Teaching Nagivation Skills in the Mountains
A child stands at a fork in the trail, looks at a paper map then up at the actual mountain trail in front of them. Now they have to decide which way is right, without a phone in sight. How will they decide which way to go?
During a week with Peak Pioneers, our mountain guides teach our Adventurers these important navigation skills. The purpose of this is beyond simply reading a map: kids come home at the end of the day standing two inches taller. The sense of achievement they feel once they’ve done their first navigation challenge is huge.
Why navigation skills matter
This isn't really about compasses. It's a about child learning to trust their own eyes and their own read of a real, physical place instead of waiting for an app or a grownup to tell them where they are. This builds a kind of confidence that can’t easily be learned in a classroom, and this is why we teach them when they’re young. They’re still at an age where “I can read a map” brings with it huge bragging rights, and we love to take it further than that to “I led my team on a mountain scavenger hunt.”
Navigation is about a lot more than about what kids are able to physically do. It allows them to experience the world in a different way. Rather than blindly following an adult around, they are asked to make the decisions themselves. It’s about problem-solving, self-reliance and decision-making, and we believe kids are never too young to learn these things.
What the skill actually looks like
Spotting and reading a trail marker
Turning a map so it matches the direction you're actually facing
Using a compass to hold a bearing, not just to point at "north"
Choosing a route at a fork, with a guide there to talk through the choice, not make it for them
We teach the kids all of the above, and when it’s time to put their skills to the test, they are asked to do so as a team. Younger groups practice with landmarks close by: a distinctive tree, a boulder, a bend in the trail. Older groups take on more of the actual decision, reading a full route and owning the choice of which fork to take, with a guide close enough to step in if it matters. In every case, we make it fun.
Why Peak Pioneers
The Peak Pioneers itinerary blends real outdoor skills, environment and ecological education, physical activities and games, and emotional and artistic experiences. Our itineraries are designed to stretch and engage our campers from their very first day with us. Our ultimate aim is to foster a real love of the outdoors, allowing kids to build confidence and friendships along the way. Find out more about our programme here.
