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Pirate’s Log Activity

 

This activity encompasses marine navigation concepts based on a pirate themed adventure around the actual area of Vancouver British Columbia Canada. Can be done with cubs or scouts.

 

The activity with cubs took about 40 minutes to complete taking our time to work through each clue.

 

Skill Concepts:

-       Cardinal Directions

-       Use of Nautical Miles for marine navigation

-       Use of Knots for speed and distance calculations

-       Navigation using bearings to landmarks

-       Marine terms: Port, starboard, course, heading, bearing, helm, tack

-       Wind direction

-       Awareness of marine traffic movement

 

Although Google maps is being used in this activity for simplicity, explain that charts are used in marine navigation not maps. Never use Google maps or land maps in general for actual marine navigation. Can have a discussion as to why charts should be used (water depth, navigation buoys and lights, underwater hazards, traffic areas, restricted areas). An example of an actual marine chart of the same area is included.

 

Resources

 

PiratesLogBook.html – The log of clues to follow for easy sizeable web browser display

PiratesLogBook.pdf – The log of clues to follow (print)

PiratesLogChart.pdf – To show and mark up as you progress through clues (print)

PiratesLogChart.jpg – To show and mark up as you progress through clues (on-screen)

PiratesLogChartPlot.pdf – Shows the path of the clues

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@8&key=gt%7BjHdsioV

MarineChart.png – Screen shot of above link

 

The activity was designed to be delivered online but could also be done in person.

 

On-Line

 

Suggest having the PiratesLogBook.html file open as a narrow strip to one side of a shared screen for easy reference to the clues and the PiratesLogChart image open in a graphics editor like Microsoft Paint for easy markup. Also have a Google Maps search window open to solve clues and show extra information.

 

Start with a Google Map search of “Historic Stewart Farm” to find start point. This is also the location of the 1st Semiahmoo Sea Scouts boathouse. Follow directions in log. At one point you might need to Goggle “City of murals” if people are unfamiliar with the city of Chemainus which is used as a navigation landmark.

 

Have the cubs use the online chat to describe how many squares to go up, down, left, right with each clue then mark up the chart to plot the course. Help explain interpreting the clue to which direction to go and by how far. If using Zoom cubs can markup the next waypoint on screen and then ask to clear before moving to next waypoint.

 

The clues lead to the Pirates Cove Marine Provincial park. The park actually does have a treasure chest on the shore. Use Google Maps to zoom in on the area to “search” for the treasure chest. Click on the photos to further search. Had a bit of fun by quickly skipping past the photo of the treasure chest and having cubs shouting that I missed it.

 

In-Person

 

The activity can also be delivered in-person. Cubs will need a copy of the chart, clues, pencil and eraser. Scouts may wish to use a ruler as is typically used in marine navigation. Cubs plot the course from the clues on the chart as is traditionally done in actual marine navigation.

 

 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

 

Richard Hein

richard.w.hein@gmail.com

1st Semiahmoo Sea Scouts

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada