Basic compass and trail signs skills quiz

Test yourself on basic compass and trail signs skills!

1. Label the direction and degrees of the cardinal points of the compass:

2. Match the following items with their location on the compass: a) compass housing, b) direction-of-travel arrow, c) orienting lines, d) degree reading (bearings), e) orienting arrow, f) magnetic needle, g) base plate, h) cardinal point


3. The numbers on a compass are called _____________________.
4. The direction-of-travel arrow should point ________________ ahead of you.
5. North, southeast, east, and northwest are ________________ points.
6. When a compass is at rest, the needle points toward ___________________.
7. What on a compass always points toward magnetic north? a) a wooden needle, b) a magnetized needle, c) a magic needle, d) the compass housing
8. In order to travel north what needs to line up with the magnetic needle? a) the direction-of-travel arrow, b) the cardinal points, c) the WAGGS symbol, d) the orienting arrow
9. Draw the trail sign that means "turn right" as if you were using small rocks or sticks.
10. Which of the following trail signs means "move 8 steps to the left"?

a)
b)
c)

11. Draw and describe one of the two ways to build the trail sign that means "danger".
12. What is this trail sign telling you to do?



Answers:

1.


2.

[click on the image to enlarge it]

3. degree readings or bearings
4. straight
5. cardinal
6. north
7. b) a magnetized needle
8. d) orienting arrow
9.

10. a)
11. stack 3 stones or pebbles on top of each other in order by size, with the largest on the bottom, OR arrange 3 equal-sized sticks in a triangle:


12. wait here for directions

For further reading, try these sites:

How to Use a Compass
Kjetil Kjernsmo's How to Use a Compass, Lesson 1
Scout Skills: Compass (pdf)
Trail Signs
"Trail Signs" at Camping Supplies for You

Poison ivy

Poison ivy along the trail in Eaton Canyon, Pasadena, July 2010. The two bottom photos are of the same plant, from a short distance and then closer up.

Poison ivy image from Thomas College.

Poison ivy is well-known for its ability to cause a severe rash and blisters on the skin wherever you brush against the plant.

Poison ivy grows throughout most of North America. You can recognize it by the way that the leaves grow in groups of three, and by the almond-like shape of the leaves and their shiny, reddish color when mature. The plant bears sprays of greyish-white berries as early as late June here in southern California. It can grow as a shrub, as a ground cover, or as a vine on another tree or support. The leaves usually have small notches along the edges, but some plants have more notches than others, and even some leaves on the same plant are more notched. When in doubt, stay away!

Do not touch even dead leaves, as the irritant oil can remain active for years. Do not touch pets that have come into contact with the plant. Do not burn any part of the plant or breathe the smoke from an accidental fire. Do not eat it.

Treat poison ivy rash with calamine lotion, an oatmeal or baking soda bath, or with baking soda mixed with a little water to make a runny paste. The rash can last from 1 to 4 weeks. Wash your skin thoroughly with lukewarm water as soon as possible after contact. The rash is not contagious, but you can transfer the irritant to another part of your body or to someone else if you still have some on your skin. If you have touched poison ivy, do not touch your eyes or rub them, even with part of your clothing that may have come into contact with the plant.

Poison oak, a similar species, grows in western North America.

Read more about poison ivy and poison oak at Wikipedia.