Do I need a sighting compass?

No. Any two-degree baseplate compass will work for this course; sighting compasses are not required.

Is this suitable for beginners?

Yes. The curriculum is paced for beginners while offering depth useful to experienced hikers and guides-in-training.

What if my tools arrive after the first class?

You can still attend the first Zoom session; instructors will accommodate students who obtain tools between classes.

Do I need a Maine Gazetteer?

It’s recommended but not required—any edition of a Delorme Maine Gazetteer will be useful for local route exercises.

What age is appropriate?

Minimum age is 10; sessions are tailored for teens and adults capable of focused online learning and outdoor practice.

How do I join the class?

Check in on the Zoom Presentation about five minutes early; you’ll receive login details after booking.

Map and Compass Fundamentals: Mastering Navigation for Maine Trails | Hiking | Workshop

Map and Compass Fundamentals brings practical navigation training to outdoor enthusiasts from Brunswick, Maine and beyond. Delivered via Zoom Presentation, this two-class course makes map-reading and compass use accessible to hikers, geocachers, and aspiring Registered Maine Guides. Situated in Brunswick — a coastal Midcoast Maine town surrounded by forests, rocky headlands, and freshwater lakes — the course ties classic navigation techniques to the glacially sculpted terrain that defines the region. Over two instructor-led sessions you’ll learn how to read topographic maps, interpret contour lines and symbols, plot routes, and find your location without relying on electronics. The curriculum covers handheld compass fundamentals (a two-degree baseplate compass is required), inside-and-outside sighting techniques, route selection to avoid dangerous slopes or wetlands, and creating practice courses that reinforce spatial thinking. The package includes a downloadable online textbook, printable worksheets, and personalized feedback between classes. What makes this offering stand out is its focus on practical application for the specific landscape around Brunswick and broader Maine: glacial erratics, cobble beaches, coastal spruce-pine forests, and inland bogs all present navigation challenges that map-and-compass skills solve. The instructor frames exercises against real-world route choices — choosing safe approaches around cliffs, reading valley drains to avoid bogs, and orienting with tidal and coastal references — making the lessons immediately useful for day hikes, family outings, and professional guides-in-training. Students should read the online textbook three to seven days before the first Zoom meeting, buy or borrow a two-degree baseplate compass, and print the supplied worksheets. Sessions total roughly three hours of live instruction (two two-hour classes with homework between), and check-in is on the Zoom Presentation; organizers ask participants to log in about five minutes early and be in a quiet, well-lit room. A Delorme Maine Gazetteer is recommended but not required. For visitors planning field practice, Brunswick offers nearby trails, river corridors, and access to coastal features where you can put new skills to work. Whether you’re aiming for the Registered Maine Guide track, want to feel confident off-trail, or simply wish to read the land more clearly, Map and Compass Fundamentals pairs old-school navigation tools with modern teaching techniques. Bring your compass, worksheets, a notebook, and curiosity—this course turns maps into dependable guides and gives you the confidence to choose safer, smarter routes on Maine’s varied terrain. Classes welcome students as young as ten and are paced for adults and teens balancing busy schedules. Expect hands-on homework between sessions that builds toward independent navigation, with instructors offering follow-up clarification. This course requires only a basic compass and curiosity; it removes barriers to confident, low-impact exploration of Maine’s trails and coastlines. Sign up through the Zoom Presentation booking and prepare to turn paper maps into reliable companions.