Use the Compass Game to Improve Your Navigation Skills

Learning to navigate outdoors is an important skill. The Compass Game is a quick, hands-on challenge designed to help you practice reading a compass, measuring your steps and getting comfortable with your gear.

Whether you are using a compass for the very first time or just trying to see how accurate you can be, this simple activity is the perfect way to put your skills to the test.

HOW TO PLAY THE COMPASS GAME

Try the following challenge to test your skill with using a compass and making measurements:

1. Push a stick into the ground beside your foot. Turn the housing on your compass to any bearing (15 degrees, for example). Turn the compass so the magnetic needle and the orienting needle line up and sight along the direction-of-travel arrow to a landmark. Walk 100 feet toward it.
2. Add 120 degrees to your first bearing, (the angle from where you are standing to where you want to go) and set your compass again (in this example, 120 degrees plus 15 degrees equals 135 degrees). Take a second bearing and walk 100 feet on the new heading.
3. Add 120 degrees to the second compass setting (120 degrees plus 135 degrees equals 255 degrees) and adjust the compass housing. (Subtract 360 if your total is more than 360.) Take a final bearing and walk 100 feet.

If your bearings and pace measurement were accurate, you’ll be standing near the stick where you started.

TRY AN INTERACTIVE VERSION OF THE COMPASS GAME

Try the Compass Game in full-screen view

Ready to test your compass skills? Play this interactive Compass Game to practice setting bearings, calculating headings and tracking your virtual steps. See if you can complete the challenge and navigate your way back to the start!