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Basic Compass Navigation

Dave Canterbury

4.8

Based on 259 ratings

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Dave Canterbury

This course will teach you the basic parts of a compass, how to identify a Northern Direction, correctly set a travel bearing, use your compass to travel over distance leap frogging to avoid lateral drift and to find you way back to know point of origin. We will discuss how to negotiate an obstacle and get back on your correct line of travel, as well as how to factor in how far you have actually walked using a pace count method. The basics of Compass navigation can give you a new sense of confidence when traveling in the outdoors, and allow you to leave the beaten path to discover the wonders of nature that others may not see.

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Learning objective

Upon completeing this course the student will understand the basic use of a compass to not only find direction but also how to travel over distance in a straight line, understand how far they have traveled and be able to find the way back to a know point of origin

Upon completeing this course the student will understand the basic use of a compass to not only find direction but also how to travel over distance in a straight line, understand how far they have traveled and be able to find the way back to a know point of origin

Syllabus

Introduction

Lesson 1 will familiarize you with the basic parts of the compass we will use in the rest of these lessons

Basic Compass Navigation Declination

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Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Students with a background in outdoor activities may find it makes an excellent addition to their current knowledge

Provides a foundation for individuals seeking confidence when traveling in the outdoors

Instructed by survivalist Dave Canterbury, recognized for his expertise in outdoor navigation and survival skills

May be less relevant to urban explorers or travelers who prioritize paved paths over uncharted territory

Course does not cover advanced navigation techniques suitable for professional or highly experienced navigators

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Reviews summary

Basic practical compass navigation skills

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in basic compass navigation, specifically geared towards outdoor activities. Students found the lectures to be clear and easy to follow, making complex topics accessible. The focus on practical techniques like pace counting and boxing obstacles was particularly appreciated, allowing learners to build real-world confidence. While some felt certain areas could benefit from slightly more depth, the overall sentiment is strongly positive for beginners and those looking to acquire essential land navigation skills for recreation.

Increases comfort navigating outdoors.

"Taking this course has significantly increased my confidence when exploring new trails and even leaving the beaten path."

"I feel much more secure knowing I can use a compass to find my way."

"It provides a new sense of confidence for anyone spending time outdoors."

Ideal starting point for new navigators.

"As a complete beginner, I found this course to be the perfect introduction to compass use."

"It covers all the basics effectively without being overwhelming."

"If you've never used a compass before, this course is an excellent place to start."

Focus on skills useful for outdoor activity.

"I learned practical skills like pace counting and boxing obstacles that I can actually use on my hikes."

"The 'Walking a Straight Line' lesson and 'Leap Frogging' demos were incredibly useful and directly applicable."

"It gives you the practical tools needed to feel more confident navigating off-trail."

Course makes basic navigation easy to grasp.

"The lessons are clear and concise, making complex concepts easy to understand, even for someone with no prior experience."

"I appreciated how the instructor broke down each step of the process into simple, manageable parts."

"This course really helped demystify compass navigation for me; the explanations were so clear."

Some topics could be explored further.

"While great for basics, I feel like some topics could have been explored in a bit more detail for a slightly deeper understanding."

"The course is solid but might be too brief for those looking for advanced techniques or theory."

"I was hoping for a little more on interpreting topographic maps in conjunction with the compass."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basic Compass Navigation with these activities:

Print out the provided materials

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This will allow you to have all of the course materials in a single location for easy reference.

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Locate the course syllabus and supporting course materials.
Print all available materials to a local printer.

Compass course in your backyard

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This will give you the practical experience required to navigate using a compass.

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Find a suitable outdoor location.
Create physical obstacles with pylons or other physical markers to navigate around.
Using your printed materials as a guide, complete the course while using your compass.
Have a friend check your progress or keep a log yourself so that you can evaluate your progress.

Generate a course summary

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This activity will help solidify your understanding of navigation.

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Review all of the course materials.
Create a document, presentation, or video that explains the main principles of navigation and how to use a compass.
Share your deliverable with the instructor for feedback.

Three other activities

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Navigate to a local landmark

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This is a practical activity to reinforce your compass skills.

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Identify a local landmark that is within a reasonable hiking distance.
Plan your route to this landmark using your compass.
Hike to the landmark using your compass for navigation.

Volunteer with Search and Rescue

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This is an excellent opportunity to volunteer your skills with a local organization and build a professional network.

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Contact your local Search and Rescue organization to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Upon starting, follow the instructions of your supervising SAR personnel on how to use a compass for navigation during your time with the group.

Volunteer to teach navigation

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This will give you an opportunity to practice your navigation skills.

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Offer to teach navigation to a local Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop.
Create a lesson plan that covers the basics of navigation.
Teach the lesson to the scouts.

Career center

Learners who complete Basic Compass Navigation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Geologist

Geologists study the Earth's physical structure and history. They use their knowledge to locate and extract natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals. They also study the effects of human activity on the environment. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Geologists by teaching them how to use a compass to navigate in the field. This skill is essential for Geologists who work in remote areas or who need to survey large areas of land.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geologist

Surveyor

Surveyors measure and map the Earth's surface. They use their skills to create maps, charts, and other documents that are used for a variety of purposes, such as planning construction projects, managing natural resources, and determining property boundaries. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Surveyors by teaching them how to use a compass to accurately measure distances and angles. This skill is essential for Surveyors who need to create accurate maps and charts.

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Cartographer

Cartographers create maps and other visual representations of the Earth's surface. They use their skills to create maps that are used for a variety of purposes, such as navigation, planning, and education. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Cartographers by teaching them how to use a compass to accurately measure distances and angles. This skill is essential for Cartographers who need to create accurate maps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cartographer

Park Ranger

Park Rangers protect and manage natural resources in parks and other protected areas. They also provide information and assistance to visitors. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Park Rangers by teaching them how to use a compass to navigate in the wilderness. This skill is essential for Park Rangers who need to patrol large areas of land and who need to be able to find their way back to safety in the event of an emergency.

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Outdoor Educator

Outdoor Educators teach people about the natural world. They lead hikes, nature walks, and other outdoor activities. They also provide information about the environment and how to protect it. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Outdoor Educators by teaching them how to use a compass to navigate in the wilderness. This skill is essential for Outdoor Educators who need to be able to safely lead groups of people in the outdoors.

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Wilderness Guide

Wilderness Guides lead groups of people on hiking, camping, and other outdoor adventures. They provide information about the environment and how to protect it. They also teach people how to survive in the wilderness. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Wilderness Guides by teaching them how to use a compass to navigate in the wilderness. This skill is essential for Wilderness Guides who need to be able to safely lead groups of people in the outdoors.

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Search and Rescue Technician

Search and Rescue Technicians locate and rescue people who are lost or injured in the wilderness. They use a variety of skills to search for people, including using a compass to navigate in the wilderness. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Search and Rescue Technicians by teaching them how to use a compass to accurately measure distances and angles. This skill is essential for Search and Rescue Technicians who need to be able to find lost people in the wilderness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Search and Rescue Technician

Military Officer

Military Officers lead and manage troops in the military. They are responsible for planning and executing military operations. They also provide training and support to their troops. The Basic Compass Navigation course can help Military Officers by teaching them how to use a compass to navigate in the field. This skill is essential for Military Officers who need to be able to lead their troops in combat.

See salaries and explore the career path for Military Officer

Police Officer

Police Officers protect and serve the public. They investigate crimes, enforce laws, and provide assistance to people in need. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to Police Officers who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate lost or injured people.

See salaries and explore the career path for Police Officer

Firefighter

Firefighters protect people and property from fires. They also provide medical assistance and other services to people in need. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to Firefighters who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate people who are trapped in fires.

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EMT

EMTs provide medical assistance to people who are sick or injured. They also transport people to hospitals and other医疗facilities. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to EMTs who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate people who are in need of medical assistance.

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Paramedic

Paramedics provide advanced medical care to people who are sick or injured. They also transport people to hospitals and other医疗facilities. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to Paramedics who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate people who are in need of medical assistance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paramedic

Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They also provide education and support to patients and their families. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to Nurses who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate patients who are in need of care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse

Doctor

Doctors provide medical care to patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They also provide education and support to patients and their families. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to Doctors who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate patients who are in need of care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Doctor

Teacher

Teachers provide instruction to students in schools and other educational settings. They also provide support and guidance to students. The Basic Compass Navigation course may be useful to Teachers who work in rural or wilderness areas. This skill can help them to navigate in unfamiliar territory and to locate students who are lost or injured.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Basic Compass Navigation.

Cover image

Cover image

Save

This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions on how to use a compass, map, and other tools for outdoor navigation. It valuable resource for students who plan to venture into remote areas.

Traveler: The Musical Odyssey of Tim O'Brien...

Traveler: The Musical Odyssey of Tim O'Brien...

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Cover image

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide, Second Edition

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This comprehensive guide provides expert advice on all aspects of backcountry navigation, including compass navigation, map reading, and GPS use. It is an invaluable resource for students who plan to venture into remote areas.

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide, Second Edition:...

The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide, Second Edition:...

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Cover image

The Adventure Gap

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This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions on how to use a compass, map, and other tools for outdoor navigation. It valuable resource for students who plan to venture into remote areas.

The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the...

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Cover image

Navigation Control Manual

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This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions on how to use a compass, map, and other tools for navigation on land and water. It valuable resource for students who want to learn about a variety of navigation methods.

Navigation Control Manual

Navigation Control Manual by A G Bole (1992-09-13)

Cover image

Cover image

The Compass Book

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This comprehensive guide provides in-depth coverage of compass navigation techniques, including advanced topics like declination and terrain correction.

The Compass Book

The Compass Book

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Cover image

Tools for Grassroots Activists

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This textbook provides comprehensive coverage of navigation techniques for the outdoors, including compass navigation, celestial navigation, and GPS use. It valuable resource for students who want to learn about a variety of navigation methods.

Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for...

The Patagonia Business Library: Including Let My...

Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for...

Cover image

Cover image

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This guide provides essential information about GPS devices and how to use them for outdoor navigation. It useful supplement to the course, helping students to understand the complementary role of GPS and compass navigation.

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Rating

4.8

Effort

34 total mins

Via

Udemy

Instructor

Dave Canterbury

Language

English

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Students with a background in outdoor activities may find it makes an excellent addition to their current knowledge

Provides a foundation for individuals seeking confidence when traveling in the outdoors

Instructed by survivalist Dave Canterbury, recognized for his expertise in outdoor navigation and survival skills

May be less relevant to urban explorers or travelers who prioritize paved paths over uncharted territory

Course does not cover advanced navigation techniques suitable for professional or highly experienced navigators

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