Teaching Map and Compass Skills
Attached File 01 below contains the main information packet for this Roundtable, and is supported by Files 02 and 03. File 04 shows an alternate way of introducing the concepts of map and compass, also supported by Files 02 and 03. Yet another approach to putting map and compass together is shown in File 04a.
Try these games/exercises to teach and improve compass skills.
Attached below are two map and compass quizzes in PDF (Files 05 and 06) based on United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps. WORD versions of the quizzes are available on request. You can obtain these quadrants and use the quizzes provided, or portions thereof, or obtain different quadrants and make up similar questions. These quizzes will test a range of map and compass skills:
- Lambertville Quadrangle (Pennsylvania-New Jersey), 7.5-minute Series (Topographic)
- Newfoundland Quadrangle (New Jersey), 7.5-minute Series (Topographic)
Want to obtain USGS topographic maps? Click HERE to go to the USGS topographic maps store. Take some time to troll through the site to find the various offerings.
Want to put those map and compass skills to practical use to help consolidate the skills in your Scouts' minds? Try "orienteering." Visit the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association web site at DVOA.org for basic information about the sport, list of events, list of permanent courses available (including the excellent one at Quail Hill Scout Reservation, Manalapan, NJ) recommended by DVOA, and other information of note. Orienteering is a great way to get Scouts interested in a skill set that can be confusing and boring.
Holmdel Park in Monmouth County has a nice contained and easy permanent course. Find information about Holmdel Park HERE. Go HERE to find out how to purchase a map.
There is another permanent orienteering course in Monmouth County, established as an Eagle service project in Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold Township, NJ. Find general information about Turkey Swamp Park HERE and HERE, and information about the course HERE and HERE (map). Notice that "North" on this map is geographic north (uh-oh). Magnetic declination is approximately 12 degrees West.
Bob and Ray's entire four-part video series on map and compass:
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Click HERE for the general introduction to the series
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Click HERE for Part 1: The Basis of the Basics of Map and Compass
- Click HERE for Part 2: The Basics of the Compass
- Click HERE for Part 3: The Basics of Maps
- Click HERE (link fixed) for Part 4: Putting It All Together - Combining Map and Compass As Aids to Navigation