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How to Teach Map & Compass Skills

Reading a map using a compass to orientate it to your surroundings is an essential skill for those who want to spend time or lead groups into wilderness areas. Topographical maps help you to get your bearings by highlighting geographical features that are located by the naked eye. Then the compass is used to determine exact physical location and to design a proper route to follow. Teaching someone to use a map and compass takes just a few hours, although she may need a lifetime to master the skill.

Things You'll Need

Topographical map
Quality transparent straightedge compass

Instructions

- 1
  Have your student locate your starting point and your desired destination point on the map. Show her how to read topographical features to locate landmarks.
- 2
  Have her place the compass on the map so that the edge is lined up along the line that connects the start and end points of your journey, with the direction arrows pointing to the end point.
- 3
  Turn the rotating round head of the compass so that the north-south arrows on the compass are lined up with the north-south lines on the map.
- 4
  Put the compass in her hand. Have her stand in front of you, keeping a steady horizontal position and making sure that the direction arrows are pointing forward and away from you.
- 5
  Turn her body until the north-south arrow on the bottom of the compass lines up with the magnetic north-south needle.
- 6
  Make her locate a landmark that lies in the line of direction. A tree, mountaintop or any other prominent natural feature will do.
- 7
  Proceed to the landmark and have her re-read the map and compass, proceeding again and again to subsequent landmarks until you reach your destination.

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