WORKSHOPS > NAVIGATING in NATURE: MAP, COMPASS & NATIVE SKILLS

Are you among the many that own a GPS unit, but would be utterly lost if the batteries died while on an outing in the woods? This 2-day hands-on workshop will leave you confident in your map reading and navigation skills. We will begin by learning about and practicing “aidless navigation” skills used by indigenous people. Then we´ll move on to more modern skills and teach you how to correctly read and interpret a topographic map. Next we´ll cover navigating from map to compass, compass to map, and tricks for finding yourself if you've got that lost feeling. After many examples and exercises in the classroom and an outdoor “controlled” setting, we'll head out to the woods so you can give your new skills a try in a real, but safe setting. For the culmination of the class, you'll navigate your way through an orienteering course as part of a group so you can put all your new skills to the test. Don´t worry, we´ll come find you if you get off track! Provide your own compass or borrow one of ours. Your compass does not have to be high-tech, but it must have a clear baseplate, rotating dial, and a declination adjustment.

Dates Offered: 7/1 - 7/2, 8/11 - 8/12, 9/20 - 9/21
Limit: 12
Minimum Age: 16
Location: Meet at Finlandia University Portage Campus, 200 Michigan St., Hancock, MI
Time: 9:00 to 5:00 both days
Activity Level: Must be able to hike in rough terrain off trail for short periods of time
Instructors: Greg Wright
Cost: $110
Materials Fee: $30 (book and handouts)