Navigation Refresher – Build Confidence and Sharpen Your Skills

Navigation skills a bit rusty or want to consolidate your learning? Our one-day Navigation Refresher course is designed for those who’ve already completed some navigation training or have basic map and compass experience and want to get back up to speed. Spend the day outdoors revisiting the core skills that keep you confident in the hills including, map interpretation, understanding contours, measuring distance, grid references and bearings with plenty of hands-on practice and supportive coaching. (Note: this course is not suitable for total beginners)

Programme

Over the course of the two days, we will cover the following skills:

Map symbols
Orientating the map and using tick features
Understanding contours as a representation of the ground
The five D’s
Taking and using grid references
Taking and using grid and magnetic bearings
Different methods of measuring distance
Lost procedure

Itinerary

Meet at Van Diemen Street, Nelson and head off up into the Grampians.
(We can arrange pick up in Richmond and Nelson areas if you require it)
Course starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm

Fitness Level

The walking pace will be very relaxed with frequent stops, but there are a few short, steep hills (up to 100m height gain in places) to be climbed during the day. You should be comfortable doing this with a small pack containing your lunch, water and spare clothing.

What you will need

Suitable clothing for the weather and temperature
Water/windproof jacket (optional over trousers)
Warm layers
Your lunch and snacks
At least 1 litre of drinking water (optional flask if cold weather)
Small first aid kit and personal medications if needed
Suitable compass (if you don’t already have one, we can lend you one or advise on the most suitable one to buy.)
Pencil and pad
Map case if you have one (we provide maps)

Please note: this is a practical, hands-on course, and we want to create a good learning environment where students can get the most out of the course content. For that reason, we may suggest rescheduling the course if the weather conditions are forecast to be adverse.