Women's Learn to Navigate Course

SAT 12 JULY 2025 08:30 AM - 14:30 PM

ABOUT THIS EVENT

Join us in a small, all-women group of 8 maximum participants, where we cover:

• Why learn to navigate
• What compass to use, and why
• How to read and understand a Topographic Map
• How to take a bearing off a map, and walk a series of bearings on a route
• Interpreting the map vs reality
• Navigation tips and tricks
• Understanding the different Norths (and why)
• Calculate and estimate distances
• How to figure out where you are on the map
• How to re-orient yourself if things go wrong
• Understanding different terrain and conditions, and how that impacts on navigation
• Plenty of tools and tricks to help keep you safe and ontrack; and
• Natural navigation methods

We start the session with some easy but critical navigation theory in a warm, local coffee shop and progress to a close-by outdoor location (15 minute drive).

At our field site, we'll use and apply the theory from our morning session, putting it into practice by walking a series of 10-11 bearings, and finding our way off-track around a route of approximately 5 klm with approximately 200 metres of ascent over 4 hours.

You'll learn plenty of tricks and tips also - how to use natural features to keep you on track; common mistakes people make and how people get lost. We'll look at how to know when you've made a mistake, and how to get yourself unlost - the steps to take to work out where you are, where you went wrong, and how to progress from that.

Even if you aren't planning on walking exploratory off-track hikes just yet - knowing how to find a direction, read and interpret a map, and keep yourself safe is an essential skill for staying found. It's a critical skill, that every outdoors person should have.

Once you understand paper map and compass navigation, then you can progress to using GPS and navigation apps, much more safely and with less risk.

We recommend that every outdoor participant carries a topographic map and compass, as one of their ten essentials whenever they head outdoors.

WHAT TO BRING

• Hat / Sunscreen
• Water
• Reading glasses
• Lunch / snack
• Rainjacket
• Zip lock bag (if rain is expected)
• Emergency whistle

OPTIONAL

• Gaitors
• 1 hiking pole - we have one steep gully section. 1 pole will be helpful if you have dodgy knees

We can provide a loan compasses for the session - if you want to try a particular compass out, or, you can buy your own. If you need a loan, just indicate on the RSVP.

Here's our comprehensive article and summary of how to decide which compass to buy:

How to Buy a Compass (bushsafe.com)

In addition, we are looking to get in some more of Caro Ryan's 3rd updated Edition of 'How to Navigate' books, for sale. When these are available, we will list them up here to buy, and you can save on postage purchasing through us. I'll bring your copy along on the day. It will be a fantastic prompter for what you will learn on the day, and you won't have to try and keep any notes.

If you'd like a copy of the book, just purchase one in the RSVP. [Note - Caro is about to release an updated 3rd edition, so we're waiting for that]

* I will send everyone details of our starting location, a week out from the event, but it will be in Central Canberra/Belconnen area**

This is the perfect beginner's course, and there are a series of graduated, more difficult practice sessions and Intermediate Skills courses, to follow.

REFUNDS

If you are unable to attend the course for any reason, unfortunately we do not offer refunds. We may consider a request to transfer your spot to one future event (and a refund cannot be provided from that event).

ABOUT THE ACTIVITY LEAD

Kelli Jackson is a former Search & Rescue member who has deployed to Afghanistan for 9 months, and has helped get over 6,000 women in Canberra, safely outdoors. Through Bushsafe, Kelli also runs practical Survival Skills courses specifically for women hikers who might find themselves in an emergency situation.

Kelli teaches navigation in an easy to understand way, that she hasn't ever encountered or seen elsewhere.

Kelli is regularly featured on ABC radio and in print media, talking about survival and safety in the outdoors.

You can read about her, here:

Women's survival skills instructor warns hikers learning the basics can be the difference between life and death - ABC News

Five remarkable mental health benefits of hiking - Wilderness Magazine

How light is too light? - Wilderness Magazine