National Map Reading Week
Whether you would like to improve your own skills, or are a parent or teacher leading the next generation, during
National Map Reading Week the Ordnance Survey will be providing help and support with all kinds of map reading and navigation.
Being able to read a map is a hugely useful skill. Understanding how a flat piece of paper can show the real world helps improve spatial awareness in children, and is a critical life skill for adults
What inspired the Ordnance Survey to do this was news stories over the summer talking about an increase in Mountain Rescue callouts. While they still sell 1.9 million paper maps each year, more and more people rely on GPS devices and apps to navigate but – for safety reasons, both we and they would always recommend carrying a paper map, a compass, and knowing how to navigate. It really could be a life-saver.
So the Ordnance Survey commissioned a survey, and 2,000 adults across Britain took part. People were asked to plot various locations, from cities to National Parks on an outline map of Britain and they were pretty surprised at the results. Some 40% of people struggled to pinpoint London and only 14% could accurately plot Edinburgh's location.
And it was a similar story for Snowdonia and the Peak District. Despite this the survey found that 86% of people felt they had a fairly good sense of direction, and more than half claimed their knowledge of geographical locations was Britain is 'good' or 'excellent'.
Even more worrying, just 40% of those surveyed felt they could confidently read a map with 10% never having used a paper map.
That's why National Map Reading Week was planned and as part of it you can find information, ideas and activities to boost your abilities, whatever your age or knowledge.
Their web site has lots of resources including videos on the basics of using a map and compass, some of which we've highlighted here before, and also details of various events around the country including in the Lake District.
For parents and teachers, their Education Resources have project ideas and teaching aids, as well as the fun MapZone games section.
As Jonathan Elder of the Ordnance Survey says:
Being able to read a map is a fundamental life skill and the basis of all outdoor activities. In 2016 we will be supporting National Map Reading Week to encourage everyone to improve their map-reading skills!
We heartily agree and we encourage you and your children to take part.
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Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions.