Summary

We worked on the traveler activity pin during 5 days of day camp.  Below is the information for day 1.

Supplies

• US Atlases (you could use state maps too).  We had a very nice set donated to us from State Farm Insurance.

Requirements covered and activities for each requirement

Map and Compass belt loop: 1. Show how to orient a map. Find three landmarks on the map.

• Have a map of OK.  Have them find Devon tower, the airport, and OU. Then have them pick 3 other landmarks and show them to each other and the adult.
• Note this will work for any state. I list the ones we used for Oklahoma because that’s what the kids are familiar with. I did have to explain what a landmark was before asking them to pick out some on their own.

Traveler 9. Look at a map legend on a road map of your area.  Learn what the symbols mean.  Show your den members what you have learned.

Traveler 10. On a road map of your area, find a place of interest, and draw two different routes between it and your home.  Use the map legend to determine which route is shorter in miles.

• Using the map of OK (or whatever state you are in), have them explain what the symbols mean to each other.
• Have each boy find their homes on the map (and show them to each other).
• Have them find two routes from home to camp.  Which is shorter?

Analysis (Start/Stop/Continue)

• This was designed to be a shorter activity for day one because it is in conjunction with showman, which was longer. It worked really well.
• Start: I planned this with less supervision than was needed.  The boys were less familiar with the maps than I expected so it quickly became clear they needed an adult with each group to help them understand the maps, to navigate in the big atlas, to understand the legends, and to stay on task (once they understood the maps, they wanted to find lots of stuff!).
• Stop: Nothing (this worked well)
• Continue: I would do this session again as it is, with the start suggestion added.