Boy Scout Archives: Orienteering Merit Badge

Orienteering Merit BadgeOrienteering, the use of map and compass to find locations and plan a journey, has been a vital skill for humans for thousands of years. Orienteering is also a recognized sport at the Olympic Games, and thousands of people participate in the sport each year in local clubs and competitions.

Orienteering Merit Badge Requirements

  1. Show that you know first aid for the types of injuries that could occur while orienteering, including cuts, scratches, blisters, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, heat and cold reactions (sunburn, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia), and dehydration. Explain to your counselor why you should be able to identify poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area.
  2. Explain what orienteering is.
  3. Do the following:
    1. Explain how a compass works. Describe the features of an orienteering compass.
    2. In the field, show how to take a compass bearing and follow it.
  4. Do the following:
    1. Explain how a topographic map shows terrain features. Point out and name five terrain features on a map and in the field.
    2. Point out and name 10 symbols on a topographic map.
    3. Explain the meaning of declination. Tell why you must consider declination when using map and compass together.
    4. Show a topographic map with magnetic north-south lines.
    5. Show how to measure distances on a map using an orienteering compass.
    6. Show how to orient a map using a compass.
  5. Set up a 100-meter pace course. Determine your walking and running pace for 100 meters. Tell why it is important to pace-count.
  6. Do the following:
    1. Identify 20 international control description symbols. Tell the meaning of each symbol.
    2. Show a control description sheet and explain the information provided.
    3. Explain the following terms and tell when you would use them: attack point, collecting feature, aiming off, contouring, reading ahead, handrail, relocation, rough versus fine orienteering.
  7. Do the following:
    1. Take part in three orienteering events. One of these must be a cross-country course.*
    2. After each event, write a report with (1) a copy of the master map and control description sheet, (2) a copy of the route you took on the course, (3) a discussion of how you could improve your time between control points, and (4) a list of your major weaknesses on this course. Describe what you could do to improve.Do ONE of the following:
    3. Set up a cross-country course that is at least 2,000 meters long with at least five control markers. Prepare the master map and control description sheet.
    4. Set up a score orienteering course with at least 12 control points and a time limit of at least 60 minutes. Set point values for each control. Prepare the master map and control description sheet.
  8. Act as an official during an orienteering event. This may be during the running of the course you set up for requirement 8.
  9. Teach orienteering techniques to your patrol, troop, or crew.

* Note to the Counselor: While orienteering is primarily an individual sport, BSA Youth Protection procedures call for using the buddy system. Requirement 7a can be completed by pairs or groups of Scouts.


Related Articles:

OutdoorsBSA Methods - The Outdoors  One of the methods for Boy Scouts is “the outdoors”. Being outdoors presents Boy Scouts with challenges and adventures. Boys enjoy the independence of getting away from home and taking care of themselves.

 

CampingCamping Troop Program Feature for Boy Scouts  The Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide suggests a Camping troop program feature for Boy Scouts. The focus of this program feature is on outdoor skills.

 

water bottlePowdered Sports Drink Recipe  Sports drinks like Gatorade or Power Aid are designed to replenish the water and salt your body loses when you are active or exercising. You can mix up your own powdered mix to accomplish this for a fraction of the cost of purchasing these drinks by the bottle.

 

Map and CompassPersonal Measurement Log for Orienteering  When you go on an orienteering course, you need to have some ways to measure things. Some of the methods used require you to have something of known length for comparison. A personal measurement log will help you with this.

 

National Outdoor BadgesNational Outdoor Badges - Hiking  I don't think anyone in our troop has come close to doing this much hiking, but we do have a group currently training for Philmont, so maybe they will make these goals.

 

Map and CompassFinding Direction Using a Watch  For First Class Requirement 1, Scouts must show how to find their way at day and night without a compass. This method only requires a watch.

 

Personal Management Merit Badge for Boy ScoutsRequirements and Helps for Boy Scout Merit Badges  You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges.

 

Map and CompassMaps, Compasses, and Declination  Scouts will be interested to learn that the north indicated by their compasses is not really true north. Instead it points to the magnetic north pole, which is not fixed. The difference between true north and magnetic north is called declination.