3)

4. Start walking

a. Keep your map oriented in the direction of travel b. Walk to your first checkpoint, and then keep repeating c. Confirm your position often, but always at checkpoints

Moving by terrain association must be practiced at every opportunity. There is no other way to learn or retain this skill.

Check on Learning

You want to travel from your position on Cerro Romualdo to Whisky Spring but you have no compass or GPS. How would you do it?

One Possible Solution

1. Follow draw down hill (North) for 500 meters

• Checkpoint: Rd Intx

2. Make 90° right and follow Road (East) for 1km

• Checkpoint: 1st Rd T past

Highway 3. Make 90 ° left and follow path up Guard Hill (north) for 1.2km

• Checkpoint: Peak w/ Tower

4. Parallel Fence line (north) 1km until paved road, turn right (east) 200m

• Checkpoint: Dirt road T

intersection 5. Follow dirt road 800m (north) until 90 bend, continue north to creek and follow upstream 1km

• Checkpoint: Abeam 429’ hill

with tower on right side 6. Continue upstream 900m until spring reached

• Checkpoint: Spring

1 2 3 4 5 6

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

• B5. Identify the situations that are best suited for handheld GPS or cell-

phone GPS.

Global Positioning System

• Constellation of 24 orbiting satellites

that provides navigation data to military and civilian users all over the world.

• The system is operated and controlled

by the 50th Space Wing, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.

• GPS satellites orbit the earth every 12

hours, emitting continuous navigation signals.

• The signals are so accurate, time can be

figured to within a millionth of a second, velocity within a fraction of a mile per hour and location to within 100 feet (or less).

• Receivers have been developed for use

in aircraft, ships and land vehicles, as well as for hand carrying.

How Does GPS Work? (4m 50s sciBRIGHT video on Youtube) The Truth About GPS: How it works (3m 11s US Air Force Space Command Video on YouTube)

How to use a GPS

• On your phone: Install a

navigational app (there are hundreds) and turn

• n location services.

Most cell phones augment positions with Wi-Fi signals and internal

• gyroscopes. Use of your

cellphone navigation system will likely require a cell phone signal and may not work in the field.

How to use a GPS

• On a handheld GPS: Turn on the GPS

and wait for the system to acquire at least 4 satellites.

• You may need to step outside or out

from under heavy tree canopy as these will block the satellite signal.

• Once your GPS receiver is “locked on”

it will tell you your position usually in a latitude / longitude / elevation format along with a very accurate time.

• Most GPSs today display your

position on loaded maps or even satellite imagery of the area.

• Handheld GPSs only require satellite

signals to function and therefore work anywhere in the world.

Check on Learning

• Will your cell phone GPS work 5 miles out to

sea?

• Will your cell phone GPS work inside

Starbucks?

• Will a handheld GPS work indoors?
• How many satellites must a GPS receiver “see”

to determine your location?

COMPASS COURSE

• B6. Design or conduct a compass course at your school.

Compass Course

• Now that you’ve learned how to use a

compass in the classroom, it’s time to go

• utside and spread out!
• This presentation will show you how to set up

a simple compass course so you can practice your skills.

Compass Course

• You can easily set up a compass course for

your Cadet Corps unit. This is a good project for senior cadets!

• You can either use a big open area like a

football field or park, or an area with some buildings, like your school campus.

Bleachers Bleachers Bleachers Bleachers Bleachers Bleachers Baseball Field Football Field Basketball Courts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Sample Course

PE Snack Sales Building

Plan Your Course

• Determine your Start Point. It should be a

point from which participants can move out in different directions.

• Look around and pick some points that are

stationary objects, like the corner of a building

• r fence, the middle of bleachers on a football

field, basketball courts, etc. Try not to make them right next to metal objects – you don’t want the point to mess with your compasses!

Organize Your Points

Point Description 1 10’ in front of north center bleacher 2 10’ in front of north east bleacher 3 10’ in front of north west bleacher 4 10’ north of center south bleacher 5 SE corner of PE Snack building 6 Top of key on NW basket in basketball court 7 Top of key on NE basket in basketball court 8 Top of key on 3rd basket from NW in basketball court 9 Top of key on SE basket in basketball court 10 3rd base on baseball field 11 1st base on baseball field 12 10’ west of fencepost in centerfield, baseball field

SAMPLE

Plan Your Course

Once you have points planned, develop routes between them – one for each participant or team

– i.e. Route Yellow goes from the Start Point to Point 2, then to 7, 6, and 11. – The team going on Route Yellow (we’ll call them Team 1) gets the following directions:

➢ Directions for Route Yellow: ➢ Azimuth of 5° for 40m ➢ Azimuth of 230° for 100m ➢ Azimuth of 270° for 50m ➢ Azimuth of 115° for 70m ➢ Return to Start Point

Organize Your Routes

Route 1st Point 2nd Point 3rd Point 4th Point Yellow 2 7 6 11 Orange 1 9 12 10 Blue 3 1 8 7 Green 5 11 9 6 Black 7 8 11 12 Brown 4 5 9 10 Note: When plotting the routes, be mindful of obstacles – especially solid

• bjects cadets can’t see through. You could theoretically put an obstacle like

a chain link fence in the middle of a route to give a team a challenge to

• vercome, but make sure each route is equally challenged.

SAMPLE

Plan Your Course

• Put a marker that has the Point Number on it at each

point

• Measure the azimuth between each point pair that’s in

a route. This is a good time to make sure the points work (i.e. view to next point isn’t blocked by a building, unless it’s an advanced course for cadets with experience).

• You have to be very accurate when you plot the

azimuths and get the distance between points – and so do the teams! It’s a good practice to have 2 or 3 planners separately check the azimuth and distance. If you can use a measuring tool to get the distance, it will be more accurate than determining it by pace count.

Plan Your Course

Azimuths between points:

FROM TO AZIMUTH DISTANCE SP 1 305° 95M SP 2 5° 40M SP 3 58° 100M SP 4 77° 40M SP 5 263° 250M SP 6 252° 380M SP 7 247° 300M 1 2 90° 90M 1 3 90° 195M 1 4 141° 130M etc. etc. etc. etc. Continue in this way until you have all possible routes plotted and double

• checked. If you’re not going between
• ne point and another (i.e. not going

from Point 4 to Points 6-12 because the bleachers are in the way), you don’t have to plot those.

Plan Your Course

• Your course doesn’t have to be spread out
• ver a super large area
• The points need to be far enough apart that

they shouldn’t be confused with each other

• The closer the points are to each other, the

more challenging the course

Plan Your Course

• Do you write OPLANs at your unit? This might be

a good one to write. Just don’t share the answers to the course with cadets who will be running it!

• Make sure you announce the Who, What, When,

Where and Why to all participating cadets, including what they need to bring (pencil, water, etc.)

• Ensure you have the materials you need to
• perate the course: compasses, route cards,

pencils, water, clipboard, etc.

Plan Your Course

Sample Training Schedule

TIME WHO WHAT WHERE NOTES 1400-1500 STAFF SET UP COURSE FOOTBALL FIELD UNIFORM: CLASS C 1500-1510 C/1LT JONES BRIEF CADETS CLASSROOM ISSUE COMPASSES 1515 TMS 1-6 START COURSE FOOTBALL FIELD 1530 TMS 7-12 START COURSE FOOTBALL FIELD 1600-1615 ALL DEBRIEF CLASSROOM COLLECT COMPASSES

Plan Your Course

Sample Scoresheet

SAMPLE COMPASS COURSE SCORESHEET TEAM # ROUTE: _________________ START TIME: ________ FINISH TIME: ________ AZIMUTH DISTANCE POINT # SCORE SP to 1st Point ________ ________ ________ ________ 1st Point to 2nd Point ________ ________ ________ ________ 2nd Poitn to 3rd Point ________ ________ ________ ________ 3rd Point to 4th Point ________ ________ ________ ________ Return to Start Point! TOTAL SCORE ________

Get Ready to Execute

• Before you start the course, ensure each cadet

knows their pace count

• You can have cadets do the course by

themselves if they’re ready for it, or pair them

• together. Don’t let one cadet in a team do all

the work!

• You may have to stagger your start times,

depending on how many cadets/teams and how many routes you have

Running the Course

• When a team arrives at a point, they note the

number on their instruction sheet

• If they miscalculated and went to the wrong

point, they’ll put the wrong number down. This will continue to throw them off for the rest of the course.

• To score the team, verify the numbers in their

route match your answer key (for Team 1, it would be 2-7-6-11)

Check on Learning

AAR your Compass Course activity.

ORIENTEERING

• B7. Explain the sport of Orienteering and how it works.

• Introduction to Orienteering
• An Orienteering Course
• Orienteering Maps
• Basic Techniques
• How to get started
• Questions

Agenda

Navigate to a series of points (controls) shown on a specialized topo map, choosing routes - on or off trail - that will help you find all the controls and get to the finish. Orienteering uses mostly terrain association to navigate from point to point.

What is Orienteering all about?

Running Wild: Orienteering | The New York Times (3 min 21 sec YouTube Video) How to Orienteer by Howcast (1 Min 43 sec YouTube Video)

• Began in Scandinavia around 1900

– Exercises in land navigation for the military

• Gradually spread throughout the world

– Kjellstrom brothers (founders of Silva) exported Orienteering to UK and USA – Silva Holds the Trademark for Orienteering

• Now practiced on six continents

– World championships held every year – Millions of competitors each year

How did Orienteering develop?

• Kids
• Learning to read maps
• Through Scouts, building team work and earning merit

badge

• Through School and through the Cadet Corps
• Families exploring a new (or familiar) park
• Outdoors lovers looking for a change
• Hikers looking to improve their navigational skills
• Adventure Racers wanting to get a leg up on the competition
• Seniors looking to stay healthy
• Businesses looking for team building activities
• Competitive Orienteers addicted to the challenge

Who Goes Orienteering?

The Course

The orienteering course consists of a start, a series of control markers, and a finish. A participant is given a map, a control card, and a clue sheet. The control card is used to note the start and finish time, and to verify that the orienteer has visited each of the control markers on the course. The map is used to mark the start and finish locations, as well as the locations of each of the control markers.

Where are Orienteering Events Held?

• Forests
• State and Regional Parks
• City Parks
• Suburban neighborhoods
• School / University campuses

What am I looking for?

• Orange and white “Control”
• Clue-sheet (words or

symbols) tells you exactly where the control is and the control number

• Number on the control

confirms you are at the right

• ne
• Use the punch on the punch

card to prove you visited the site

Successful Orienteering

Success in orienteering requires a number of different skills. The winner of the competition is the participant who completes the course in the shortest time, so running ability is beneficial. The orienteer must be able to read the map, select an appropriate route from one control point to the next and successfully follow that route.

Successful Orienteering

Map reading and analysis skills are by far the most crucial. A successful orienteer will develop the ability to observe the terrain around them, look at the map and identify where they are. They will develop the ability to determine the quickest route between points, as well as the navigational skills to traverse that route.

The Course

The clue sheet has clues describing the placement of each of the control markers - the type of geographical features at which the marker has been placed - and a “control code” which identifies the marker.

Sample Clue Sheet

What is a clue-sheet for?

• Tells you exactly where inside the circle the control is
• Two versions with the same information:

Words (beginners and intermediate) Symbols (advanced)

Distance and climb Order of control Distance and climb Control location inside the Circle on the map

What does the punch card look like?

Name: ______________ Course: _____________ Class: ______________ License: ____________ Finish: ______:______ Start: ______:______ Time : Name: ___________ Course: __________ Class: ___________ License: _________ Finish: _____:_____ Start: _____:_____ Time :

Note: Some courses now use electronic methods for verifying controls, time, etc.

Example Course

The Start is at the center of the triangle. Controls are located at the center

• f each circle.

You complete controls in order. The Finish is at the center of the double circle.

How do Orienteering Maps Differ From USGS Maps?

Grid/references Survey method Update period Accuracy USGS

• 3D representation of

terrain for general purposes

• 1:24,000+
• Depends on terrain
• True or Grid North
• Coordinates, altitude

shown

• Primarily aerial

photography

• 10-50 years
• Often very inaccurate

Orienteering

• 3D representation of

terrain for fine land navigation

• 1:5,000-1:15,000
• Typically 5m
• Magnetic North (no

declination required!)

• None
• Aerial base map,

extensive land survey

• 1-5 years
• Highly accurate

Purpose Scale Contour interval Orientation

Orienteering Map Legend

• Man-made features

primarily black

• Rock features black
• Contour features brown
• Open areas yellow
• Forest white, thicker

vegetation green

• Water blue
• Courses and restricted

areas purple

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

• Orient the map using a compass
• Visualize the terrain from the map
• Recognize where you are on the map from the terrain
• Plan your route and check off features
• Taking a bearing (more advanced)
• Aiming off (more advanced)
• Attack point (more advanced)
• Traffic lights (more advanced)
• Pace counting (more advanced)

• An important strategy for successful orienteering is to orient your map.
• This means that north on the map is kept physically turned towards north

in the real world.

• Using your compass, rotate the map so north on the map is turned to north
• n your compass.
• By keeping your map oriented, you will reduce the tendency to become

disoriented yourself. ❖ Tip: Try to keep the map oriented all the time (need to turn the map as you change direction) ❖ Tip: Fold the map over so only the portion of the map you are interested in is visible

Orient your Map

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Skill: Visualize Terrain From the Map

Skill: Visualize Terrain From the Map

Skill: Recognize where you are on the map from the terrain

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Use linear features as “handrails”. A handrail is any linear feature - like a trail, power line, stream, fence, or vegetation boundary - that you can “hang onto”

• r follow. As you plan your route, look for things you can follow.

Handrails

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

At the beginning these handrails will probably be trails or roads that are very easy to follow. As you begin doing intermediate level courses, start looking for streams, ridges or vegetation boundaries.

Handrails

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Following a handrail may make your route slightly longer, but the advantage is that you are much less likely to become disoriented

• r lost.

Handrails

Some Advanced Techniques

Aiming Off – if taking a bearing to a line feature, ‘aim off’ to one side or the

• ther so once you hit the line feature you know whether to turn left or right

to find the point feature Plan your route in reverse – identify an easily recognizable attack point to hit that you can use to ‘attack’ the harder to find control feature Traffic-light approach – Go fast (green) when looking for large, easy to identify features (a major trail junction – Go steady (yellow) when looking for smaller, harder to identify features – Go slow (red) when looking for small, easily missed features Pace counting – when the terrain is vague and you want to ensure you don’t go too far/stop too early

Advanced Techniques: Taking a Bearing

• 1. Lay compass on the map
• 2. Line up the base-plate with direction you want to go in
• 3. Turn the dial so the North marking on the dial is aligned

with the North markings on the map

• 4. Turn the compass so that the North needle is pointing

in the same direction as the North marking on the dial. The direction on the base-plate is the direction of travel

• Tip: You only need to take bearings when there are no

reliable mapped features to navigate by. Don’t overuse!

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Often, on advanced courses, there are no true linear features to follow. In these instance, look for a series of features that more or less make a like in the direction you wish to travel. Break the route into several smaller

• nes.

Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Start at a dry stream Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Pass a clearing Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Follow the trail until it bends left Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Pass a clearing Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Pass a cluster of boulders Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Pass another clearing Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Follow the ridge past another boulder Break it Up

Orienteering Skills / Strategies

Follow it until you find the control marker Break it Up

What are the Different Colors of Courses?

• White – beginners courses, follow trails and other

linear features. Good for first timers and kids age ~9-

• 12. 1.5 – 3.0km
• Yellow – controls in less obvious locations, more off-trail.

A great next step after successfully trying white course. 2-4km

• Orange – Intermediate controls that require cross-country
• travel. Can be quite challenging, physically and mentally.
• Brown, Green, Red, Blue – Advanced courses with the

most demanding navigational requirements. NOT RECOMMENDED until some success with orange. Different lengths from Brown up to Blue (longest)

What should I wear?

Beginner (white/yellow)

• Sun hat
• Layered top
• Compass
• Long or short pants
• Sturdy shoes

What should I wear?

Intermediate/Advanced

• Lightweight nylon top
• Lightweight nylon pants
• Compass
• Gaitors
• Shoes with cleats or

short spikes

Does Orienteering Damage the Land?

• Orienteers go off trail, raising environmental concerns
• We care deeply about the parks we use
• Actual environmental impact is very low and short-lived

– Not using pristine wilderness areas – Work with park rangers to avoid sensitive areas – Courses visit different controls – dispersed impact – Affected areas recover within weeks at worst – Low impact confirmed by scientific studies

• Orienteering builds a tremendous love and respect for
• ur environment

What About Safety?

✓ ALWAYS REPORT TO THE FINISH whether you complete your course or not ✓ ALWAYS RETURN TO THE FINISH BEFORE THE ✓ COURSE CLOSING TIME whether you complete your course or not ✓ Carry a whistle ✓ Know your limits (physical and navigational) and stay within them ✓ Take precautions if allergic to poison oak, bee stings, etc.

Orienteering vs Land Nav

What’s the difference between a Compass Course, Orienteering, and Land Nav?

COMPASS

• Simplest
• Compass is Key
• Pace Count is Key
• Can be Small Area
• Urban Area not

Ideal ORIENTEERING

• Medium Skill
• Terrain Association is Key
• Speed Also Key
• Medium to Large Area
• Usually in Parks or

Wilderness, but can be in Urban Terrain

• Sport / Competition

LAND NAV

• Medium/Advanced Skills
• Map Reading Skills are Key
• Compass, Pace Count, and

Terrain Assn also Important

• Medium to Large Area
• Focused on

Wilderness/Parks

• Focus of Military Training

Check on Learning

• 1. While running an Orienteering course how is the

map oriented?

• 2. What technique is used when you follow a

fenceline, river, or other linear feature?

• 3. Who can participate in orienteering?
• 4. What is the orange/white target that you are

navigating to called?

DESIGNING AN ORIENTEERING COURSE FOR YOUR CACC UNIT

• B8. Find or design an orienteering course for your battalion.

Orienteering Clubs

• You may not need

to design your own course

• Check in your area

to see if there’s an Orienteering Club

• r established

courses you could use

• If not, don’t despair

– design your own!

Bay Area Orienteering Club (BAOC) http://baoc.org/wiki/Welcome Menlo Park, California 94025 Gold Country Orienteers (GCO) http://www.goldcountryorientee rs.org/ Lincoln, California 95648 Los Angeles Orienteering Club (LAOC) http://losangelesorienteering.org /drupal/ Manhattan Beach, California 90266 Nav-X Map Adventures (NAVX) http://www.navxchallenge.org/ Folsom, California 95630 San Diego Orienteering (SDO) http://www.sandiegoorienteerin g.org San Diego, California 92111-4020 TerraLoco (Supporting Member) (LOCO) http://terraloco.com Oakland, California 94612 Truckee Orienteering Club (Truckee) http://www.truckeeorienteering.

• rg

Truckee, California 96161

Orienteering Course

• Take a look at the slides in the Orienteering

presentation

• Determine a location. Local/County or State Park

nearby? Bivouac site?

• Get a map. Go on line!
• Plot key terrain features as your points
• Get the free program to develop Clue Sheets on

line

• Build your Control markers
• Design a scorecard that works for your course

Orienteering

• Write a simple OPLAN using CR 3-13
• Who – What – When – Where – Why

– Our Bn is running an Orienteering Course at X Park

• n (date) to practice map skills and have fun.
• Get school authorization
• Invite other students and teachers!
• Come up with rewards for winners (maybe a

local veterans organization could sponsor this)

GEOCAHING

• B9. Find the nearest geo-cashes to your school or bivouac.

What is Geocaching

• Geocaching

Overview: https://www.geoca ching.com/play

• Geocaching in

California: https://www.geoca ching.com/local/de fault.aspx?state_id =5

Geocaching

International Geocaching Logo Nicknames Caching, Treasure Hunting First played May 3, 2000 Clubs Yes Characteristics Team members Optional Type Outdoor Recreation Activity Equipment GPS receiver or GPS-enabled mobile device, writing implement

Overview

• Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity,

in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and

• ther navigational techniques to hide and

seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.

The Cache

• Small waterproof container

containing a logbook.

• The geocacher enters the date

they found it and signs it.

• The cache must be placed

back exactly where the person found it.

• Larger containers can also

contain items for trading, such as toys or trinkets, usually of more sentimental worth than financial.

Geocaching History

• It began shortly after the removal of

Selective Availability from the Global Positioning System on May 2, 2000.

– Improved accuracy of the system allowed for a small container to be located.

• The first documented placement of a

cache took place on May 3, 2000, by Dave Ulmer of Beavercreek, Oregon.

– Location: 45°17.460′N 122°24.800′W.

• According to Dave Ulmer's message,

this cache was a bucket that was partially buried and contained software, videos, books, food, money, and a slingshot.

• A geocache and plaque called the

Original Stash Tribute Plaque now sit at that site.

Swag

• Cashes hold "treasures", or “swag” are

– Not high in monetary value – Unusual coins or currency, small toys,

• rnamental buttons, CDs, or books.
• Geocachers may leave signature items, such

as personal Geocoins, pins, or craft items, to mark their presence at the cache location.

• Disposable cameras
• Some of the items are travelers and move

from cache to cache.

• Higher-value items are occasionally included

in geocaches as a reward for the First to Find

• r in locations which are harder to reach.
• If a geocache has been vandalized or stolen,

it is said to have been "muggled", a term borrowed from the Harry Potter series of books which was rising in popularity at the same time geocaching got its start.

Navigation Tools and Activities Summary

• B1. Using a Compass
• B2. Alternative Direction Finding Methods
• B3. Pace Count
• B4. Moving by Terrain Association
• B5. Global Positioning System GPS
• B6. Compass Course
• B7. Orienteering
• B6. How to Design an Orienteering Course for

your Unit

• B8. Geocaching