Field Notes

The sun, the stars, and a straight stick are all a family needs to find north anywhere in North America. These are the same methods explorers and naturalists have used for generations, and they work just as well on a Saturday hike as they do on a backcountry trip. Learn them once and your kids will carry them for life.

A trail map is more than a piece of paper — it is the family's first real conversation with the land ahead. Learn to read the legend, understand contour lines, and then hand the map to a kid and watch confidence follow.

A compass is one of the most satisfying tools a kid can learn to use, and the backyard is the perfect classroom. This guide walks families through the basics of taking a bearing, reading the needle, and turning navigation into a game worth playing again and again.

Getting turned around on a trail is a normal part of outdoor life, and knowing what to do turns a confusing moment into a genuine skill. The STOP method gives every family member a calm, clear plan: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. Practice it together before you ever need it, and it becomes second nature.