Lecture: Wilderness Navigation
Activity 2: In-Person Workshop at the Seattle Program Center - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center
Activity 2 is a 1 day in-person event held at the Mountaineers Seattle Program Center. Students who do not successfully complete this activity cannot proceed to the field trip. They will forfeit their course fees and receive no credit for their work.
- Sat, Aug 23, 2025
- Seattle Navigation Committee
- Navigation
- Adults
- Moderate
- 7 (21 capacity)
- FULL (6 capacity)
- Thu, Jul 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM
- Thu, Aug 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
Instructors arrive at 7:30 AM. Students arrive no later than 8:00 AM.
The workshop starts at 8 AM sharp. Ends at 2 PM approximately. Activity 2 includes an outdoor component, please be prepared to walk several miles and be mindful of weather conditions.
Meet at the Seattle Program Center.
About the Workshop
Activity 2 continues to reinforce the core principles of wilderness navigation:
- Measuring and Plotting a Bearing
- Mastering Map Basics
- Understanding Declination
- Owning the Ethic of Self-Reliance, and
- Situational Awareness
Details
We meet at the Seattle Program Center for check in, orientation, and small group assignment.
Once in your small group, you will be given UTM coordinates in Magnuson Park to which you will guide yourselves, shadowed by your instructors. Please stay with your small group and practice the Ethic of Self-Reliance and Situational Awareness! It is a 10 to 15 minute walk. Be prepared for the weather. Bring your required equipment. For the bulk of our time "in the field" you will practice using a paper map in combination with your compass and GPS device. Remember, measuring and plotting a bearing are two halves of one unified process. And, in that process, you touch the bezel only once!
Your small group will hike back to the Program Center for up to 2.5 hours of in-depth review of navigational principles and mechanics. This includes hands-on practice with your paper map and compass, guided by a Q&A problem set and accompanied by highly detailed illustrations displayed on an overhead screen.
Your small group instructor will assess your skills throughout the day and give you feedback for improvement.
We will end the day with a review of the field trip. There will be no official lunch break. Feel free to bring snack foods to eat throughout the day.
InstructorS
Come prepared to instruct students who likely have a wide range of experience:
- Instructor Workshop packets will be issued to you in your welcome email at least two days before the workshop.
- Bring your declination adjustable compass, cell phone with Caltopo or GaiaGPS installed, compass and altimeter.
Seattle Program Center at Magnuson Park
WHILE BOTH RECOMMENDED BOOKS ARE EXCELLENT, ONE WILL SUFFICE.
Required Equipment
See the Required Equipment and Course Materials tabs on the main course page for details and links.