SYLLABUS
Recreation 230: Introduction to Land Navigation
Instructor:
Clayton Sheehan
[email protected]
618.638.3682/618.453.1122 *220
Pulliam 217B/Touch of Nature Admin Office
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course offers participants the knowledge and skills to become more confident navigating in the out-of-doors using only a map
and compass. As we continue to rely more and more on technology, it is imperative that we take a step back and learn basic outdoor
skills like using a compass, reading a map, and putting the two together to navigate. Students will gain become proficient in these
areas by learning a skill, practicing it, and finally perfecting it.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
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Label all of the parts of a compass and know what they are used for
Shoot an azimuth
Find reverse azimuths
Orient a map
Know the colors of a map and what they represent
Read and understand contour lines
Use terrain association for finding location
Understand information found on a map (legend)
Understand declination
Properly demonstrate how to get an azimuth from the map to shoot with a compass
Demonstrate proper reverse triangulation
Create a route with waypoints on a map
CLASS PROCEDURES
Class Structure
This class is designed to be interactive and experiential. It is important that students attend each of the three meeting times. The
two Wednesday meetings will primarily be lecture based, but will still be very hands-on. Please come to these meetings prepared to
spend time inside and outside. The Saturday that we meet will be completely field based. Please dress appropriately to be
comfortable and safe in the out-of-doors for the duration of the day. Ensure that you have plenty of snacks, lunch, water, durable
footwear (no flip flops). Depending on the weather, please bring warm clothes and some type of water proof shell.
Class Policy
The following policies will be utilized in this course to ensure a positive and conducive learning environment:
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Please no cell phone use (breaks and emergencies are fine)
Late work will not be accepted
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated
Respect everyone
No alcohol, drugs, or class during class
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Participation: (40%) The biggest portion of your grade will come from participation. This includes taking part in discussion during
lectures, being a productive member of the team, and being on time/ready to participate.
Skills Demonstration: (30%) As mentioned, this class is almost entirely interactive and experimental. The instructors are teaching a
tangible skill that, by the end of this class, everyone should be able to properly demonstrate. During the field day, using a checklist,
instructors will evaluate student’s proficiency in the skills that have been taught throughout the course.
Written Exam: (10%) At the end of the course students will take a short fill in the blank/short answer quiz pertaining to the land
navigation material that has been covered in the course.
Reflective Paper: (20%) The final part of the grade will come from writing a short reflective paper about your experience in this class.
The paper can cover a variety of aspects, such as: what you learned about yourself in this class, what you know now that you didn’t
know before, how the outdoors plays a role in your life, what role would you like the outdoors to play in your life, etc. The reflective
paper should be two-three pages, double spaced, have one inch margins, and be typed in 12 point Times New Roman font. Please
email to Clayton by midnight of October 14th. [email protected]
COURSE OUTLINE- SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE UPON AS INSTRUCTOR SEES FIT FOR STUDENTS/CURRICULUM
Wednesday, Sept. 17th: Meet at Touch of Nature
5:00pm-6:00pm: Welcome!!
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Welcome circle
Introductions/why are you here/goal
Icebreakers
Syllabus
Waivers
6:00pm-6:15pm: Modern Day Navigation-How did you get here?
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GPS (handheld/car)
Cell Phone
Mapquest/Google Maps
Atlas…does anyone still use these?
6:15pm-7:00pm: Parts of a compass/what they are used for
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Baseplate
Scale
Direction-of-Travel Arrow
Magnifier
Index Pointer
Dial
Declination Marks
Orienteering Arrow
Orienteering Lines
Housing
Magnetic Needle
Bubble
Mirror
7:00pm-8:30pm: Compass Basics
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Holding a compass
How the magnetic arrow works
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Things that can interfere with reading
Difference between the North’s-true, grid, and magnetic
Cardinal directions…and then some
Degrees-what are they used for?
Azimuth
o What is it?
o What is it used for?
o How to shoot one?
o How to take one?
Practical azimuth exercise outside
o Reverse azimuths
8:30pm-8:45pm: Wrap up/What’s to come
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Questions about what we covered
What to expect next class
o Compass review
o Map reading
o Land navigation exercise
Questions??
Wednesday, Sept. 24th: Meet at Touch of Nature
5:00pm-5:30pm: Welcome!!
 Welcome circle
 Icebreaker/name review
5:30pm-6:00pm: Compass Review
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Parts of the compass/what they do
Shooting azimuths
6:00pm-6:45pm: Types of Maps/Map Data
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Road atlas
Political
Physical
Topographic
Map name
Date
Legend
Adjoining Quadrangles
Scale
Latitude/Longitude
UTM
Declination Diagram
6:45pm-7:00pm: Colors found on a map
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Green
White
Blue
Black
Red
Brown
Purple
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7:00pm-7:45pm: Contour lines
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Hill
Valley
Ridge
Spur
Draw
Cliff
Saddle
Have participants find these terrain features on their maps
Explain contour intervals and how to read them
Talk about the steepness or flatness of terrain based on contour lines
7:45pm-8:30pm: Route planning
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Pace count
Getting distance from the map
Plotting a route
o Know where you are
o Know where you want to go
o Know how far it is
Shortest route vs. easiest route
Getting azimuths from the map
Transferring them to the compass
8:30pm-8:45pm: Review/Wrap up
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Questions about what we covered?
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What to expect next
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Meet at 10:00am at Touch of Nature
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Water bottles or camelback
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Snacks and Lunch
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Durable footwear
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Appropriate clothing (rain gear, warm clothes, long pants)
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Compass/Map
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Whistle
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Pencil/Paper
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Bug Spray/Sunscreen
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GOOD ATTITUDE
Questions??
Saturday, Sept. 27th: Touch of Nature
10:00am-10:15am: Welcome!!
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Welcome circle
Icebreaker/name review
10:15am-10:45: Review
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Contour Lines
Colors of a map
Azimuths (map to compass/compass to map)
Route Planning
10:45am-11:45am: UTM
 Finding UTM coordinates
 Plotting UTM coordinates
 Practical Exercise
11:45am-12:15pm
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Lunch
12:15pm-1:45pm
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Skills Checklist
1:45pm-3:15pm
 Land Navigation Course
3:15pm-4:00pm
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Evaluations
Closing circle
o Were goals met
o Highs/lows
o Promote other classes
o Big thanks!!
Reflective Paper DUE to Clayton by midnight of October 14th via email to [email protected]!
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