The Compass Rose

Well in a week our spring Camporee will be upon us. The theme this year is orienteering and geology. That being said will the boys be ready? Only time will tell. what I have found is a large number of resources on orienteering that a scoutmaster can use for teaching this skill and keeping it fun.

First are the games. The BSA have two game available that teaches skill while having some fun. The first I tried last Wednesday with great success.
Compass Game
I can honestly say both scouts and scoutmasters have had fund with this particular game. I am not sure who had more fun that evening.

The other I am holding in reserve for a later time.
Beginner’s compass game

Next are some local resources including :
• The Quantico Orienteering Club (http://qoc.nova.org/). I would check to see if you have a club like this in your area.
• Also the National Park Services (http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/orienteering.htm). Courses are being offered in our area in March and November.

These I wish I had known before this week as we might have used them and we may do so later this year. Many thanks to another local scoutmaster who provided me these local resources.

As to the gear I have a couple suggestions available via BSA.
Some styles that are recommended:

• Silva 1-2-3 Starter Compass
• Silva Explorer III
• Silva Polaris Compass

What I have already been told or discovered is to avoid the following traits in a compass:

1. Compasses with wide rims around the dial are hard to get bearings and it’s easy to be off by a degree or more using these devices.
2. The lensatic compasses while they a cool to the boys they are very hard to use and learn for boys just starting

Comments on this subject are more than welcome. Anyone else have some good ideas?