Navigation and Map Reading Challenge
OVERVIEW
Youth will learn how to navigate in outdoor environments using a compass, map, GPS and pace counters. They will be challenged to complete a variety of challenges at home as well as a local natural area – either Kankakee River State Park, Kankakee County or Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, Grundy County. Upon successful completion of these challenges, they will receive an invite to participate in our Outdoor Skills Challenge at the end of the summer.
****Registration required at https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=22403
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Resources/links will be emailed for youth to begin the learning process prior to supply pickup. An educator will be available at pickup to answer any questions and demonstrate skills if needed. Thus, the learning will be on their own time when it’s convenient for them. An educator will also be available via Zoom throughout the activity to assist youth with any questions or skills they need help with. In order to complete all activities, youth will need access to a cell phone with GPS capabilities as well as a computer with access to Google Earth online (free). If you are unable to access these, please contact us and we can create alternative activities.
This two-week challenge will incorporate the following knowledge, skills and challenges:
DATES
Wednesday, July 15 – Supply pickup and start of two-week challenge
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
AGES
Youth ages 8-18 (Content is geared toward youth age 10+. However, younger youth can complete the challenge with assistance from an adult).
COST
$5/first youth, $9/two youth, $12/three+ youth in the same household
SUPPLY PICKUP
Families will pick up the supplies they need to complete the skills and will also receive a list of challenges they will be asked to complete. Supplies they will pick up include:
CHALLENGES
The challenges can be completed anytime July 15-29. There are two types of challenges - those that can be done anywhere (to include at home) and those that will need to be completed at a local natural area (see below). This is only an overview and detailed instructions will be emailed.
At supply pickup, staff will be on hand at pickup if the youth have any questions or need assistance with the supplies. Families can choose to pull up and receive their kit and leave or come to the table for the kit and have any questions answered. Staff will have a table outside and will have on PPE (face mask). When registering, please select the time of pickup and method (drive by or table).
Youth are encouraged to showcase their skills by creating a short video or taking photos and posting them to a secure location online. All youth that complete the skills and submit photos or videos (online or via email) will be invited to participate in the 4-H version of "The Amazing Race" on August 29th.
Youth will learn how to navigate in outdoor environments using a compass, map, GPS and pace counters. They will be challenged to complete a variety of challenges at home as well as a local natural area – either Kankakee River State Park, Kankakee County or Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, Grundy County. Upon successful completion of these challenges, they will receive an invite to participate in our Outdoor Skills Challenge at the end of the summer.
****Registration required at https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=22403
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Resources/links will be emailed for youth to begin the learning process prior to supply pickup. An educator will be available at pickup to answer any questions and demonstrate skills if needed. Thus, the learning will be on their own time when it’s convenient for them. An educator will also be available via Zoom throughout the activity to assist youth with any questions or skills they need help with. In order to complete all activities, youth will need access to a cell phone with GPS capabilities as well as a computer with access to Google Earth online (free). If you are unable to access these, please contact us and we can create alternative activities.
This two-week challenge will incorporate the following knowledge, skills and challenges:
- Knowledge
- Compasses – What compasses are and why they’re important
- Pace counters – What pace counters are and why they’re important
- Maps (DIY) – Why maps are important
- Latitude and Longitude – What is it and why it’s important
- Skills - Tools
- Compasses – How to use them (the basics)
- Pace counters – How to create and use a pace counter
- Maps (DIY) - How to create and use maps
- Google Earth – How to use Google Earth
- Skills – Experiential (putting it into action)
- Creating a map of both their home and local area listed above to include direction (NESW North, East, South West) and distance in feet. They will complete this using a DIY pace counter and a compass and record the results on graph paper.
- Navigating their way from a variety of given locations at on-location natural areas using their pace counter and compass. They will be given a starting point and the direction and distance to the next location. At each point, they will record what they find.
- Using a map and ruler to find select points.
- Finding a variety of locations throughout the world using Google Earth. At each location, youth will record the latitude and longitude of the location. Locations will include their own home, their school, local natural areas and beautiful natural areas throughout the world.
DATES
Wednesday, July 15 – Supply pickup and start of two-week challenge
- 10:00 - 11:30 AM Grundy Extension Office
- 12:30 – 2:00 PM Kankakee Extension Office
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
AGES
Youth ages 8-18 (Content is geared toward youth age 10+. However, younger youth can complete the challenge with assistance from an adult).
COST
$5/first youth, $9/two youth, $12/three+ youth in the same household
SUPPLY PICKUP
Families will pick up the supplies they need to complete the skills and will also receive a list of challenges they will be asked to complete. Supplies they will pick up include:
- Compass – to be returned to the Extension office after the challenge is complete. Families have the option of keeping the compass for an additional fee (our cost, $7.00) during registration.
- Pace Count Bead Lanyard (link) – you keep
- Counting beads to count your strides/pace/walking distance
- Paracord 550 (26 inches per youth)
- Beads (13)
- Carabiner
- Lighter (you supply)
- Map of Kankakee location and Grundy outdoor location – you keep
- Graph paper – you keep
- List of challenges
CHALLENGES
The challenges can be completed anytime July 15-29. There are two types of challenges - those that can be done anywhere (to include at home) and those that will need to be completed at a local natural area (see below). This is only an overview and detailed instructions will be emailed.
- Possible anywhere challenges
- Creating a hand drawn map of your yard, a park, etc. - Graph paper will be included in your supply kit
- Map reading and identifying landmarks - A map will be included in your supply kit
- Google Earth identifying landmarks and answering questions - A list of locations to find and questions will be in your supply kit
- Possible on location sites and challenges - An example could be start at Point A, walk 200 feet northwest, turn 180 degrees, walk 100 feet south and identify the object your find.
- Grundy County - Goose Prairie State Natural Area
- Kankakee County - Kankakee River State Park
At supply pickup, staff will be on hand at pickup if the youth have any questions or need assistance with the supplies. Families can choose to pull up and receive their kit and leave or come to the table for the kit and have any questions answered. Staff will have a table outside and will have on PPE (face mask). When registering, please select the time of pickup and method (drive by or table).
Youth are encouraged to showcase their skills by creating a short video or taking photos and posting them to a secure location online. All youth that complete the skills and submit photos or videos (online or via email) will be invited to participate in the 4-H version of "The Amazing Race" on August 29th.