Backcountry Navigation | Earth Native School

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Dates: March 21-22, 2026

Time: 9:00am-5:00pm

Cost: $195 (map and compass provided)

Location:

Day 1: Earth Native Campus, 137 Woodview Lane, Bastrop, TX

Day 2: Spicewood, TX

Ages: This is an adult class, but open to ages 13+, if you feel your child would enjoy this class. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult participant with a 1:1 ratio. An enrollment form and payment must be received for each person attending, regardless of age.

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BACKCOUNTRY NAVIGATION
Map, Compass & Natural Wayfinding

Beyond batteries: timeless navigation skills.

In a world where GPS and Google Maps rule, the ancient art of navigation is quietly fading. But out in the wild, batteries die, signals fail, and technology can’t always be counted on when it really matters. Even more, relying on devices disconnects us from the landscape itself.

Learning to orient yourself manually is not only empowering, it will make every one of your outdoor experiences richer. Once you begin navigating with a map, compass, and natural features, you’ll be amazed at how much more engaged and connected you feel and how much more you get out of all of your outdoor adventures. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing your safety doesn’t depend on a dwindling phone battery or cell signal.

Join Earth Native for a weekend adventure in land navigation that will give you the tools to confidently travel through any landscape using a map, a compass, and natural wayfinding skills.

On day one, we’ll focus on building your foundation: reading topographic maps, pairing them with a compass, and unlocking the secrets of natural navigation. On day two, we'll reinforce and solidify your technical skills on a live navigation course, applying what you’ve learned across classic Texas Hill Country terrain practical through hands-on experience.

By the end of the weekend, you’ll be able to:

Confidently read and use topographic maps
Orient yourself on the landscape, and reorient if you become disoriented
Properly use a compass and integrate it with your map
Plot and navigate using the UTM grid coordinate system
Use triangulation to pinpoint your location from visible landmarks
Accurately measure straight-line and curved distances on a map
Track distance traveled using personalized pace counts and terrain features
Stay oriented with natural cues like the sun, moon, stars, and land features

Please note: Participants must be physically fit enough to hike several miles across uneven, rocky, wooded terrain in order to complete the land navigation course on day two.