Silver Navigation Award

The Silver National Navigation Award develops the navigation skills acquired at the Bronze level. It adds skills required to navigate to features and places some distance from paths and tracks. It teaches accurate compass work. It will also teach you to select the suitable navigational techniques to cross open country. Silver National Navigation Award courses are taught in areas with access to open country and involve periods where you’ll be navigating away from paths and tracks. The NNAS Silver Navigator Award is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 5 and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion. We will cover:

• Relate prominent land features, as well as small ones, to their corresponding map contours and use them as a means of navigation in good visibility.
• Build on existing compass skills to understand techniques such as aiming off, attack points, back bearings, relocation and be able to deviate from the compass bearing to avoid obstacles.
• Build on distance measuring using timing and pacing skills.
• Maintain route finding accuracy in poor visibility or darkness.
• Understand the risks of planning routes and walking in challenging terrain, including physical fitness, fatigue and injury/illness.
• Select appropriate clothing, equipment and first aid items for walking in open country in all weather conditions.
• Understand the responsibilities and impact of walkers towards the  countryside, other land users and the environment

The course takes place over two full days, typically 09:30-16:00hrs with a later start of 11:00hrs in the winter months so that we can achieve some night navigation after sunset, and is non-residential.  I can provide information on local accommodation options if required. 

We will meet at a café where you will be able to get tea/coffee, breakfast etc. and then we will be outside for the duration.  You will need to bring a small rucksack with packed lunch, water, and spare clothing, but I will send out a more detailed list of what to bring on booking.  For navigation you will need a compass (for example a Silva Expedition 4) and map – OS Explorer 171 Chiltern Hills West (waterproof Active map is advised in case of wet weather). I do have a number of spares for those who need them.

This course includes a pre-course assessment paper which is sent to candidates after booking. This can be completed prior to the weekend or during the course of the weekend.

Location:
Watlington, Oxfordshire

Booking:
Please book directly via the NNAS booking website here
Booking Terms and Conditions