BITA: Orienteering and Navigation Land Navigation What is navigation? How will we navigate? What will we use to navigate? What kind of compasses? How do they work? What kind of maps will we use? What other ways can we navigate? What does GPS stand for? What is it used for? How did people navigate before compasses and maps? What is an astrolab? How was it used? Who used it? Orienteering What is orienteering? How to read a map How to use a compass Finding your way with map and compass Identify the 5 major terrain features on a topographical map What is an azimuth? a bearing? What is a "back azimuth?" What is a course? or course heading? Course plotting and strategies Can you always follow the course heading to your destination? How do you go around swamps or lakes? Can you avoid hard climbs uphill? or stream crossings? Orienteering Meet Practice your navigation skills on real orienteering courses designed by the Minnesota Orienteering Club Kayak Navigation How is it different than land navigation? What is a "pilot"? What is a chart? What is a tide? How do they affect navigation? What is a seiche? What is a tsunami? What is a current? How does it affect navigation? What are light houses used for? What is a fog horn? What are navigation beacons? What is a channel marker? What is a nun? What is a bell bouy? What does LORAN stand for? What is it used for? What is GPS? What is it used for? What is a chronograph? What was it used for? What is a sextant? What is it used for? Land Navigation Exercises Identify the major and minor terrain features on a topographical map Plot a course using a map, compass, protractor and ruler. Find and plot your starting position on a map (given latitude and longitude) Plot your route on a map (given your other destinations) Measure distances of each leg on your route Calculate total distance (straight line AND probable course) Predict your finishing time (given average speed) Find the highest point on your route Calculate the elevation of each point on your route Calculate the total elevation climbed on your route Use resection to find your position on a map Given azimuths to 3 prominent features: Find each feature Convert each azimuth to a "back azimuth" Plot each "back azimuth" Find your position Confirm your position Calculate the distance to each point Calculate the elevation of each point [ Home | Who We Are | Schedule | BITA-Bits | Study Guide | Book List | The Expedition | Thank You! ]