I don't post in this topic much, but after reading that you are doing an "orienteering" class, I would like to ask you to do a favor to the young fellas that will be attending...
The favor:
Keep it simple & get them excited about using a compass & a map,and learning how to keep their head & use simple tools they have available to them to navigate. Even just how to use an analog watch to find simple N-S headings. How to use the crescent moon & its points to know N-S bearings. Knowing that trees in the N. hemisphere usually have more branches on the South side of the tree where the branches/tree get more sun. How that in most place if you reach a watershed that is flowing like a stream/creek/river.. going down river, that it usually will , even after some time.. lead to a bridge or something that might help orient themselves to human habitation, or if they have a map, help them ID where they are, by the lay of the land..
Oops.. ran on /long post.. Blah blah.. but if ya make them excited about it. they won't forget it.
At least so they can know how to get through terrain with confidence. Be it as simple as following a road map through a section of country, or a city, or following a map showing contour lines , etc..
G'luck & I wish ya & them lil fellers well..
( My Dad, Uncle "Red", & others, taught me well & got me to where I can pick & know direction without compass, even without light, from back when I was a young lad, simply by getting me used to "always" know how I turn & mentally remember my orientation as I made the turns once I remember where I was to start with... Even when blindfolded. Neat trick. I am lucky.. not many have that type of thing taught to them.
Maybe you should see how them lil fellers do if they try it... The younger the better... turns into an "instinct".
)
