Flower – Do all starred.

Triangle – Do 7 requirements including starred.

Circle – Do 9 requirements including starred.

Rectangle – Do all requirements including starred.

1. *What is a compass? What is a compass used for?

Do the following:

1. Explain how a compass works.
2. Describe the features of an orienteering compass.

c. Learn the name of two kinds of compasses and what they are used for.

2. *Find out what the following words have to do with a compass: base plate, scales, ruler, magnifier, dial, declination marks, compass housing, magnetized needle, rotating bezel, orienting arrow, direction-of-travel arrow, index pointer, and orienting lines.

3. *What are the four cardinal points on a compass? Why are they considered cardinal points? What is an intercardinal point? Can you name four of them?

4. *Get some energy out and start thinking about the directions of a compass. Put signs around your space with “N”, “E”, “S”, and “W”. To make it more advanced you can add in “NE”, “SE”, “SW”, and “NW”.

Directions: Read the following story and during the story, when directions are read out, have the girls run to the direction point of the compass. When “world” is read out, the girls come back to the middle. Allow time for the girls to get there safely before moving on.

THE WEDDING

A big important wedding is being held this year. The daughter of King NORTH is being married to the son of King SOUTH. It is going to be a very grand affair with guests from all parts of the WORLD.

From the land of the rising sun, the Emperor of the EAST and his wife, the Empress, and from the other side of the WORLD, King and Queen WEST with the little Prince NORTHEAST and the Princess SOUTHWEST. The bridegroom, son of King SOUTH, has invited his cousin SOUTHEAST to be the best man. The bride, daughter of King NORTH, has asked her best friend, NORTHEAST, who is also a cousin of SOUTHEAST, to be Maid of Honor.

The Queen of the NORTH was very busy trying to find places for the visitors from all over the WORLD to stay. The Emperor EAST and his wife the Empress EAST had brought so many servants to wait on them, that the little town was beginning to be very overcrowded. To add to the confusion, King and Queen WEST had brought so much luggage that it took 3 wagons to haul it to the NORTH palace. Queen NORTH looked quite worried; where in the WORLD was she to put it all?

In the last wagon, Prince NORTHWEST and Princess SOUTHWEST had put all their pets which they couldn't bear to leave behind. They had four SOUTHWEST cats, four big dogs (which came from the other side of the WORLD), and a cow and a goat from the EAST. The cousins SOUTHEAST and NORTHEAST thought they were very odd things to bring halfway across the WORLD to a wedding.

At last the great day dawned, beautiful and sunny. The procession started to go to the NORTH Cathedral from NORTH Palace, and people from all over the WORLD cheered. After the ceremony in NORTH Cathedral, the procession returned to the NORTH Palace for the wedding breakfast. First came King NORTH, with Queen SOUTH on his arm. Next came King SOUTH with Queen NORTH. Following then came King and Queen WEST, with Prince NORTHWEST and Princess SOUTHWEST. Looking very grand in their silk robes were the Emperor of the EAST and the Empress of the EAST. The guests from this part of the WORLD came next. Cousins SOUTHEAST and NORTHEAST then appeared. Then came the moment the whole WORLD had been waiting for. The beautiful bride, daughter of king NORTH, and the handsome bridegroom, son of King SOUTH, were standing in the doorway. Guests from all over the WORLD threw confetti and rice as they ran down the steps to the famous NORTH glass coach.

After the wedding breakfast at NORTH Palace, the bride and groom left on their honeymoon around the WORLD. Prince NORTHWEST had tied an old boot on the back of the car, and Princess SOUTHWEST had printed "Just Married" on the front. The whole WORLD laughed and cheered and waved good-bye and good luck, along with Prince NORTHWEST, Princess SOUTHWEST, Cousins NORTHEAST and SOUTHEAST, Emperor and Empress EAST, King and Queen SOUTH, and finally King and Queen NORTH. 

5. Show that you know first aid for the types of injuries that could occur while orienteering, including cuts, scratches, blisters, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, heat and cold reactions (sunburn, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia), and dehydration. Explain to your leader why you should be able to identify poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area.

6. You will want to use a compass to be able to get to where you are trying to go. This is done by holding a compass out in front of you and lying it completely flat. That way, you will be able to have the direction of the arrow pointing in your desired direction of travel and rotate the housing dial in order to have the arrow match the direction of the north pointing needle.

Do the following:

a. In the field, show how to take a compass bearing and follow it.

7. Orienteering is about more than just navigating to a single point quickly. You also have to pick sensible routes between different markers. Girls need to understand the different symbols on the orienteering map – some will represent barriers and areas that are difficult to move through. Effective orienteering requires you to choose the best route depending on the terrain; the map shows you what the terrain will be like so you can plan ahead.

Do the following:

a. Explain how a topographic map shows terrain features. Point out and name five terrain features on a map and in the field.

b. Point out and name 10 symbols on a topographic map.

c. Explain the meaning of declination. Tell why you must consider declination when using map and compass together.

d. Show how to measure distances on a map using an orienteering compass.

e. Show how to orient a map using a compass.

f. Set up a 100-meter pace course. Determine your walking and running pace for 100 meters. Tell why it is important to pace- count.

8. Traditional orienteering markers are red and white to make them highly visible. They also have a number to identify them and some form of clue or instruction.

Do the following:

1. Draw a topographical map of your house and property.
2. Include everything that is outside like bushes, trees, driveway, animal pens, etc. in your drawing.
3. Make sure to place map symbols at each thing.
4. Make 5 orienteering markers to place on your property.
5. Measure off a course for your friends to follow.
6. When you are done and have all of the markers placed and instructions written out, give it to your leader.

9. *Play the Starburst game. Place 15 markers at landmarks around the boundary of a playing field or similar area. You also need a map of the area with all the landmarks shown. Make enough copies for everyone (plus some spare) but on each map show the location of only one of your markers. Starting from the center of the area, give each girl a map and send them to find the ‘answer’ on their marker. When they have the answer they return to you – a correct answer means they get a Starburst and a new map. The girls run back and forth in a star pattern finding all of the markers.

10. We know you and your girls want to camp and be outdoors. That’s what this is all about, but we need to keep in mind the level of exploration in everyone is different. For the younger girls the feeling of being lost is something that may be very stressful. If stressed too much, she may never learn to love the backcountry. Some girls are perfectly capable of coping with the feeling of being lost, for others coping with this feeling may take a very long time, but once achieved it is a considerable survival skill that may help save somebody's life someday. As a leader, you need to be aware of this situation, and be very cautious until you know the girls you are leading. It is of great importance that any exercises in the woods are planned with this in mind.

Flowers and Triangles must complete 2 of the starred activities, which equal one starred activity.

*THE STRING COURSE

The string course is a short orienteering course which is marked by a continuous ribbon or yarn. The map below shows a sample string orienteering map with the course marked. The map is usually simple and includes just the area around the course. Children may color it in with the appropriate map colors.

From the start, a continuous length of ribbon or yarn, called the string, leads you along the course. The route that the string takes is shown on the map. When you reach the places circled on the map (called “controls”), you will find an orange and white nylon marker (called a “control marker”). At each control there will either be a marking device or a bag of stickers, for marking the appropriate box on the map. Eventually the string leads back to the finish, usually the same place as the start. A child needs only to follow the string around to find all the points and will not get lost. For the youngest, this is sufficient and gives the child exercise, fun and some exposure to maps, as well as confidence in being alone in the woods. Even at this simplest level, however, children can be taught map symbols, map colors, and simple orienteering skills.

For children ready for more challenge, the locations of the controls can be left off the map. The child must figure out where the controls should be on the map. Alternatively, some controls can be placed off the string inside the loop formed by the string. Many variations are possible.

The String Course is taken from Orienteering USA. It is meant to be used as a guide in setting up your own beginners course for your girls. If you would like more information and challenging orienteering courses please go to https://orienteeringusa.org/youth-leaders/youth-programs.

*COMPASSBALL

For this activity, you'll need a basketball, a court on which to play, and a way to mark spots on the court (e.g. cones, sidewalk chalk). You'll need to mark 8 spots on the court -- one for each of the cardinal and intercardinal directions -- with North underneath the basket and South at the middle point of the 3-point-line's arc. Make sure you don't label which point is which, since the goal of the activity for the kids to determine that. Before you get started, split the group into two teams. The teams will alternate turns shooting the ball until all team members have gone the agreed upon number of times (you'll want to scale the number of turns the size of your group, and the amount of time you have available.)

Here's how you play: at the beginning of each turn, you will call one of the 8 cardinal or intercardinal directions. The team member whose turn it is must immediately go to the corresponding point and take a shot. If a team member goes to the incorrect point, they may not shoot. If the team member goes to the correct point, they will be awarded 2 points, and will be allowed to shoot. If the team member makes a basket, they will be awarded 1 additional point.

*THE TRAIL SWAP GAME

This game lets your kids create their own navigation courses, then execute the courses their peers have created. You'll need 2 place markers small enough not to be seen from a distance, colored golf tees are great, as well as a compass, pen, and paper for each team.

Divide the group into teams of 3, then spread the teams out. Have each team put down one of its markers at the start of their course, then create a 5-part set of instructions which they will follow, and place the second marker where the directions lead.

Have the teams swap instructions and follow each others' course. The game is over when all teams have completed all courses.

What’s one thing you learned during these activities that you can use in your regular life?

11. Make your own working compass.

12. *Have some fun. See if Fox knows how to set up and orienteering map!

Do the following:

1. Follow Foxes instructions to win the race.
2. Color Foxes map with the appropriate marking symbols.