ORIENTEERING &

GEOCACHING
BY: AMELIA GONZALEZ & MICHAEN CHEN
PEP 134

ORIENTEERING
Navigate through unfamiliar territory, moving from
one point to another using navigation skills as map
reading & compass use

Military training exercisesCompetitive sport

Outdoor activities (Hiking, backpacking, canoeing, ect)
Physical education ( scavenger hunt exercise )

BENEFITS
Improve physical, psychological, & Social Well Being
-Decision making, problem solving & cooperating with
others.

Opportunity for..

Mental & Physical Challenges

Increase self-confidence
Better-team-building skills
Intro to Lifelong Activity
Fun &
Map & Compass Skills

TWIN TOOLS OF NAVIGATION

Map- Help orient
yourself, locate a
cache (GPS use) as
well identifying land
features.
Compass- Assist in
orienteering a map
and measure a
angle/bearing to
direction of
destination
If GPS fails

MAPS
A map is a a reduced
representation of the
portion of the surface of
the earth.
Simple Orienteering- local
parks, school grounds
maps
Advanced OrienteeringTopographic Map
Shows the 3-demensional
features of the lands
surface in two
dimensions.

MAP FEATURES
Advanced Skills
Contour lines- Portray shape &
elevation of land
Contour Interval-Distance
between contour lines
Index Contour Lines: heavier in
color & numbered to show high
of elevation
In Margin
Map Scale: Amount of area that
has been reduced in order to be
included on the map ex; 1:24,000
MD Diagram: difference
between magnetic N & true N
Grid Latitude & longitude
Legend

MAP TECHNIQUES
Orient a map to the lay of the land is done by lining
up the map, matching key features on map & land
to correspond.
Thumbing: Use thumb as a point of reference when
moving to destinations.
Handrails: Use linear features to assist in finding
controls on map plotting along a path
Pacing: Help to determine distance traveled while
walking or running. Count every double step.

HOW TO FOLD & PROTECT MAP

Fold

Map Protection

Keep map covered at

all times
Plastic bag for
protecting the map &
storing. Can also
protect map by using
commercial
waterproof agents.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Fold in lengthwise. Print side

faces in
Fold back of one length so that
the maps side margin is parallel
with first fold. Same on other side
Fold map in half, so the
quadrangles names face each
other.
Fold back one half of each folded
of the map. Same on other side.
(Quadrangle name should now
face out)

COMPASS
Compass Features

How to hold a compass

1. Always hold flat/level
2. Keep away from metal
objects.
3. Against chest
4. Face up

North always points to

magnetic North.
Protractor Compass: $8-$12

COMPASS FUNCTION
Take a field bearing: Finding directions to a destination,
that you can sight off in a distance.
Measured angles refereed to as a bearing.
Follow a bearing: Following a direction to a location.
Important for precise navigation results in efficiency,
safety, & speed.
Following a bearing off by just 1 can translate into almost
100 feet of error after 1 mile!

COMBINING THE TWO

Accurate location & determine where you are if lost and how to get found.
Magnetic Declination: The difference, expressed in degrees of an angle,
between the location of true north (as found on the map) & of MN
(shown on Compass).

Taking a map bearing: Find a direction from one location on a map to

another.

Important if area is covered with snow & dont know which way to go to point B

Triangulation (line location): The process of pin pointing your position by

using intersecting bearings taken on 2,3 or more known points.
Important if lost on map

*line of travel from point A ( present location) to point B (destination).

Video 7:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAb6nC3slR4&nohtml5=False

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Scavenger hunt in
or outside the
classroom.
Take a bearing &
have students follow
the bearing to
different checkpoints
controls.
Advanced:
Competitive by
timing the course.

GEOCACHING
Geocaching is an
outdoor treasurehunting game.
The participants use
a GPS receiver to
hide and seek
containers called
Geocaches or
Caches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YTqitVK-Ts

HISTORY
May 2, 2000, the US
government turned
on 24 satellites
Dave Ulmer, a
computer
consultant, hiding
objects near
Portland, and put
the locations to the
Internet.

Prefix, geo is for

the Earth, and the
nature of this
activity.
Suffix, caching is
from cache, a
French word
invented in 1797

EQUIPMENT

Appropriate shoes
GPS
Map
Pen/Pencil
Flash light
Extra battery
Alcohol wipes
Sunglasses
Skin protector
etc.

GPS & SATELLITES

Thick cloud affects
signals
3 satellites are the
minimum to get
accurate locations
The fourth satellite
establishes the
elevation

TYPES OF CACHES
Traditional cache
includes waterproof
container and a
logbook
Multicache involves
two or more
locations

Virtual cache is for

a location rather
than an object.
Travel bug is an
item that is moved
form cache to
cache.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqLfH3htBcQ 3:12

TEACHING GEOCACHING
Using colored
marbles as caches
Cans
Practice on football
filed
No foods &
dangerous items
(weapon)

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AND

GUIDELINES
Check weather
When planning consider
speed, energy
conservation, & safety.
Let someone know where
you are going & coming
back. Leave instructions
Mark vehicle as a waypoint
to safety
Note difficulty levels &
terrain ratings, & ensure that
students posses the skills &
fitness necessary to
negotiate a geocaching
trip

ETIQUETTE
Protect environment by using LNT principles.
Plan Ahead & Prepare

Know the regulation & special concerns for the area you will visit.
Use map & compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns, or flagging
Travel on durable surfaces

Trails, rock gravel, fry grasses, or snow

Yield to others on trail

Step to the downside of the trail when encountering pack stock

Avoid being loud! Let nature prevail!

Popular areas: Walk in single file, middle of trail

Pristine areas: Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites & trails
Dispose waste properly- pack in, pack out
Leave what you find
Do not build structure
Leave nature objects as you find them
Minimize campfire impacts
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of other visitors
Take breaks & camp away from trails & other visitors

PRACTICE

Thursday (4-21)
Meet in Ren 129
Practice Map & compass Reading & GPS device
practice
Tuesday (4-26)
Meet at the Amphitheater Orienteering Map &
Compass
Thursday (4-28)
Meet at the Amphitheater Orienteering- GPS Device

WORKS CITED
GoGeocaching. "What Is Geocaching?" YouTube. YouTube, 2013.
Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
Headhardhat. "GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos Introduction To
Geocaching Part Three of Three." YouTube. YouTube, 2009. Web. 17
Apr. 2016.

Stiehl, Jim & Steffen, Jeff. Teaching Lifetime Outdoor Pursuits. Human
Kinetics. 2010 (126-135)
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/downloads/Map_Skills_Booklet.pdf
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/navigation-basics.html