Description

Course Overview

• Duration: 3 Hours (e.g., 19:00 – 22:00)

• Location: Open terrain or woodland with clear linear features (paths, fences) and safe “catch features.”

• Goal: To build confidence moving accurately in low-visibility conditions.

• Prerequisites: Participants should already know basic map symbols and how to take a bearing.

Phase 1: 

Objective: Ensure everyone is equipped and understands the safety protocols.

• Gear Check: Ensure everyone has a headtorch (preferably with a red light mode to preserve night vision), spare batteries, whistle, and appropriate clothing.

• The Safety Brief:

  • The “Buddy System”: No one moves alone.

  • The “Safe Bearing”: If completely lost, walk bearing X (e.g., North) to hit the main road/perimeter.

  • Whistle Signals: 6 blasts for emergency/injury.

  • Light Discipline: Explain that bright beams kill depth perception and night vision. We will aim to use the lowest light setting necessary.

Phase 2: 

Objective: Adjusting techniques for the dark while visibility is still fading (or under low light).

1. Pacing Recalibration

Perception of distance changes at night. People often shorten their stride when they can’t see the ground clearly.

• Activity: Walk a measured 100m strip. Have students count their “night paces” (double steps). Compare this to their known day pacing.

2. Map Prep & Simplification Reading a map under a red light is harder; detail disappears.

• Technique: Fold the map small. Keep your thumb on your exact position (thumbing the map).

• Concept: Gross vs. Fine Navigation. At night, we ignore small contour details and focus on big, unmissable features (large hills, boundary walls).

Phase 3: 

Objective: Learning to walk a straight line when you cannot see a landmark to aim for.

1. The “Send-Ahead” Method You cannot pick a tree 500m away to aim at in the dark.

• Activity: Pair up students.

  • Student A takes a bearing.

  • Student B walks ahead 20–30 meters to the limit of visibility.

  • Student A directs them (“Left… Stop… Right… Good.”) until they are aligned with the bearing.

  • Student A walks up to Student B. Repeat.

2. Walking on a Bearing (Solo)

• Activity: Students walk a set bearing (e.g., 50m through open woodland) without looking at a partner, trusting the needle.

Phase 4: 

1. Strategy: Attack Points & Catch Features Before moving, the group plans the leg.

• Attack Point: “We aren’t looking for the small hidden pond yet. We are looking for the massive path junction 100m before it. That is our Attack Point.”

• Catch Feature: “If we cross a stream, we have gone too far.”

2. The Navigation Leg Navigate a planned route involving 3–4 legs.

• Leg 1: Following a linear feature (Handrailing). E.g., Follow the forest edge.

• Leg 2: Short compass leg across open ground (Timing/Pacing essential).

• Leg 3: “Aiming Off.” Deliberately aim to the left of a target checkpoint to hit a linear feature (like a wall), so you know which way to turn (turn right) to find the point.

This product requires a minimum of 2 people to run, we reserve the right to cancel and refund should we get insufficient numbers