Essential Skills for Navigating the Wild

I’ve been thinking a lot about how vital navigation skills are for our campers. Last summer, I had a group who got turned around during a hike, and it was eye-opening to see how disoriented they became without a map or compass. I’d love to hear what other guides do to teach their groups these crucial skills — any fun exercises or tips?

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I totally agree about navigation being essential — last summer, I had campers practice using landmarks to find their way back, and it really helped them gain confidence. Have you thought about incorporating some actual map-reading practice, or would that be too much for younger kids?

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