Thank you to all who participated in our Map & Compass Workshop taught by Paul Brookes. It was a beautiful day to learn orienteering skills at the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) Center at Helfand Farm. This workshop was funded through an educational grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Thank you to Stop & Shop Dartmouth for providing refreshments for the participants.
Map & Compass – Workshop #4
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance (SCBA) is recruiting participants for a Map & Compass Workshop, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Recreational Trail Building Grant program. The free workshop, held on Saturday, December 29, 2018, from 9-4, will be taught by Paul Brookes.
Paul Brookes has been a hike leader for the Southeastern Massachusetts chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) for 6 years. He leads numerous three-season hikes as well as an annual winter hiking series out of the Blue Hills. He recently taught a Map and Compass course for the AMC. Paul is experienced in experiential and classroom teaching. He is faculty for Daniel Webster College in Nashua NH, teaching evening engineering courses.
The SCBA asks those who attend for these free workshops to pledge one hour of service on the South Coast Scenic Greenway or other SCBA project in exchange for each hour of classroom hour attended.
Course objectives
In this course you will learn basic and intermediate navigation skills using a map and compass. You’ll learn how to read a topographic map and how to use a compass and map together. You’ll also learn some basic orienteering skills such as how to bushwhack from one trail to another by following a bearing.
Prerequisites
This class is for beginners and those needing a refresh, there are no prerequisites. You do not need to have taken any prior classes or have any prior experience reading a topographic map or using a compass.
Course Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to use a topographic map (even without a compass) to provide assurance after an intersection that you’re on the right trail and not a deer path or bootleg bicycle path.
You should be able to use a compass in tandem with your map to safely leave the trail and bushwhack to a peak or overlook. You should also be able to leave a trail, bushwhack to another trail and not miss it or get lost.
The material is broken down into small segments that build on top of each other and no prior experience necessary. We’ll often break into small groups to practice the skills taught. Some exercises will be in the classroom and others will be in the field outside. Facilitators will be on-hand to help lead the small-group exercises.
We will finish the day with a short hike where you will get to put into practice many of the skills you learned during the day including a bushwhack to an intersection or landmark.
The Details
Date: Saturday, December 29, 2018 (Rain or shine)
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) Center at Helfand Farm
318 Chase Road, Dartmouth MA 02747
Lunch will be provided.
Supplies needed: You will need to bring your own compass. The instructor recommends the Suunto M-3 which he will be using during the class.
Click on the link below to be considered for participation. Space is limited.