Age and Number of campers: Explorers, Mavericks
Requirements:
• Compasses
How to play:
1. What is a compass? A compass is a navigational instrument for determining direction relative to the Earth's magnetic poles. It consists of a magnetized pointer (usually marked on the North end) free to align itself with Earth's magnetic field. A compass is any magnetically sensitive device capable of indicating the direction of the magnetic north of a planet's magnetosphere. The face of the compass generally highlights the cardinal points of north, south, east and west.
2. A compass functions as a pointer to "magnetic north" because the magnetized needle at its heart aligns itself with the lines of the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic field exerts a torque on the needle, pulling one end or pole of the needle toward the Earth's North magnetic pole, and the other toward the South magnetic pole. The needle is mounted on a low-friction pivot point, in better compasses a jewel bearing, so it can turn easily. When the compass is held level, the needle turns until, after a few seconds to allow oscillations to die out, one end points toward the North magnetic pole.
3. Like any magnetic device, compasses are affected by nearby ferrous materials as well as by strong local electromagnetic forces. Compasses used for wilderness land navigation should not be used in proximity to ferrous metal objects or electromagnetic fields (car electrical systems, automobile engines, steel pitons, etc.) as that can affect their accuracy. Compasses are particularly difficult to use accurately in or near trucks, cars or other mechanized vehicles even when corrected for deviation by the use of built-in magnets or other devices. Large amounts of ferrous metal combined with the on-and-off electrical fields caused by the vehicle's ignition and charging systems generally result in significant compass errors.
4. Using the compass alone. The first thing you need to learn, are the directions. North, South, East and West. Look at the figure and learn how they are. North is the most important.
(Show campers a compass) You see this red and black arrow? We call it the compass needle. Well, on some compasses it might be red and white for instance, but the red part of it is always pointing towards the earth's magnetic north pole.
But what if you don't want to go north, but a different direction? Hang on and I'll tell you.
You've got this turnable thing on your compass. We call it the Compass housing. On the edge of the compass housing, you will probably have a scale: from 0 to 360. Those are the degrees or the azimuth (or you may also call it the bearing in some contexts). And you should have the letters N, S, W and E for North, South, West and East. If you want to go in a direction between two of these, you would combine them. If you would like to go in a direction just between North and West, you simply say: "I would like to go Northwest ".
Let's use that as an example: You want to go northwest. What you do, is that you find out where on the compass housing northwest is. Then you turn the compass housing so that northwest on the housing comes exactly there where the large direction of travel-arrow meets the housing.
Hold the compass in your hand. And you'll have to hold it quite flat, so that the compass needle can turn. Then turn yourself, your hand, the entire compass, just make sure the compass housing doesn't turn, and turn it until the compass needle is aligned with the lines inside the compass housing.
Now, time to be careful!. It is extremely important that the red, north part of the compass needle points at north in the compass housing. If south points at north, you would walk off in the exact opposite direction of what you want! And it's a very common mistake among beginners. So always take a second look to make sure you did it right!
A second problem might be local magnetic attractions. If you are carrying something of iron or something like that, it might disturb the arrow. Even a staple in your map might be a problem. Make sure there is nothing of the sort around.
When you are sure you've got it right, walk off in the direction the direction of travel-arrow is pointing. To avoid getting off the course, make sure to look at the compass quite frequently, say every hundred meters at least. But you shouldn't stare down on the compass. Once you have the direction, aim on some point in the distance, and go there. But this gets more important when you use a map.
There is something you should look for to avoid going in the opposite direction: The Sun. At noon, the sun is roughly in South (or in the north on the southern hemisphere), so if you are heading north and have the sun in your face, it should ring a bell.
5. Give campers directions to find and ask them to figure out what direction certain landmarks are in (trees, waterfront, safety village, ski lodge etc) to practice what you just taught them.
What can we do next:
Start using the skills learnt for activities like mapping and orienteering
Drawing a Detailed Map
Age and Number of campers: Explorers, Mavericks, divided into groups of around 3-5
Requirements:
• Blank paper
• Markers/pens/pencils
• Site map
• Compasses
How to play:
1. Show campers a site map and tell them they can choose where to make a map of. Options can be Versailles, Safety Village, Bike Wash/Playground, or the Waterfront (or anywhere else you feel comfortable taking them, but be sure to tell someone on Support Staff where you are going!). Campers should be in groups of 3-5.
2. Campers are going to draw a detailed map of an area. Go to a location within the site boundaries and explain what campers will be doing. They can use trees, man-made landmarks, and any other landmarks to make their map as detailed as possible.
3. Ask them to count the number of trees, doors, windows, and anything else that seems important, and include that on their map.
Rules:
1. Must stay within camp boundaries
2. Must work together in group
What can we do next:
Next, campers can start orienteering activities and use the skills they learnt with compasses and maps to help them understand the upcoming challenges.
Orienteering
Age and Number of campers: Explorers, Mavericks, groups of 3-5
Requirements:
• Map
• Directions
• Compasses
How to play:
1. Campers will use the orienteering maps and directions as created by camp staff to find different landmarks.
2. Campers can race to see how fast they can make it to each location and back to the home-base, if counsellor feels comfortable with the abilities of the group. Counsellors should also accompany the groups, preferably with a LIT/CIT, Support Staff, or volunteer.
Rules:
1. Must stay within camp boundaries
2. Must work together in group
What can we do next:
Campers can continue to build on these skills by using them whenever they are walking around FCA, and have become more aware
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