SCSS  Compass
and Orienteering

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Compass and Orienteering is not hard, but it may be new to you.  So, like everything, there's a learning curve.  Once you do get accustomed to it, it is very fun and useful.  Compass and Orienteering is not a very common skill anymore, so this will give you skills that most people do not have.  It does take some effort on your part.  But fortunately it's very straightforward.

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First, "orienteering" is actually a sport that's very popular overseas especially in the Nordic countries. It has been increasingly adopted in the US fortunately.  Orienteering is kind of a race based on land navigation skills using compasses and maps.  The competition I intend to prepare you for is more aptly thought of as "land navigation" or "wilderness navigation."  While there is a time limit for the competition and time management is important, completing the course quickly does not gain you any advantage.  Accuracy, understanding, and problem solving skills is more the goal of this competition.

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The Compass and Orienteering (land navigation) events are based on certain published books that I have tried to summarize here.  There's no substitute for reading those published books and this site is not intended to replace them!  So I'll list those references here and I highly encourage you to read them.

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This is just one of many disciplines that you'll be working to master with your coaches.  As a team, we will get together from time to time to practice and talk about all of the disciplines including land navigation.  So, in order to make best use of our time together, I created this site to introduce you to some topics quickly.  We will talk and practice these skills in person, but it will only help you to have read this material before practice so you have a better idea of what we're doing.

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One last word, there's a lot of information here.  Nobody expects you to learn all of this at once and not on your own!  This site is meant to be used along with your coach's in-person work and not really as a "text book", so show up to practice and do the reading assigned by your coach.  This allows me flexibility  in class depending on how things are going.  It allows me to take your feedback in class and design exercises for you based on your progress and questions.   Just do a little bit at a time, and if you have questions, ask.  Remember, this is about having fun, being safe, and doing your best at the time (thanks coach Kerry!)

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-Scott Yakoubian

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