Compass and Map
by Ruby Hawk on 21/07/09 at 4:26 am
Do you need a compass and a map to improve your sense of direction? A little practice with your compass and map will soon have you on the way to success, and just imagine all the fun your kids will have helping you.
Do you have a good sense of direction, or do you need to buy a compass and a map to improve your capabilities? Can you step outside and sense the direction of north, south, east, and west? If not, your best bet is to buy a compass and a map of your area. You may observe the sun rises in the east and sets in the west but there are consistent changes throughout the season. To become familiar with the compasses 360 degrees, hold the compass in a level position waist high with it’s directions of travel arrow pointed straight ahead. As you turn the compass you can see not only where you are headed but how you should turn to head in any other direction on the map. Don’t try to be perfect. Practice with your map and compass on short hikes near home then expand your area by taking short drives in different directions to improve your capabilities.
Image via Wikipedia
Mark the location of your house on the map. Notice the compass relation to your house.
Note the compass direction to your favorite haunts, stores, school, parks, and so on.
Now, extend yourself to further reaches. Fix firmly in your mind the points of the compass you follow to go to nearby towns and outlaying areas.
Note that you go west to town A and north to town B.
When driving a car consider that the even numbered route signs travel north and south. Odd numbers travel east and west. All federal highways are marked this way.
Look at your compass and note the variations from north to south and east to west, such as north northeast (NNE) and south southwest (SSW) all determined by their location in the 360 degrees circle in which the compass is divided.
Carry a compass in your car and visualize changes in direction as you drive. Remember that built in car compasses are not entirely correct. They are effected my magnetism, motion, and abrupt changes in direction.
Image via Wikipedia
When you drive with family, use a detailed map and assign someone as navigator. Have each member guess at directions as you approach major selections on the map. See who comes closest to the facts. Make a game of it and your children will develop their sense of direction as you improve yours. Of course you can buy a GPS for your car but it won’t point you in the right direction if you are lost in the woods or help you develop your own internal compass.
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28 Comments
Francois Hagnere
Jul 21st, 2009
This is an excellent and very useful article, as usual.
Thank you dear Ruby,
François
Ginky Binks
Jul 21st, 2009
Hi Ruby firstly just wanted to say thank you for my comment
as for a compass and map I think I definitely need one every time I step out of the door I am soooo direction dyslexic its unreal
Ginks
sweetchild
Jul 21st, 2009
Very good article, Ma’am.
Marie Milton
Jul 21st, 2009
Very well composed…I like it : )
ken bultman
Jul 21st, 2009
Remember, the compass points to magnetic north, not true north. Depending on where you live it can make a difference. Good article. I can find my way out of the woods but get lost in town.
Jenny Heart
Jul 21st, 2009
Great article. An informative enjoyable piece of writing. Like it!
papaleng
Jul 21st, 2009
Hey Ruby, Did you know that I’m very poor in direction, so whenever I go out to new places I always bring along my handy compass. Great article!
CHAN LEE PENG
Jul 21st, 2009
Excellent and useful piece again. Like it.
B Nelson
Jul 21st, 2009
Normally I have a very good natural sense of Direction, but when I use to live in Medicine Hat, something about that city threw me, and I was often disoriented. Interestingly enough the city was rich with natural gases, maybe that had something to do with it, or maybe it was the slope of the hill.
Alexa Gates
Jul 21st, 2009
Very useful info
My Dad got my whole family compasses for christmas last year…they really are a big help if you know how to use them
HatedNation
Jul 21st, 2009
Its true, these are all the tools you really need!
Armywriter
Jul 21st, 2009
Good point from ken bultman about the magnetic north in reference to true north. In some areas it can knock you off anywhere from 3-21 degrees. Try to get familiar with your area because if you try this and you the norths are off and you walk a long ways… you could be pretty lost.
Great article though.
George W Whitehead
Jul 21st, 2009
Nice article, Ruby. I’m one of those fortunate people that has an inbuilt body compass
Lostash
Jul 21st, 2009
Reminds of orienteering as a child! I got lost often back then, but these days I have quite a good sense of direction. Great piece again Ruby.
Alexiandria M Michaels
Jul 21st, 2009
Mystify
Jul 21st, 2009
As always a very informative resourceful article.Excellent work Ruby.
Inna Tysoe
Jul 21st, 2009
Good article.
Inna
NA Staffieri
Jul 21st, 2009
Good article, Ruby. Now I can finally get out of this brown paper bag.
Sheila M
Jul 21st, 2009
Good thing I don’t need to use one most times but I probably should know how, good article
richard wing
Jul 21st, 2009
I was clueless to the odd and even count regarding direction on Fed highways. That is a pretty cool reference. And those GPS devices go awry and, no, you will be lost in the woods with that for sure. I learned something new yet again. Great article Ruby.
PR Mace
Jul 21st, 2009
Very good article, Ruby.
overwings
Jul 22nd, 2009
NIce article. I only use a compass under the water and only with bad visibility or no visual references. Otherwise I normaly manage well with a good sense of orientation and may be a look to a map or a sketch I drew myself.
Richoman
Jul 22nd, 2009
Hey. Great article. It was short and to the point. Keep it up!
Have you heard about Bukisa? It’s a site that operates in pretty much the same way as Triond, except it pays slightly better. The two work well together. Why not join? You can publish articles on both sites at the same time. Here’s an invitation although it does amount to a tiny bit of revenue for me. I’m being honest. It’s a great site nonetheless. http://www.bukisa.com/join/22598
OhSugar
Jul 22nd, 2009
Very useful information. I certainly need help with directions while on a driving trip. I like it.
DA Cournean
Jul 22nd, 2009
Great post Ruby. I have a terrible sense of direction I am sad to say. I don’t think I would be much better with a map and compass either!
Anne Lyken Garner
Jul 23rd, 2009
I’m good at lots of things – great even. Finding my way around is not one of them. I’m rubbish at this. I’ve got a SatNav for my car and it’s one of the most useful things I’ve bought.
The exercises you outlined here are very good, but I’m afraid I’m a lost cause.
Daisy Peasblossom
Jul 23rd, 2009
Compasses are fun things. For the longest time i couldn’t figure out why directions weren’t quite right in my house. It sits square to the street, but the corner of the living room points north, and the opposite corner of the kitchen points south. My compass helped me figure out why the house felt a little bit off.
Rodallega
Aug 2nd, 2009
Long and great article.
It is very clear that you work hard and make a great effort for this one.
Have you ever read my latest article published in Trifter?
http://trifter.com/asia-pacific/australia/wollongong-a-hub-for-swimming-and-surfing-beaches/
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