GPS Orienteering Hike Outline
Class Length: Class size: Class Location: 2 hours 45 minutes Up to 60 participants Dance Barn
Materials: GPS units (kept in Program Manager’s Office), Clipboards w/ Trail Guide and Riddle Grid, 10 items for group to find/hide.
Class Set-up: Check GPS units for battery life, make sure clipboards have clean paperwork and sharpened pencils, Check weather forecast just in case.
Safety Precautions: Be very clear that all participants must stay with their adult chaperone throughout the activity. Emphasize the desired return time to the dance barn and make sure all have a way to tell time (there is a clock in the GPS unit!).
Introduction: (5 - 10 minutes) Give a brief explanation and history on GPS and its overall functions.
Activity 1: (10 – 15 minutes) Get to Know your GPS Unit Distribute the units and have them turn them on and give take them through the buttons and pages available. Explain and practice how to use and recognize features such as “Zoom”.
Activity 2: (25 – 30 minutes) GPS Hide and Go Seek
Designate groups at least one chaperone per group, show them how to find and mark waypoints. Give them an item from the tote to go hide and mark (FUN) and then have them all switch units to find the item.
Activity 3: (1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours) Course Riddle
Give the groups the prepared clipboards and have them head out to complete the riddle using the clues that they find. Clearly designate a time for them to be back by 20 – 30 minutes prior to the end of the program. Make yourself available for those who may need assistance, if all groups are out and doing ok 20 mins in, perform assigned work per wilderness coordinator or program manager.
Conclusion: (5 – 10 minutes) Review GPS information and usage options. Discuss advantages/disadvantages and ease of use/difficulties.
Class Tear-Down: Reset each unit to as they were when class began and check battery level. If batteries need replaced or unit was not functioning properly inform wilderness coordinator or program manager when returning units to program manager’s office. Revised Jan 2012
GPS Orienteering Hike
Class Length: 2 hours 45 minutes
Class size: Up to 60 participants
Class Location: Dance Barn
Materials: GPS units (kept in Program Manager’s Office) Clipboards w/ Trail Guide and Riddle Grid 10 items for groups to hide and find
Objectives: To familiarize participants with using the global positioning system to navigate themselves through unfamiliar areas. To encourage participants to work together to complete the activity.
Class Set-up: Check GPS units for ample battery life Make sure clipboards have clean paperwork and sharpened pencils Check weather forecast just in case
Safety Precautions: Be very clear that all participants must stay with their adult chaperone throughout the activity Emphasize the desired return time to the dance barn and make sure all have a way to tell time (there is a clock in the GPS unit!)
Overview: You will be giving a tutorial on how to use a GPS unit to navigate our Tamarack Woods. They will be breaking into groups including one adult chaperone per group and putting their newfound skills to the test on our GPS course.
Introduction: (5 - 10 minutes) Be sure that GPS units are being held upright with the label at the top.
“Humans have used navigation during their travels since prehistoric times. Historically, what are some methods that have been used for navigation throughout time?” Stars, weather patterns, moss on trees, maps, compasses “What are some advantages to these techniques?” No battery/power needed, cheap, not much/anything to carry “What about the disadvantages?” Only on clear nights, if there are trees, map accuracy “Though there are many different methods for navigation, one current trend lies in GPS units.” “What does GPS stand for?” Revised Jan 2012
Global Positioning System
Briefly explain that the system works by using a ground unit and 3 or more satellites to identify very close to exact location. Since we’re always moving and the satellites are always moving the accuracy changes, but will always be pretty close. Press and hold the power button to turn your unit on, once the satellite connection is made it will tell you your accuracy level. Explain that however many feet that accuracy is extends on either side of the unit. So, if your accuracy is at 15ft, the point you’re looking for could be anywhere within 15 feet around you. It’s like you’re walking around with a 30 foot bubble around you! Accuracy changes constantly but usually stays about the same distance that you start with.
A GPS unit must have a clear “view” of satellites to work. Because GPS uses high frequencies, signals can be blocked by objects such as trees, buildings, car roofs, or even one’s body!
GPS systems need at least three satellites to determine one’s position on the globe – this is known as a 2D fix. Four satellites can create a 3D fix additionally calculating the user’s height above sea level.
For you as the facilitator’s knowledge, here is a description and the function of the buttons and pages in the unit.
UP/DOWN keys: From the Map page, press to zoom the map in or out. From any other page, press to scroll up or down a list or move a slider bar.
ENTER/MARK key: Press and release to enter data or menu selections Press with a main page open to view its option menu Press and hold to MARK your location as a waypoint
QUIT/PAGE key: Press to cycle through the main pages Press to exit a page or quit a function
POWER key: Press and hold to turn unit on or off Press and release to turn backlighting on or off
PAGES: Skyview: shows satellites/signals, location accuracy (ft), signal strength, status message Map: shows your location, path to destination, destination waypoint, map scale, north pointer Pointer: shows destination waypoint, estimated time to destination, compass ring, arrow of direction, straight line distance to destination Trip Computer: shows 5 data fields to indicating travel information
Activity 1: (5 minutes) Get to know your GPS
Revised Jan 2012
Participants will have to share units but there should be no more than 3 looking at a unit at a time. Distribute the units explaining to only push the buttons you ask them to push. First thing, have them hold the power button to turn the unit on and wait for a connection. Have them push the page button and take a look at the Map page Have them use the up button to first zoom out to 800mi explaining that this is showing an area IOWA to NEW YORK and KENTUCKY to CANADA. Have them use the down button to zoom in to 50ft as it’s maximum zoom Have them push enter, scroll down to HIDE WAYPOINTS, thereby removing them from the map screen. They can be returned by pressing enter again and scrolling to SHOW WAYPOINTS.
Activity 2: (25 - 30 minutes) Hide and Go Seek
Explain to the students that they will now get a chance to play “GPS Hide-and-Go-Seek”. First we need to learn how to find and create waypoints.
Finding a waypoint Have them scroll through the pages until they are at the MENU page. Then press down to WAYPOINTS and press enter Have them press down once to highlight the A-D button and press enter Then have them scroll down all the way to DNCBRN(Dance Barn) and press enter They then have the option to GO TO and should press enter Explain that after you press “GO TO” the arrow will point in a straight line to the waypoint, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WALK IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO GET THERE. Stay on roads, trails, and near camp buildings as you walk to your waypoint Show that the unit will tell you how far away a point is in part of a mile, or feet as you get closer. The number will continue to drop until you see “Arriving Destination” in a little box on the bottom of your screen. The number will never get down to and stay at zero because everything is always in motion. Be sure and tell them that when they enter in a new waypoint, the unit may initially point them in the wrong direction until they start moving and the satellites can track them better- that is normal! There is no way for the satellites know which way you are facing! Follow the new way that the arrow points to get to your waypoint.
Creating a waypoint Have them scroll to the map page and hold down enter You are then being asked to designate your current location and it’s symbol as it currently will give you a symbol of a flag and a 3 digit number Scroll up and you can change the symbol and name by clicking enter on them and choosing from other options Have them practice creating a waypoint (you check it). If you want to delete a waypoint you scroll to the MENU page and down to WAYPOINTS and press enter. Find the waypoint they created and press enter and then scroll up to DELETE.
Split the group into an even number of groups having as many groups as chaperones (no more than 10 though). Give each of the groups one of your items meant for hiding/finding and explain
Revised Jan 2012 that they will be going out marking a waypoint where they hide their item and then returning so a different group may then go find it.
Hiding Rules: Item may not be hidden under anything or up in a tree. Waypoint should be titled “FUN” when they name it, they may choose any symbol. They have only 10 minutes to hide their item and get back to you at the Dance Barn, a whistle blast should be given to let them know their time is up.
You will assist groups in switching GPS units when they return, make sure everyone has something to go find! If you go to MENU and scroll down to TRACKS you can clear the path by which the group used to hide their item.
While group is hiding items adjust your number of clipboards to the number of chaperones. If more than four groups you will need to designate additional starting points for the riddle course, see below. Once a group brings back your item to you, you may give them a clipboard and have them begin activity 3.
Activity 3: (1 hour 30 minutes - 2 hours) Riddle Course
The clipboard has a puzzle on the back which they will answer using the clues found on the waypoints. There are 2 courses (Pine Forest & Horse Track) that can each be done forward and reverse, giving you 4 easy starting options. If you have more than four groups you can start groups on PF___ , PF___, or PF___ and HT___, HT___, or HT___. Indicate their starting point on their clipboard sheet and explain that they will need to cycle through the numbers and continue to the point where they started. Be very clear and repetitive to state that they need to be back by 20 minutes prior to the end of the program. If the group was late to you or a little spacey during the intro perhaps 30 minutes prior. Point out that you are at the Dance Barn (DNCBRN). Groups will be out for awhile, make yourself available for the first 20-30 minutes in case a group needs assistance and be sure to be back 30 minutes before the program is over. During the time in between you should find out what you can be working on from the Wilderness Coordinator or the Program Manager. Groups will get done at different times so plan on asking them questions about their experience, what they saw?, how did they do on their puzzle? Once all groups are back to the Dance Barn proceed with the conclusion.
Conclusion: (5 – 10 minutes) Throughout time, humans have used a variety of methods for navigation. GPS is the most modern of these technologies, and despite its increasing usage and accuracy, as with all methods of navigation, it is not entirely fail-proof. “What advantages GPS presents when compared to the other methods discussed in the introduction.” Dependant on weather, open canopy, batteries, it working “What is difficult about using a GPS unit?” “What was easy?”
Class Tear-Down: Check each unit that all waypoints created during this class have been deleted and all necessary waypoints are still there.
Revised Jan 2012
Note any units with low battery life and share with Wilderness Coordinator or Program Manager when you return them to the office.
Revised Jan 2012