From: Rfisher (ghotier@TEXAS.NET)
Date: Sun Sep 03 2000 - 13:40:30 CDT
> I, for one, would like to hear some Orienteering advice (how to
> teach, games, hints, etc.).
I might be able to offer some assistance. I am in the process of
preparing to do the Map & Compass session of Scoutmaster FUNdamentals.
First of all, Orienteering is a game or competition involving using a map
and compass to complete a specified course. I would be very surprised if
there weren't several Orienteering clubs in the Columbia area. Check some of
the local outdoors shops or possibly the recreation department at the
university, they may have some information on clubs and upcoming meets. You
might be
able to find someone to volunteer to give some instruction. [Side bar - My
son's Venturing Crew has participated in a couple of meets at the beginner
levels, and have yet to complete a course. They got "lost"]
Second, two excellent resources on the subject are "Be Expert with Map &
Compass" by Bjorn Kjellstrom (ISBN 0-02-029265-1) and "Staying Found" by
June Fleming (ISBN 0-89886-397-X). They both are very thorough in teaching
how to navigate with a map and compass. The Kjellstrom book has a lot of
quizzes, examples and teaching aids in the book, plus teaching materials that can
be purchased as well. (A lot of the text in older BSA Handbooks and the
Fieldbook appears to be from this book). One resourse I'm sure you have used
already is the Orienteering merit badge book.
You might check with a local engineering firm, conservation department or
geology department at the university and see if they have any topo maps
you can have. I have a collection of about 50 that I got through a contact at
the
Texas Natural Resource and Conservation Commission that cover areas all over the
state of Texas. These are very useful in showing how the different symbols are
used; especially if you can get maps of areas the group may be familar with.
I also made a model of a hill from one of these maps by making enlarged
copies of the hill (lots of them) and glueing each contour line to a piece of
poster board or cardboard, then reassembling the mounted contour lines. That way
you can demonstrate how contour lines work in 3D. I used a hill that was
steep on one side and had a more gradual slope on the other. It also had a
stream
gully coming down the side so it was easy to see how the "U's" and "V's" work on
gullies and ridges.
The compass games used in SMF or available from BSA can be pretty good at
teaching route finding, and they don't require a whole lot of territory.
Hope this helps,
YiS
Roy Fisher
