Orienteering Merit Badge Requirements: Updated requirements as of February 25, 2008 1. 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 counselor why you should be able to identify poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area. 2. Explain what orienteering is. 3. Do the following: a. Explain how a compass works. Describe the features of an orienteering compass. b. In the field, show how to take a compass bearing and follow it. 4. 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 a topographic map with magnetic north‐south lines. e. Show how to measure distances using an orienteering compass. f. Show how to orient a map using a compass. 5. Set up a 100‐meter pace course. Determine your walking and running pace for 100 meters. Tell why it is important to pace‐count. 6. Do the following: a. Identify 20 international control description symbols. Tell the meaning of each symbol. b. Show a control description sheet and explain the information provided. c. Explain the following terms and tell when you would use them: attack point, collecting feature, aiming off, contouring, reading ahead, handrail, relocation, rough versus fine orienteering. 7. Do the following: a. Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross‐country course. b. After each event, write a report with i. a copy of the master map and control description sheet , ii. a copy of the route you took on the course, iii. a discussion of how you could improve your time between control points, and iv. a list of your major weaknesses on this course . Describe what you could do to improve. 8. Do ONE of the following: a. Set up a cross‐country course of at least 2,000 meters long with at least five control markers. Prepare the master map and control description sheet. b. Set up a score‐orienteering course with 12 control points and a time limit of at least 60 minutes. Prepare the master map and control description sheet. 9. Act as an official during an orienteering even. This may be during the running of the course you set up for requirement 8. 10. Teach orienteering techniques to your patrol, troop or crew. Syllabus and Breakdown of Requirements‐ Prepared Summer 2010 MONDAY (2:00‐3:30 PM) Requirement 2 – INSTRUCTION and EVALUATION Explain what orienteering is. By definition, orienteering is a cross‐country race in which participants use a highly detailed map and a compass to navigate their way between checkpoints along an unfamiliar course. Requirement 3a – INSTRUCTION and EVALUATION Explain how a compass works. Describe the features of an orienteering compass. Earth is a giant magnet with two ends, a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole. The poles are areas where the lines of magnetic force come together and are the strongest. Even at distances of thousands of miles, the poles exert a pull on magnetized materials. The Chinese were probably the first to discover this between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago when they noticed that lodestone or magnetite, if allowed to swing freely, would always point in the north‐south direction. By carving a small pointer of this mineral and then floating it on a liquid, they invented the first compass. Compass Needle – The colored end of the needle always points to the magnetic north pole. Compass Housing – The compass housing, also called the bezel, can be turned in place secured to the baseplate. On the housing, letters indicate the cardinal directions. Degree numbers are also displayed on the housing indicating relative positions around the circle. Orienting Arrow – The orienting arrow is part of the housing, and turns with the housing. Along with the lines of the base, it enables one to set a bearing. Index – The index is the point on the baseplate at which the bearing is read. Magnifying Glass – The magnifying glass can be used to view material on the map, or to start a fire if needed for survival purposes. Direction of Travel Arrow – If a bearing is set and the compass properly aligned, the direction of travel arrow indicates the direction in which to proceed in order to follow the bearing. Map Scales – When a compass is used in conjunction with a map, the scales can help in measuring distances between points. Requirement 5 – INSTRUCTION and EVALUATION Set up a 100‐meter pace course. Determine your walking and running pace for 100 meters. Tell why it is important to pace‐count. Have the Scouts walk and run a distance of 100 meters while counting their steps. Two steps count as one stride. Counting strides determines pace and estimates distance traveled. Requirement 3b – INSTRUCTION and EVALUATION In the field, show how to take a compass bearing and follow it. Demonstrate and have the Scouts practice taking bearings and following them in a straight and uniform manner. This should be completed as part of a the first orienteering course for Requirement 7a. Requirement 7a – FIRST COURSE Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross‐country course. Assist the Scouts in running an orienteering course or game. Requirement 1 – INSTRUCTION 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 counselor why you should be able to identify poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area. Discuss these first aid procedures while completing the first orienteering course for Requirement 7a. Cuts and Scratches: (wounds marked by severance or abrasion of the skin) Treatment – Stop the bleeding with firm pressure as needed. Clean the area and bandage appropriately. Blisters: (a local swelling of the skin caused by irritation or a burn and contains watery fluid) Symptoms – Hot spots indicate the formation of blisters Treatment – Surround the hot spot or blister with a doughnut bandage cut from moleskin. Stack doughnut bandages as needed to keep the area from rubbing against the shoe. Snakebite: (the bite of a snake, but remember that not all snakes are poisonous) Treatment – Treat any snakebite as if it were that of a poisonous snake. Have the victim stop moving and keep the bitten area lower than the heart. If pain, nausea, and shortness of breath begin to occur along with swelling and discoloration, apply a constricting band. The band should be placed between the heart and the bite and should be tight enough that only one finger will slip under it easily. If swelling increases, the band should be loosened, but not removed. Treat the victim for shock and seek medical attention. A venom extractor could also be used if the snake is known to be poisonous. Insect Stings: (pierce‐wounds caused by insects) Treatment – Anti‐itch cream can be used. Sting sites should not be scratched to speed healing. Clothing that covers most of the body will prevent most stings. Insect repellant is another preventative measure. Be sure to remove the remaining stinger from the skin with the edge of a knife if the stinging insect was a bee or wasp. Tick Bites: (the bite and burrowing of ticks into one’s skin) Treatment – It is possible to remove a tick by gently pulling, but make sure to get all of it out. Using tweezers if they are available, pull the tick straight out of the skin and treat the resulting bite as a simple open wound. Sunburn: (a first‐degree burn caused by overexposure to the sun) Symptoms – Red and inflamed skin appearance Treatment – Keep the affected area covered and out of sunlight. Cooling the area with water or cooling gel could help. Prevention is key; use sun block. Heatstroke: (a severe and often fatal condition produced by exposure to excessively high temperatures, especially when accompanied by marked exertion) Symptoms – Lack of sweating, flushed and red face Treatment – Move the victim out of the sun immediately. Apply water that is preferably cool. The rescuer’s purpose is to lower the victim’s body temperature quickly without putting the victim into shock. Seek medical attention. Heat Exhaustion: (a condition resulting from physical exertion in hot weather, independent from hydration) Symptoms – Weakness, nausea, dizziness, clammy skin, profuse sweating, slurred speech Treatment – Get the victim to lie on his back in the shade. His head should be level with, or lower than, the feet. Cover the victim if he feels cold. If the patient doesn’t recover quickly, seek medical attention. Hypothermia: (a subnormal temperature of the body defined as being under 36.6°C or 97.88°F) Symptoms – Slurred speech, increased clumsiness, and uncontrollable shivering Treatment – Strip off wet clothing and dry the victim. If possible, give the victim warm drinks and put him in a sleeping bag or under a blanket. Get the victim out of the weather. The rescuer’s purpose is to increase the victim’s body temperature slowly and steadily. Dehydration: (excessive loss of water from the body) Symptoms – Dark yellow urine, tired feeling Treatment – Have the victim move slowly so as to limit exertion and cause no more sweating than necessary. Have him drink water if any is available. Keeping moisture in the body is the best way to avoid hot weather problems. Drink when thirsty; rationing water does not help. Being able to identify poisonous plants and animals increases one’s chances of avoiding such complications while in the field. Extra care should be taken in treating anyone affected by a poisonous species. Poisonous plants of North Central Wisconsin include poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and stinging/bull nettle. The first three of these plants can be identified by their leaves in groups of three, the red‐orange color on their stems and undersides of leaves, and their distinctive white berries. Stinging or bull nettle can be identified by its thin, egg‐shaped leaves and spines lining its stem. Poisonous, or rather venomous, animals of the United States include pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths/water moccasins), coral snakes, wasps, hornets, bees, fire ants, scorpions, black widow spiders, and brown recluse spiders. Scouts should learn these first aid skills for evaluation on Wednesday. Requirement 8a – INSTRUCTION Set up a cross‐country course of at least 2,000 meters long with at least five control markers. Prepare the master map and control description sheet. Inform the Scouts of the fact that they will need to work in small groups to plan, outline, and prepare an orienteering course of their own to be run by the rest of the Scouts in the merit badge on Thursday. TUESDAY (2:00‐3:30 PM) Requirement 4a – INSTRUCTION Explain how a topographic map shows terrain features. Point out and name five terrain features on a map and in the field. Topographic maps use colors as well as symbols to denote terrain features. Have the Scouts inspect and decipher a topographic map and its features. They should learn five for an examination on Wednesday. Requirement 4b – INSTRUCTION Point out and name 10 symbols on a topographic map. Have the Scouts inspect and decipher a topographic map and its symbols. They should learn ten for an examination on Wednesday. Requirement 4c – INSTRUCTION Explain the meaning of declination. Tell why you must consider declination when using map and compass together. The local angle of difference between true North and magnetic North is known as a region’s declination. Magnetic North is the center of the earth’s magnetic field, yet it wanders within its general area. When using a compass, it will indicate magnetic North. Thus, depending upon the location, a compass needle will point slightly east or west of true North by as much as 20 degrees. Only along a thin line between Lake Superior and Florida is there no declination. When transferring a bearing from the compass to the map, you need to alter the bearing to compensate for the declination. When moving from the map to the field, add the difference. When moving from the field to the map, subtract the difference. Luckily, the declination in North Central Wisconsin is zero degrees. Requirement 4d – INSTRUCTION Show a topographic map with magnetic north‐south lines. Because the declination of North Central Wisconsin is zero degrees, north‐south lines on topographic maps of the area serve as magnetic north‐south lines as well. Discuss how to draw magnetic north‐south lines on maps of areas where the declination is greater or less than zero. Have the Scouts draw the lines as if they were at one of those different locations. Requirement 4e – INSTRUCTION Show how to measure distances using an orienteering compass. Measure the desired distance using the scale edge of the compass. Convert the measure by comparing it to the scale on the map. To get the compass reading from one point to another lay the plastic plate alongside the line between the two points. Turn the compass housing until its north‐south lines lie parallel to those on the map. Requirement 4f – INSTRUCTION Show how to orient a map using a compass. Align the orienteering arrow with the direction of travel arrow. Lay the compass on the map so that the north end of the needle aligns with the north‐south lines on the map in the proper direction. Finally, turn the compass and map as a unit so that the north end of the needle lays along the orienting arrow. Requirement 6c – INSTRUCTION Explain the following terms and tell when you would use them: attack point, collecting feature, aiming off, contouring, reading ahead, handrail, relocation, rough versus fine orienteering. An attack point is a large, easily recognized feature that is near the control. From an attack point, one can use precise navigation, such as an accurate bearing and pace counting, to carefully arrive at the control. Collecting features are obvious landmarks that lie between one and the control. They are indicated on the map and easily noted in the field to indicate that one is on the correct path. Aiming off, known as employing the offset technique, if the act of deliberately aiming to one side of a control so that when the area is reached, one knows to which side of him the control lies. If a control is on a linear feature, such as a road or stream, it can be more efficient and safer to aim off to one side of the straight line that leads to the feature. If one arrives at the linear feature and does not see the control, he will at least know which way to turn to find it. Contouring is the act of traveling along a distance of land that is at the same elevation. This often involves traveling around hills and valleys, however the time saved usually assists more than it hinders the person on the path. Reading ahead involves thinking beyond one’s present location and planning for what is to come. The best times to read ahead are at the beginning of a course and after each control. Handrails are linear features along a leg of an orienteering course that lead one directly to controls. They provide easier travel, continuous direction, and a more accurate position. Relocation is the process one needs to go through when lost. One should stop and try to discover attack points and collecting features on the map and in the field so as to identify one’s exact location. The search for a control point in an orienteering course often can be divided into two distinct phases: the rough orienteering phase and the fine orienteering phase. In the rough phase one is moving in broadly defined direction toward a collection point found on the map. This is time for covering a lot of ground quickly. The control should not be close at hand during this phase so as to avoid missing it. Once the collection point is reached, fine orienteering begins. One should locate himself precisely on the map in relation to the control. Accuracy in reaching the control is the primary goal of this phase. Scouts should learn these techniques and practice them in their courses throughout the rest of the week in preparation for evaluation on Friday. Requirement 10 – INSTRUCTION Teach orienteering techniques to your patrol, troop, or crew. Have the Scouts complete this requirement in their campsites. Tuesday evening would work well because of the troop cooking time. They and their Scoutmasters can decide which techniques should be taught. REMINDERS: Scouts should remind their Scoutmasters to complete and sign the sheet stating the Scouts completed their instruction of orienteering skills as specified in Requirement 10. These should be brought to the counselor when completed. Scouts should also be reminded of their group courses which are to be planned and outlined by the beginning of the session on Thursday. WEDNESDAY (2:00‐3:30 PM) Requirement 1 – EVALUATION 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 counselor why you should be able to identify poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area. Evaluate the Scouts as a group on their knowledge of first aid procedures associated with each of the mentioned situations. Allow each Scout ample opportunity to participate. Requirement 4a – EVALUATION Explain how a topographic map shows terrain features. Point out and name five terrain features on a map and in the field. Evaluate the Scouts’ knowledge of at least five terrain features using individual evaluation sessions. Requirement 4b – EVALUATION Point out and name 10 symbols on a topographic map. Evaluate the Scouts’ knowledge of at least ten map symbols using individual evaluation sessions. Requirement 4d –EVALUATION Show a topographic map with magnetic north‐south lines. Requirement 6a – INSTRUCTION Identify 20 international control description symbols. Tell the meaning of each symbol. Show the Scouts important international control symbols and have them learn 20 of them for individual evaluation on Friday. Requirement 6b – INSTRUCTION Show a control description sheet and explain the information provided. Have Scouts examine and discuss the sample control sheet shown in the Orienteering merit badge pamphlet. Requirement 7a – SECOND COURSE Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross‐country course. Assist the Scouts in running an orienteering course or game. REMINDERS: Scouts should remind their Scoutmasters to complete and sign the sheet stating the Scouts completed their instruction of orienteering skills as specified in Requirement 10. These should be brought to the counselor when completed. Scouts should also be reminded of their group courses which are to be planned and outlined by the beginning of the session on Thursday. Remind Scouts who are eligible for induction into the Order of the Arrow that they will have the opportunity to complete Thursday’s requirements during free time on Friday. THURSDAY (2:00‐3:30 PM) Requirement 8a – WORK TIME Set up a cross‐country course of at least 2,000 meters long with at least five control markers. Prepare the master map and control description sheet. Have the Scouts finish their courses if they haven’t already done so. Not a lot of time can be spared, so hurry them along as needed to allow time to run as many courses as possible. Requirements 7a, 8a, and 9 – THIRD COURSE / INSTRUCTION and EVALUATION (7a) Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross‐country course. (8a) Set up a cross‐country course of at least 2,000 meters long with at least five control markers. Prepare the master map and control description sheet. (9) Act as an official during an orientation. This may be during the running of the course you set up for requirement 8. Have the Scouts run through one group’s course. The Scouts from the group that made the course should act as the officials for its running. Run as many groups’ courses as possible; they do not need to be run in their entirety. Requirement 7b – INSTRUCTION After each event, write a report with (1) a copy of the master map and control description sheet, (2) a copy of the route you took on the course, (3) a discussion of how you could improve your time between control points, and (4) a list of your major weaknesses on this course . Describe what you could do to improve. Have the Scouts write reports for the courses they ran throughout the week. They will need to be prepared to share their reports and discus their orienteering techniques for evaluation on Friday. Requirement 4c –EVALUATION Explain the meaning of declination. Tell why you must consider declination when using map and compass together. Requirement 4e –EVALUATION Show how to measure distances using an orienteering compass. Requirement 4f –EVALUATION Show how to orient a map using a compass. REMINDERS: Scouts should remind their Scoutmasters to complete and sign the sheet stating the Scouts completed their instruction of orienteering skills as specified in Requirement 10. These should be brought to the counselor when completed. FRIDAY (2:00‐3:30 PM) Requirements 7a, 8a, and 9 – THIRD COURSE / INSTRUCTION and EVALUATION (7a) Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross‐country course. (8a) Set up a cross‐country course of at least 2,000 meters long with at least five control markers. Prepare the master map and control description sheet (9) Act as an official during an orientation. This may be during the running of the course you set up for requirement 8. Finish any courses that were not run on Thursday. Have the Scouts run through one group’s course. The Scouts from the group that made the course should act as the officials for its running. Requirement 6c – EVALUATION Explain the following terms and tell when you would use them: attack point, collecting feature, aiming off, contouring, reading ahead, handrail, relocation, rough versus fine orienteering. Evaluate the Scouts as a group on their knowledge of the necessary terms and techniques. Requirement 6a – EVALUATION Identify 20 international control description symbols. Tell the meaning of each symbol. Evaluate the Scouts individually on their knowledge of 20 international control description symbols. Requirement 7b – EVALUATION After each event, write a report with (1) a copy of the master map and control description sheet, (2) a copy of the route you took on the course, (3) a discussion of how you could improve your time between control points, and (4) a list of your major weaknesses on this course . Describe what you could do to improve. Discuss the reports each Scout wrote and allow for comments on how to improve one’s orienteering skills. Requirement 3a –EVALUATION Explain how a compass works. Describe the features of an orienteering compass Requirement 6b –EVALUATION Show a control description sheet and explain the information provided. REMINDERS: Scouts should remind their Scoutmasters to complete and sign the sheet stating the Scouts completed their instruction of orienteering skills as specified in Requirement 10. These should be brought to the counselor when completed.