+ - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - PAX V Using triangulation, V Using an altimeter, V Estimating distances and hiking times accurately. POINTMAN’S 11. With your Squad Leader you have organized a mountain climb: • You show why you have chosen that particular itinerary CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (you have drawn the itinerary’s elevation profile to make sure that the itinerary is adapted to all your squad mates, you show the points of interest…), • You have foreseen and organized all appropriate safety measures (itinerary restricted to the Staff, break loca- tions, lunch and evening camp locations, eventual cabin, eventual escape and/or rescue route…) • You follow and make others follow the mountain hike rules: speed, breaks, back up, individual and company discipline (respect of nature, no stone throwing, no short cutting…) 12. You have opened the trail in randonnée, cross-country, back- country skis or snowshoes during 2 outings: 13. You choose 1 amongst the 2 following options: a. You have joined in a summer or winter trail marking bee. b. You have set up a snow orienteering course (skis or snow- shoes). CATHOLIC CADETS OF AMERICA (16) - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - trails: E.g. using, in your Squad’s Base of Operations, a wall 1. Navigation Certifications: map or a 3D map of your region, with pins, markers… Squad pointmen may prepare and pass either the Scout or 8. You know how mountain vegetation changes with altitude: foot- Orienteer certification; hills (deciduous forest or grasslands), montane from the mid- Afterwards, they may deepen their navigational skills by pre- altitude forests to the tree line (conifers), subalpine zone and paring and passing the following certifications: Topographer , alpine zone (closed carpet of vegetation that includes alpine Geocacher , Mountain Navigator and Surveyor . meadows, shrubs and sporadic dwarfed trees), Snow zone. In this booklet you will find the requirements for all these 9. You know precisely the meaning of several mountain features: certifications, except for that of Surveyor . aiguille, arête, bergschrund, butte, cairn, cirque, col, cornice, couloir, crag, crevasse, dihedral, dome, gendarme, glacier, gully, REQUIREMENTS COMMON TO ALL headwall, highpoint, horn, inselberg, knob, knoll, ledge, massif, NAVIGATION CERTIFICATIONS. moat, moraine, mesa, needle, pass, peak, penitentes, plateau, range, saddle, scree, serac, shoulder, snow line, spire, spur, 1. Compass: summit, sun cup, talus, tree line, verglas… • Theory: 10. You have proved that you master map reading: V You know and are capable of explaining how a compass • You know very well the map signs. works and what the features of an orienteering com- • You read and identify altitudes on a map properly. pass (baseplate compass, like a Silva compass) are. • Then, in the field you have proved that you are capable of V You know the different angle measurement systems verifying your itinerary: (degrees, mills, grades), and how to convert them. V Using all the clues given by the map (distances, hy- • Practice: drography, vegetation, contour lines…), V In the field, you know how to take a compass bearing V Using the trail marks on the actual trails, and follow it. (2) (15) - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - NOTE: To fulfil this requirement, you will need to set up a 2. Map: You fulfil ALL the following conditions: free user account with www.geocaching.com . Before doing so, • You know the basics of Topography: Longitudes and Lati- ask your parent for permission. If you do not have your par- tudes, geographical coordinates (UTM, MGRS and ents’ permission, then you are dispensed from this requirement. USNG), projections (cylindrical, Conic, UTM and UPS), 14. You have set up and hidden a public geocache, following terrain features. proper geocaching technique and etiquette. However, before • You know the most common scales used by modern maps, doing so, you have briefed your CO and given him a six- both imperial (1:24,000, 1:62,500, 1:63,360) and metric month maintenance plan for the geocache where you are (1:25,000, 1: 100,000, 1:150,000, 1:250,000), and you are personally responsible for the first three months. After capable of understanding them; you also know how to use setting up the geocache, with your parent's permission, fol- aerial photos. low the logs online for 30 days and keep your CO informed. • You know the map symbols and teach them to your squad’s Novices. 15. You organized a geohunt for a youth group such as your pla- • toon, your squad, friends…: You chose a theme, set up a You know the meaning of topographical maps’ marginal notes and symbols (GN & MN, UTM or Long/Lat Coordi- course with at least four waypoints, taught the players how nate grids and numbers, scale…) to use a GPS unit, and play the game. • You know the different methods used by maps to repre- sent terrain altitude (contour lines, shades, bench marks). You are capable of identifying a gentle slope, a MOUNTAIN NAVIGATOR’S CERTIFICATION: steep slope, a cliff, a gully or couloir, a ridge, a summit, a cirque or bowl, a saddle, pass or col. NB. You must first fulfil requirements 1 to 6 common to • You are capable of determining the altitude of a point on all Navigation certifications (pages 2 to 4). the map. 7. You know and have made others also know your region’s main summits, main mountain trails, and main back country ski (14) (3) - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - • You know the meaning of magnetic declination, and why • You know the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) you must consider declination when using map and com- system, and the MGRS (Military Grid Reference Sys- pass together. tem) or the USNG (United Stated National Grid), and • You know how to measure distances on a map using a how they differ from the latitude/longitude system compass. used for public geocaches. • You know how to orient a map using a compass. • You know how to plot a UTM, and a MGRS or USNG way- • You are capable of identifying your position on a map, of point on a map. Compare the accuracy to that found with calculating its coordinates in DMS, Decimal Minutes, Dec- a GPS unit. imal Degrees, UTM, and MGRS (or USNG), and of identi- 10. You are capable of properly planning an activity that uses a fying the main features of the surrounding landscape. GPS, including using the buddy system, sharing your plan 3. You have set up a 100-meter pace course. You have deter- with others, and considering the weather, route, and proper mined your walking and running pace for 100 metres. You attire. know why it is important to pace-count. 11. You know how to use proper geocaching etiquette when hid- 4. You can orient yourself in the field (or aboard) with a ing or seeking a cache, how to properly hide, post, maintain, wristwatch, a compass, a map; and at night you are capable and dismantle a geocache, and why you should never bury a of finding the Polar Star immediately. cache, 5. You have led your squad with a compass, by day and by 12. You know the four steps for finding your first cache. night, on an off-trail itinerary at least 3 km (2 miles) long 13. With your parent's permission, you went to and on varied terrain conditions (forest, hills, bush, meadow…). www.geocaching.com (or any other geocaching website) on line, typed in your zip code to locate public geocaches in 6. You know what a GPS is, how it works, and how to use one. your area, then picked a geocache and found the cache. (4) (13) - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - - CCA Pointman Certification Requirements - 9. You are capable of triangulating your position and indicating it on the map. SCOUT’S (= Raider’s) CERTIFICATION: 10. You know what a GPS is, how it works, and how to use one. NB. You must first fulfil requirements 1 to 6, common to all Navigation certifications (pages 2 to 4). 7. You possess you own Scouting (=raid) gear, which includes: GEOCAHER’S CERTIFICATION: A minimalist day-type pack (e.g. the Marine Corps ILBE Assault Pack), a map case (which can accommodate a cou- NB. You must first fulfil requirements 1 to 6 common ple of maps and a compass), a good compass (Magnetic to all Navigation certifications (pages 2 to 4). Declination Adjustment screw – 2° increments – mirror – 1:24,000 and 1:25,000 scales at least, both inches and cm 7. You know the following terms used in geocaching: waypoint, rulers, for use with inch and cm maps), an IFAK (individual log, cache, accuracy, difficulty and terrain ratings, attrib- First Aid Kit), a 10ish metres (30 ft) lasso or rope (not utes, trackable, and 5 other terms. cord), a couple of tin-foil sheets, a water bottle, a note- 8. GPS: You know how the Global Positioning System (GPS) book and a pencil, a New Testament, your pocket knife or works, and how to use a GPS receiver. You have actually used dagger, a small Survival Kit (matches kept in a waterproof one during a hike or another activity, and you have marked container, tinder like cotton balls in flammable substance , and edited at least 10 waypoints, changed once field func- fire starter rod and striker, plastic bags like Ziplocs as tions, and changed once the coordinate system in the unit. water containers, water purification tablets, Fishing hooks and line, thin wire for trapping, signalling mirror, emergen- 9. Map/Compass Navigation: You have acquired the following skills: cy USCG approved whistle, survival blanket, a compact • You know the similarities and differences between GPS multi-tool, a couple of safety pins and nails, Duct tape).