Field Activity #12: Traditional Navigation Activity

Introduction

The purpose of this activity was to teach students how to navigate to different objectives using only a compass and a map.  This was done at the priory in Eau Claire, see study area below, and the goal was to navigate to 5 different points located in the woods.  The coordinates of the points were given before the activity started and by using the map and compass the objectives were marked on the map.  Using the points on the map and the compass the points were found in the woods using a very careful process.  The class was split into groups of 3, one controlling the compass, one counting using their pace, and one used as a marker to keep on the correct line.  

Study Area

Figure 1: This is a screen screen of the priory.  As you can see it is a very
'woodsy' area making the navigation at times somewhat difficult

The priory is owned by the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire and has 112 acres of mostly wooded areas of land.  It is used for outdoor activities for students to learn and is also home to a children's center where students volunteer or work for educational experiences.

Methods

Learning how to use a compass to navigate on a map was done previously in the semester, and can be seen here for a recap.  Before we got started a geography student Zach Hilgendorf gave us a recap of how to use the compass when navigating.  The first step of the process was to map out the 5 points given to us by our professor.  The course was divided into 3 courses and each team was to navigate one course or 5 points.  Each x and y coordinates were given and by using the map created in field activity 5, the points were plotted (figure 2 below).

Figure 2: This is an image of our map used when navigating the course.
It is very hard to see but when looking close enough the black line can be
seen going from one dot to the next.  This represents the straight line
distance from one point to the other.  

After plotting each point the next step is to start navigating.  Each member of the group was given a job when navigating.  I had the job of using the compass to find the azimuth and straight line of where we should be going.  Andrew had the job of counting the pace between each point.  This job is very difficult because when counting your pass going up and down and over sticks in the woods it can be easy to lose track or count too high.  However, Andrew did an excellent job of navigating through the woods while keeping his pace.  Drew had the task of walking ahead of me and standing at a point of reference.  This step is very important when counting pace and navigating.  In the woods there is not a lot of room to see, therefore Drew would run up to a tree or a specific land mark where my compass was pointing too.  From there I would run walk towards him keeping my compass pointing in the right direction until I reached him.  Andrew would also use this as a tool when counting pace he would walk from me to Drew and just add the paces us at the end.  When I reached Drew we would start the process over ago from landmark to landmark until we reached the 5 points desired.  

Part of my job was to use the compass on the map and find the azimuth of where we were going next.  For example from points 1 to 2, I would place the compass facing 1 to 2 and line up with the north arrow.  From here the I would rotate the compass so it is directly facing north.  To do this you can align the compass with the grid on the map.  After it is facing north the azimuth is now found.  Then by keeping 'red in the shed' see figure 3 below, when walking the point can be found.  This is where Drew would come in handy, by keeping red in the shed I could walk towards Drew and keep a straight line.  I also could tell Drew where to stand by looking at where the arrow was pointing.  This step was done for all the points until they were reached and the marking was selecting at each point.  

Figure 3: when walking to the the desired point it is
important to keep 'red in the shed' seen above the red
arrow in the compass and also the red arrow on the compass,
when those two are lined up it is called 'red in the shed'

Figure 4: This is a photo of me, blue hat, figuring out the azimuth for the next point.
Finding the azimuth in the woods is difficult because it is hard to find a flat surface.
Andrew in the green shirt, is doing the math of his counted pace step.   

Figure 5: This is a photo of point 2, one of our objectives.
Navigating to this point was very difficult because it was
located in a deep ravine, climbing in an out while keep a
straight line or keeping pace was challenging.

Figure 6: This is an image of Andrew, green shirt, walking and counting pace
and Drew, blue shirt, standing at a tree for an landmark.  It is difficult to see Drew,
but by looking way in the distance you can see the color blue, or Drew. 

Discussion/Conclusion

Our group worked really well together by keeping the same job through out.  We found each point in a timely fashion and our navigation skills greatly improved. The most difficult thing about navigating was the terrain.  Walking through the thick woods with fallen over trees and branches in your way it became very difficult to walk in a straight line.  Also the elevation changes really wore our group down, if we were too do a longer activity it would have became more difficult.  The next activity will involve us using a GPS to navigate, this will be much easier but it will be nice to be familiar with the area.