Remember the Pins are for the scout doing their best to learn about the sport or academic activity, and by putting the new techniques to practice with fellow scouts, in their community, or working with an adult.

1. Define cartography.

2. Make a poster showing 10 map symbols and their meaning.

3. Read a book or story about a famous explorer or navigator. Tell your den or family what you learned.

4. Make a simple compass with a magnet and pin.

5. Explain the difference between latitude and longitude and show them on a map or globe.

6. Draw a compass rose for a map. Label north, south, east, and west.

7. Study a blank map of the United States of America. Label your state, and the states that share its boundary lines.

8. In the field, show how to take a compass bearing and how to follow it.

9. Show how to measure distances, using a scale on a map legend.

10. Measure your pace. Then layout a simple compass course for your den to try.

11. Using a road map, determine how many miles it is between two major cities or familiar destinations.

12. Explain what the different map colors can mean on a map.

Make a Compass

Things needed:

• Magnet

• Straight Pin or Needle

• Piece of cork about 1 inch (4 centimeters) wide by ¼ inch (1 centimeter) thick

• Bowl or saucer of water

Rub one end of the pin along the magnet about 12 times. Rub in one directions only. Do not rub back and forth. Lift the pin up each time.

Place the pin on the cork. Gently place the cork in the bowl of water. At first, the pin will swing around, then it will point steadily in one direction. It points along the magnetic line between the earth's north and south poles.

What Is Cartography?

Carography is the art or technique or making maps or charts.

Resources

Check your local library for information on maps and compasses. If you have access to the Internet, try using various search engines to look for the information you need. A field trip to a nearby museum or the local U.S. Geological Survey office may provide an excellent hands-on experience in your local community.