Visualizing Ecology

Objectives:

Learn and hone the skills to navigate in unfamiliar territory with a map and compass. The orienteering exercises are divided into three parts: 1) working with map and compass to determine a route (Tuesday morning), 2) working with a compass to navigate in the field (Tuesday afternoon), and 3) combining these skills to navigate an orienteering course around the Evergreen campus (Thursday morning).

 Field Supplies and Gear:

For Thursday morning, each group of 3 needs to have 1 compass (provided). Each person needs to have 1 map (provided), rain gear and boots, backpack, and drinking water.

 Part 1: Working with map and compass to determine a route

1)      Consult the map on the opposite page. Suppose you are required to travel to the stations A, B, C, D, E, F, G in alphabetical order, and that you had to travel in a straight line (“as the crow flies”) between each station. Complete the following table showing the bearing, distance, and elevation gain/loss between each station.

2)      Now suppose that you can do the stations in any order and that you do not have to travel in a straight line. Consider the topography. What is the most efficient and safest route to walk between stations? What would be the bearing and distance for each stage?

 Part 2: Working with a compass and clicker to navigate in the field

First, calculate your pace (one pace = two steps) based on counting your steps over a known distance. (We will set this up as 50 meters on the soccer field.) Second, practice following a bearing and pacing through each of the bearing/distance combinations below. Start from a landmark and calculate the distance and bearing to your starting point once you have completed these steps.

1)      70 degrees for 40 m

2)      290 degrees for 70 m

3)      50 degrees for 35 m

4)      130 degrees for 35 m

5)      250 degrees for 70 m

6)      110 degrees for 40 m