← Back to Troop Meeting Activities
Troop 308 · 60 min meeting plan
Compass Course in the Parking Lot
Five numbered stakes laid out in the church parking lot. Each Scout walks a bearing-and-distance card with a compass to find the next stake. Pace count is verified at the end.
Why this format
Most Scouts know what a compass is. Far fewer can hold a bearing while walking. This drill closes that gap in one meeting using only the parking lot.
Five stakes are placed in advance. Each Scout gets a numbered route card listing 4 legs (bearing + distance in paces). They start at stake 1, follow the card, and should end at stake 5 within 3 paces. Adults at the start verify pace count first.
60-minute meeting plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0–5 min | Opening, brief safety, parts of a compass (3 things: housing, needle, base plate) |
| 5–15 min | Pace-count calibration: each Scout walks 100 ft and records their pace count |
| 15–25 min | Bearing demo: 'shoot' a bearing to a known landmark; cross-check with a partner |
| 25–50 min | Run the course — Scouts staggered 60 sec apart so they don't follow each other |
| 50–55 min | Map-orient drill: lay map on hood, align with compass |
| 55–60 min | Debrief, signoff, log who needs a re-run next week |
Sample course card
Distances scaled to a typical Scout's pace (~24 in / step). Adjust per Scout if their calibration is off.
| Leg | From | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stake 1 | 045° (NE) | 30 paces |
| 2 | Stake 2 | 135° (SE) | 20 paces |
| 3 | Stake 3 | 225° (SW) | 30 paces |
| 4 | Stake 4 | 315° (NW) | 20 paces |
If the Scout finishes within 3 paces of stake 5, they pass. Outside 3 paces, they re-run with a coach.
Per-Scout scorecard
| Skill | Demonstrated |
|---|---|
| Named the parts of a compass | ☐ |
| Calibrated pace count to 100 ft | ☐ |
| Shot a bearing to a landmark | ☐ |
| Walked a 4-leg course within 3 paces | ☐ |
| Oriented a map with compass | ☐ |
Supplies
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Baseplate compasses (Suunto A-10 or similar) | 1 per Scout |
| Numbered stakes / cones | 5 |
| 100-ft tape (for pace calibration) | 1 |
| Course cards (printed, one per Scout) | 1 each |
| Local topo map | 2 |
| Clipboards + pens | 1 per Scout |
| Stopwatch | 1 |
Sources
- Scouting America — Second Class Rank Requirements (2025)
- Scouting America — First Class Rank Requirements (2025)
- Orienteering merit badge pamphlet — bearings and pace count