The Map and Compass Shanty (To the tune of a lively, foot-stomping sea shanty) (Verse 1: Orienting the Map) Come gather round, my children, and listen to the song, Of how to read a paper map and never wander wrong! First lay your map out flat and clean upon a steady space, Then grab your trusty compass up and put it in its place. Line up the north-south grid lines, let the needle find its home, So what you see upon the page matches the fields you roam! (Chorus) So snap the case and check your pace, keep your heading true, With a 1-to-50 thousand map, the world is wide for you! Two centimeters on the page is one kilometer wide, With a lensatic compass, you will never turn aside! (Verse 2: Resection / Finding Your Location) Now suppose you're out there wandering and don't know where you stand, You need a quick resection to make sense of all the land! Pick out two distant landmarks that you clearly see in view, A water tower or a peak, or something bold and true. Sight through the wire, take your reading, draw a line back down, Where the two crossbars intersect—that's where you're safe and sound! (Chorus) So snap the case and check your pace, keep your heading true, With a 1-to-50 thousand map, the world is wide for you! Two centimeters on the page is one kilometer wide, With a lensatic compass, you will never turn aside! (Verse 3: Planning and Marching) Now connect your starting point to where you want to go, Measure out the distance with the scale lines down below. Find your grid azimuth, dial it tight and right, Hold that compass to your eye and lock it in your sight! Pick a tree or rock ahead to be your stepping stone, March straight to it step-by-step, and you'll never walk alone! (Outro) So hold it at your eye level, keep your thumb loop secure, With map and steel and compass, your journey will endure! Heave away, find your way, march into the sun! Navigation master class is finished and is done! What kind of family hiking adventure or outdoor trip are you planning to test out this song on?
