Scout Orienteering Night – Mount Stranger

Equipment list

Group to provide

The group will provide:

  • Compasses (1 each)
  • Maps (1 per pair)
  • Route cards (2 per patrol)

Scout to provide(to be included in activity notification email)

Each scout needs to bring:

  • Hat
  • Enclosed shoes
  • Long pants or gaiters
  • Water bottle
  • Sun block
  • Whistle
  • Torch
  • Pencil and notepad
  • Scout record book

Please do not wear your scout uniform shirt, just the scarf is required. This is because we will be climbing through barbed wire fences and we don’t want your uniform to get damaged.

Goal

Run an orienteering evening with an element of controlled adventure (a creek crossing, some bush bashing, etc). Cover elements 4a thru 4e of pioneer campcraft, as well as elements 4a thru 4c, 4e and 4g of explorer campcraft.

And most importantly, have fun!

Logistics

Scouts dropped off at: Point Hut picnic ground (map)

Scouts collected at: locked gate opposite 14 Derrington Crescent (map)

Total length of walk should be no more than 4km.

Roles

  • Bunyip: provide orienteering course markers, compasses (from Group stores), maps and route cards. Lay out course before activity and tear down after activity.
  • Murana, KEG, Girrawa, Bunyip: one leader per patrol during actual orienteering activity
  • Grizzly, Bilby: help with start of activity and initial briefings, and then drive to planned end point and meet patrols as they arrive. Drive other leaders back to their cars at the end of the evening
  • Explorer level Scouts: assist with teaching navigation skills to Pioneer level Scouts as required

Emergency exit plan

The entire area for this walk is bounded by the Murrumbidge (and the track that runs beside it between Point Hut and Pine Island), Woodcock Crescent, and the suburban streets of Bonython. If you get lost, walk east to Woodcock drive and await collection.

The entire area of walk is covered by mobile phone reception, so if you are concerned and have a phone, you can call Bunyip on his mobile.

Skills being tested

Pioneer

Learn and demonstrate the following:

a) the eight principal points of the compass and their equivalent in degrees
b) the use and care of a compass
c) the relationship between true and magnetic north
d) how to set and follow a bearing
e) how to read a map including scale, legend, date of issue, grid references and contour lines

Explorer

Understand and demonstrate a proficiency in the following:

a) know the Pioneer level skills
b) care of a map
c) how to orientate a topographic map by both compass and physical features
d) how to establish direction using the sun in daylight and stars at night
e) navigate between two points over at least one km in a bush environment
f) with your Patrol, find out how to operate a GPS and how to use it in conjunction with a map and compass
g) assist a Scout in passing the requirements of Pioneer level navigation.

Program for the night

18:30 / Scouts arrive at Point Hut picnic ground
Opening parade including exercise and safety briefing
  • Required first aid
  • Exit plan
  • What to do if separated from your patrol
  • Expected return point and time

18:45 / In patrols (one adult leader per patrol)
  • Issue compasses, maps and route cards
  • Describe the 8 principle points on the compass
  • Use and care of the compass
  • Care of a map
  • The relationship between true and magnetic north
Start orienteering when patrol is ready.
19:00 / Instructor’s orienteering route notes
Waypoint 1: GR 883748
  • Follow the track, turning right at the signpost to the dog yards.
Waypoint 2: GR 884751
  • Walk along the fence line until the fence stops at a corner.
Waypoint 3: GR 884756
  • Talking points with scouts
  • How to set and follow a bearing
  • How to orientate a topo map by compass and physical features
  • Navigate between two points over at least 1km in a bush environment
  • Long distance bearing navigation over open terrain.
  • Follow track to right at fence corner
  • Attack point should be the mobile phone tower, noting the gap in the trees in line with the mobile tower (later you can only see the gap in the trees, not the tower)
  • Walk through the gate at the end of the fence line
  • Cross the creek using the stone and wood wall visible from the gate
  • Follow route to attack point until you hit fence line skirting the bicentennial horse trail (a fire trail)
  • Follow fence line to large hole in fence marked with MacArthur colours
  • Backtrack down the fire trail to the right and cross the fence on the other side of the fire trail at the first gate
  • Head up the hill towards attack point
  • When you hit the next fence, follow it to the left until another hole in the fence marked with MacArthur colours
  • Cross both fences here, and walk to the trig, the trig is evident once you’ve reached the crest of the hill
Waypoint 4: GR 888766
  • Talking points
  • How to read a map including scale, legend, date of issue, grid references and contour lines
  • Downhill to the gate in the corner of the two fence lines
Waypoint 5: GR 884767
  • Follow the horse trail to the locked gate
Waypoint 6: GR 884769
  • This is the collection point for the end of the night

20:15 / Closing parade
20:30 / Parents collect scouts

Risk assessment

Activity: Orienteering, Point Hut and Mount Stranger Nature Reserves
Hazards: Lost, Injured, Bites
ID / Risk / Analysis of risk BEFORE treatment
Existing Controls / Likelihood
A-B-C / Consequences
1-2-3 / Risk Level
H-M-L / Accept
Y/N / Priority
1 / Lost / Properly planned walk, take two sets of maps, two compasses / C / 3 / L / Y / 2
2 / Injured (sprain, strain) / Stick to walking trails where possible, proper footwear / C / 2 / L / Y / 2
3 / Snake Bite / Awareness of snakes etc, first aid kit, close to urban area accessible to ambulances / C / 1 / H / N / 1

Risk Treatment Schedule

ID / Risk
(In priority order from the Risk Register) / Analysis of risk AFTER treatment
Treatment action taken / Likelihood
A-B-C / Consequences
1-2-3 / Risk Level
H-M-L / Accept
Y/N / Priority
3 / Snake bite / Walkers briefed on ‘Actions On’.
  • If bitten, don’t move
  • Quick application of pressure bandage
  • Record current position for passing to Emergency Services
  • Call 000 from mobile phone
/ C / 2 / L / Y / 1

Risk Treatment Action Plan

ID number: 1Risk: Snake Bite

Treatment Options considered:

Walkers briefed on ‘Actions On’.

  • If bitten, don’t move
  • Quick application of pressure bandage
  • Immediate execution of EPIRB
  • Record current position for passing to Emergency Services
  • Use of mobile phone to call 000
  • Area of walk is accessible by ambulances to within 500 meters

Action Plan:

  1. Proposed treatment: Briefing prior to hike departure.
  2. Resource requirements: Pressure Bandage
  3. Responsibility for implementation: Michael Still
  4. Timings: Prior to hike departure
  5. Reporting and monitoring required: As required

GRID
From / Starting Feature / Bearing Grid / Mag
(Deviation 14) / Distance / GRID
To / Collectable Features / Comments
(type of terrain)
1 / 883748 / Picnic area / 18
4 / 400m / 884751 / Follow track through gate, turn off track to right at signpost for dog yard. / On track, slight uphill.
2 / 884751 / Dog yard entrance / 0
346 / 500m / 884756 / Handrailalong fence line to fence corner. / Mown access road.
3 / 884756 / Fence corner / 22
8 / 1000m / 888766 / Select attack point (hint, walk along the track to the right a little to see a good option). Cross creek, a fence line, the bicentennial horse trail, a fence line, and then up the hill. / Long distance bearing navigation over open terrain. About 230 meters of climb in last portion.
4 / 888766 / Stranger Trig point / 284
270 / 400m / 884767 / Downhill to fence corner
5 / 884767 / Climb through fence / 0
346 / 250m / 884769 / Follow horse trail to locked gate at Derrington Crescent / Straight ahead, do not turn left or right at the T intersection.
6 / 884769 / Locked gate