Map it out

• Contour lines show us what the terrain or ‘topography’ of an area is like before visiting it. The lines are drawn at 10-metre intervals and show the incline or decline on slopes or flat land. They also show people key features of the terrain that can be used to help with navigation, such as cliffs, valleys and summits.
• Have a look here for more information on contour lines and how to identify them on a map. Using these sheets to help, get everyone to identify the key features on both of their OS maps.
• Also, consider giving the group a start and end point and ask them to identify any features along that route, and calculate what altitude gain or loss they will experience between the two points. This will help them learn how to recognise undulating terrain when out on a hike.
• Use the pens and paper during this base to help if needed and remember to use both sizes of map throughout.
• If you need more of a practical method to learn about contours, have a go at the Contour creations activity.

• ‘Orientating’ or setting a map involves using the lay of the land and any landmarks around you to identify which way the map should face, to help with navigation.
• To orientate a map, find a feature or landmark that’s visible both on the map and from where you’re standing. Line up the landmark on the map with where you can see it. For example, if there’s a lake behind you, stand with your back to the lake and turn the map so that the lake is at the bottom. To check that this is correct, take another landmark and check that it’s in the same position/location on the map as it is where you can see it. By doing this, it also makes it easier to identify which way is north, as the north arrows will point north relative to where you’re standing.
• Finding north without a compass can be done several ways. There are different methods for day and night. During the day, you can look for the position of the sun or even the moss on trees, while at night constellations and the North Star are the most helpful navigation tools. Have a look here for different methods of how to find north without a compass.

• To help everyone practise or learn about how to find six-figure grid references, consider having a go at the Six-figure bingo activity as a group before running this.
• Using a roamer can help identify grid-references more accurately, as they break the grid square up into a smaller grid. They’re 10x10 grids, which when placed on top of a grid square divide it up, so that a more accurate grid reference can be taken. Roamers can be bought, they can be found on the edge of a compass or can be made at home.
• Give everyone the opportunity to create their own roamer. They could do one for both OS map scales. To make one, place some greaseproof paper on top of the map and draw around a grid square. Divide the square up equally into a 10x10 grid.
• Using the same method as finding a six-figure grid reference, you can then find your precise location within a grid square on the map. Give each person a precise location to find with their roamers and a six-figure grid reference on either map.

This additional activity will need to be completed over two sessions. The first part is about planning a walk and the second completing the walk. Make sure there are enough leaders and helpers to support each group during the walk.

1. Put everyone’s new skills to the test. Split everyone into groups of between four and seven and get them to sit at a table.
2. Explain to everyone that they’ll be completing a walk as a team using their new map skills. They’ll need to create a route made up of four legs to be walked around their local area. Each group will need to fill out their route cards for each leg of the walk. If needed, have a look at the Only a mile to go activity for more information on how to fill out a route card.
3. Give everyone 30 minutes to complete their route cards. Make sure the route starts and finishes in the same place and is achievable in a single session. It doesn’t have to be long, so long as new skills are practised. Remind everyone that they’ll only be able to use their map to navigate through all four legs of the route, so each route needs to be fairly simple and easy to follow. It’s a good idea to take a compass and keep a copy of the route card with them in case of emergency.
4. Once done, collect in all the routes and as a whole group, have a discussion about equipment, safety and appropriate clothing and footwear for the walk.
5. Just before going out on the walk give each team back their route cards and a map, and make sure they have all the equipment they need. Make sure you’ve read all the information on safety here and the leader going on the walk has all the emergency contacts, the equipment they need and a way of contacting someone in an emergency.
6. The groups should begin their walks.
7. Once everyone’s back, have a discussion about how well they think the walk went. See if there was anything they’d do differently and ask what they found most enjoyable.