How can I start teaching my four-year-old son land navigation?

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 14:35:15 -0500

My son is about to turn 4. I'd like to get into land navigation recreationally with him.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 2:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 14:47:00 -0500

No substitute for hands on practice. Lots of texts out there and this one = a gem. Was on CIOR Pentathlon Team w/co-author Chuck Ferguson way back in the day.

Rev/edit —> added link

https://orienteeringusa.org/

Orienteering USA - Find your way!

Orienteering is the sport of navigation—often held in unfamiliar terrain—using a map and compass. Practice your navigation skills with one of our events!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 22 at 2022 2:49 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 14:49:40 -0500

That seems to be a complex task for a 4 year old.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Jan 22 at 2022 3:07 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 15:07:56 -0500

Very valuable skill to learn SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 3:41 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 15:41:40 -0500

Start with Maps and Compass 101 and go from there. Find topo maps for practice.

Response by PO2 Marco Monsalve made Jan 22 at 2022 3:44 PM

PO2 Marco Monsalve — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 15:44:33 -0500

Here is a link to a site that I used with my grandkids, youngest was 5 at the time. Quite helpful:
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/map-skills-elementary-students/

Map Skills for Elementary Students

Find activities that develop map skills in students from preK to Grade 6.

Response by CPO Gerald Burns made Jan 22 at 2022 4:01 PM

CPO Gerald Burns — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 16:01:14 -0500

During my service, I realized how valuable land navigation was. I had a merit badge in land navigation from Scouting and it payed off when I was in the FMF. The unit had a land navigation course and I was unable to attend due to immunizations being scheduled by my RMST Chief the day the unit had the class. I missed the class but told the Gunny I think I had a good background. He looked at me funny and said “ok Doc” and nothing more was said. We went out on an overnight and all of a sudden Gunny came up and said “Doc everyone above your rank is dead. Get your remaining troops back to camp”. He handed me the map any tools I would need and left. Long story short, we got back to camp with no problems. Sure helped my standing as a “Doc” that they could trust me to take charge and handle the situation. OoooRah !

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 22 at 2022 4:36 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 16:36:23 -0500

You should speak to the local Scout Troop they will be able to share guidance and possibly resources.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 6:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 18:25:37 -0500

I'm taking mine to Cub Scouts. They now go as young a kindergarten. He'll eventually "get there", but right now I'm working on him just knowing our phone numbers, and his address.

#1 rule for a kid of this age..........Don't lose your parent
#2 stay right where you are, don't get lost more

If he's the one folks are following out of the wilderness from a plane crash well, I guess that's that then.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Jan 22 at 2022 7:45 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 19:45:09 -0500

No sure when I began, probably in the Boy Scouts.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2022 11:29 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 23:29:44 -0500

Landmarks and terrain association would be a good start for a kid. See that hill, see that tower, etc etc. Then give them meaning for locations as they orient to home. A little young for plotting azimuths and reading maps, but landmarks are a good starting point.

Response by SGT Tiffanie G. made Jan 23 at 2022 12:20 AM

SGT Tiffanie G. — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:20:23 -0500

An excellent idea! Start with directions. Following directions (orally) is a great beginning. Over, under, beside, left side, right side, etc. I used to work with my g-kid that I homeschooled. We would pretend to be riding motorcycles and then I would call out Turn left, or turn right, go up or go down, and at the end, we would find the pirates treasure "X". Then "dig down", etc. Took him a while to figure out left and right. And if they are dyslexic, it's ever worse! (4 of my own kids whom I also homeschooled were dyslexic, but they all got it down, now!) (Hold up hands with thumb and forefinger outstretched, the hand that makes the capital "L" is the left one)

I'm actually in the process of writing kid's books to teach the basics of lots of things, especially since more people are homeschooling. So far, they are barely more than baby books (counting 1-10), but I intend to continue on with more complex things building upon the basics. I figure it will help parents, and maybe even some of the people who are having to rebuild their lives, like strokes, or dementia/Alzheimers, and so on.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Jan 23 at 2022 2:14 PM

SSG Bill McCoy — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 14:14:50 -0500

Get a Boy Scout handbook/manual. When I was in BSA, they made it easy to understand and it helped me immensely when we had it at the NCO Academy. In fact, the academy made azimuths and back azimuts incredibly easy to understand but that was likely due to the instructor.

Response by SSG Jack Scott made Jan 23 at 2022 5:58 PM

SSG Jack Scott — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 17:58:30 -0500

This is a easy one teach your child the four points of the compass. Next teach the the direction of the points of the compass where you live at home. It was easy for me born and breed in Florida I learned where the directions of the Gulf and Atlantic and grew up sailing.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jan 24 at 2022 8:45 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 08:45:59 -0500

I would suggest googling Orienteering Clubs and see if there is an Active one in your area. They usually will provide training and have tiered courses, plus allow you to compete as a family if you want to keep score. They start them pretty young and often the easy courses can be ran in under an hour.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Jan 24 at 2022 3:19 PM

SSG Bill McCoy — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:19:48 -0500

Boy Scouts' "Boy's Life" article.
https://scoutlife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/3877/compass-tips-and-tricks/

How to Use a Map and Compass

VIDEO: Learn about aiming, taking a bearing and other compass tips and tricks to improve your orienteering.

Response by CPL David Widding made Feb 18 at 2022 4:04 PM

CPL David Widding — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:04:33 -0500

Land navigation to a 4 year old makes no sense. Take him for walks in the wood or outdoor. Get him to enjoy getting outside. I use to make hot chocolate and smooth when I hiked with my daughters. When they enjoy the outdoors you can slowly bring in land navigation but just spend time with him at this age

Response by COL Louis Macareo made Mar 11 at 2022 12:06 PM

COL Louis Macareo — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 12:06:38 -0500

At the age of 4, I do not have any suggestions, but I want to plant the seed that when he turns 12, please consider Civil Air Patrol. Imagine the Boy Scouts with balls. There is nothing wrong with the Scouts, but honestly, if you are looking to be serious, CAP teaches aerospace education, leadership and search and rescue. It has the real-world mission to find and recover downed aircraft (usually Pipers and Cessna's) or persons missing in the woods and therefore mastery of land navigation is a critical skill. CAP is an auxiliary of the Air Force (but the search and rescue component is based more on a Marine Corp model) and comprised of Cadets (12-18) and Senior members (adults) but it is really the Cadets that run the show. Your son can attend survival schools, escape and evasion, search and rescue training, become a medic, and get out of school without question (federal law) when participating in missions that usually result in finding dead bodies, packaging them up and working with the coroner and FAA in providing crash site security. There is nothing else like it... and there is no reason your son could not also join the Boy Scouts to learn how to make art projects or something. ;-) [I kid the Scouts, but yes, I have a bias].