Navigation & Compass Skills Competency

The training plan for a DofE Expedition Team should be a progressive process with skills being acquired on training sessions and then practiced in the outdoor environment until participants are capable of carrying out the skills without support or adult intervention.

Before starting their practice and/or qualifying expedition, participants must be adequately trained to safely complete an expedition in the environment in which they will be operating. The environment chosen must be progressively more challenging through the award levels - environments can include rural, urban or restricted spaces.

Please check each box to indicate that you have covered that particular topic with the group you are working with, appropriate to the environment the group will be operating in for their practice and/or qualifying expedition(s).

NAVIGATION AND COMPASS SKILLS

An understanding of scale and how to measure distance and estimate timeHow to orientate their map correctly and choose the right direction of travelHow to identify a point on the map to add it to a route card or to give information to others, e.g. by page and grid square, grid reference, as appropriateThe ability to follow a planned routeThe ability to locate their position from the mapTheir ability to identify appropriate features from the map to assist navigation or location finding and understand how these features may affect journey times, e.g. contour linesHow to use appropriate wayfinding equipment such as a compass and identify problems and issues that might arise with such toolsActions to be taken if lost or navigating in restricted visibilityHow to look after their compass and the influence of ferrous metal objectsDirection from the compass, both cardinal and the four intercardinal pointsNavigation using a compass, e.g. setting the map, determining the direction of footpaths or direction of travel, travelling on a bearing
Plus
Countryside & Highway CodesEmergency Procedures

ADDITIONAL NOTES (aspects that went well or to improve on; further training required, behaviour, etc)

I CONFIRM THE ABOVE HAS BEEN FULLY COMPLETED AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DofE EXPEDITION TRAINING FRAMEWORK FOR THE CHOSEN ENVIRONMENT