Boat Orienteering Workshop
Learn chart and compass navigation from canoe! Practice map reading, float planning, bearings, and on-water navigation skills.
Canoe Orienteering: Chart & Compass Navigation on the Water
We are postponing the event to Septemper 19th with a rain date of Sep. 20th.
Join the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) Recreation Team and the Providence Map Center for a hands-on introduction to canoe orienteering and traditional navigation skills. This one-time workshop teaches participants how to safely and effectively navigate waterways using only a chart and compass.
Participants will learn the fundamentals of reading and interpreting nautical and topographic charts, creating a float plan, understanding compass use, and shooting accurate bearings. After learning these essential navigation concepts on land, participants will put their skills into practice on the water, navigating a canoe course without the aid of GPS or electronic devices.
Whether you’re interested in paddlesports, outdoor adventure, emergency preparedness, or navigation, this workshop provides a unique opportunity to develop practical skills that have guided explorers and mariners for generations.
Participants will learn to:
- Read and interpret navigation charts and maps
- Create a basic float plan for a paddling trip
- Understand compass components and operation
- Shoot and follow bearings
- Identify landmarks and navigational features
- Navigate a canoe course using chart and compass alone
No prior navigation experience is required. Canoes, paddles, personal flotation devices, charts, and compasses will be provided.
No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds (NOTAFLOF)
The WRWC believes that cost should never be a barrier to participating in our programs. If the registration fee presents a financial hardship, we offer a No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds (NOTAFLOF) policy.
Simply use one of the following discount codes during registration:
- NOTAFLOF25 – 25% discount
- NOTAFLOF50 – 50% discount
- NOTAFLOF75 – 75% discount
- NOTAFLOF100 – 100% discount
Please use the code that best reflects your needs. No application or proof of financial need is required.