Orienteering through the forest

In the picture

1. 1Contour map: shows hills, water, paths and your planned route
2. 2Thumb compass: its needle points north so you can line up the map
3. 3Control flag: the checkpoint you must find and reach
4. 4Trail back: the known path that leads you safely to the finish

Examples

• Hiking in a national park by following a map and compass instead of signposts
• A school orienteering race where you visit checkpoints in the local woods

Quiz: Orienteering through the forest (Age 14)

1. 1

   You are in the forest with a map and a compass. How do you line the map up with the land around you?

   • Keep the map still and turn only the compass
   • Turn the map so that north on the map matches north on the compass
   • Point the map towards the next checkpoint
2. 2

   What is the best approach to an orienteering route?

   • Look at the map once at the start, then follow only the compass needle
   • Head straight for the first checkpoint and work out the way back once you get there
   • Plan the route first, check it as you go, and always know how to get back
3. 3

   In orienteering, what is the control flag?

   • The marker that shows you which way is north
   • The checkpoint you must find and reach
   • The known path that leads you back to the finish

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.