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Stuff Every Orienteering Scout Should Know: the Study Guide

Practice facts for the Orienteering merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.

Knowing Orienteering Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.

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Chapter 1: Slope Safety

What is declination?

Short answer: The difference between magnetic north and true north

Declination is the gap between where your compass points and true north.

Groan of the day: Declination is a real north-splitter.

Sources: Scouting America: Orienteering

What is a pace count?

Short answer: Counting every time one foot touches the ground

Pace counting tracks distance by counting footfalls over a known length.

Groan of the day: Pace counting keeps you steps ahead of getting lost.

Sources: Scouting America: Orienteering

What is aiming off?

Short answer: Deliberately heading to one side of your target to hit a landmark

Aiming off means heading for a known line or landmark beside your target.

Groan of the day: Aiming off is a deliberate miss that hits the mark.

Sources: Scouting America: Orienteering

What is an attack point?

Short answer: An easily identified spot where you stop and compute your bearings

Attack points are clear features used to recheck direction before a leg.

Groan of the day: An attack point is where your navigation gets serious.

Sources: Scouting America: Orienteering

What is a catching feature?

Short answer: A feature beyond your target that stops you if you overshoot

Catching features are obvious lines or objects that alert you to overshooting.

Groan of the day: A catching feature catches your mistake before it grows.

Sources: Scouting America: Orienteering

What is a rogaine?

Short answer: A large-scale, endurance score event often lasting 24 hours

Rogaines are long team score events over a very large area.

Groan of the day: A rogaine is a real endurance test of navigation.

Sources: Orienteering

What is a relay race in orienteering?

Short answer: A team event where each member runs a course

Relay results are based on the team's total time across members.

Groan of the day: Relays pass the fun from one runner to the next.

Sources: Orienteering

What is a string course used for?

Short answer: Young children and newcomers to try the sport

String courses let beginners follow a line and note what they find.

Groan of the day: String courses pull beginners into the sport.

Sources: Orienteering

The cheat sheet

The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.

  • Declination is the gap between where your compass points and true north.
  • Map bearings use true or grid north, so you adjust for the magnetic difference.
  • Contour lines connect points of equal elevation to show terrain shape.
  • Following one elevation around a hill traces a contour line.
  • Darker green shading indicates denser vegetation that may slow you down.
  • Orienting means turning the map until its north matches real-world north.
  • Place the compass edge along a north-south magnetic line, arrow pointing north.
  • Pace counting tracks distance by counting footfalls over a known length.
  • Pace counting lets you estimate how far you have gone between features.
  • A longer running stride covers more ground per pace, so fewer paces are needed.
  • Uphill travel shortens your stride, so you take more paces and more time.
  • A bearing is the measured direction you travel from one place to another.

Pop quiz

Think of your answer first, then peek.

  1. What is declination?
    • The difference between magnetic north and true north
    • The height of a hill above sea level
    • The distance between two control points
    Show the answer

    The difference between magnetic north and true north. Declination is the gap between where your compass points and true north.

  2. How does going uphill affect your pace count per 100 meters?
    • It does not change at all
    • It increases because your stride shortens
    • It decreases because gravity helps
    Show the answer

    It increases because your stride shortens. Uphill travel shortens your stride, so you take more paces and more time.

  3. In cross-country orienteering, how must competitors visit the controls?
    • In any random order
    • Only the ones they choose
    • In numerical order
    Show the answer

    In numerical order. Cross-country courses require visiting every control in the set order.

  4. What is a relay race in orienteering?
    • A team event where each member runs a course
    • A solo race with no teammates
    • A race where you carry a baton only
    Show the answer

    A team event where each member runs a course. Relay results are based on the team's total time across members.

  5. What does a topographic map symbol like a boulder represent?
    • A control punch code
    • A real feature on the ground
    • A made-up decoration
    Show the answer

    A real feature on the ground. Map symbols stand for actual terrain features like boulders and cliffs.

Now make it stick

Read a chapter, then play the deck and see how much stuck.

This guide covers the 50 free cards. The other 9 are in the game for members.

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