NNAS Outdoor Discovery Awards (ODA):


 The focus of the Outdoor Discovery Awards is to encourage exploration and journeying in local areas using simple maps such as street maps, pictorial park maps and orienteering maps.  There is a gradual learning progression via One Star (Bronze), Two Star (Silver) and Three Star (Gold) levels with certificates and badges available for achieving candidates.  NNAS programme for younger or less experienced navigators. 

It is designed so it can be completed at local sites, i.e. schools and colleges and is open to all individuals.  The ODA Gold Award equates to the equivalent of the NNAS Bronze Navigator Award so individual navigators can follow a natural progression.

The Outdoor Discovery Awards are currently being developed to replace the Young Navigator Star Awards in the near future, (2012).  The ODA will continue with the core ethos of the YNSA, to encourage exploration and journeying in local areas using simple maps such as street maps, pictorial park maps and orienteering maps.  In addition the ODA will be ideally suited to 'not-so-youngsters' or for people who need to learn basic navigation skills at a slower rate, encouraging them to gain and improve personal confidence to get out and get active.

The syllabus content is structured to allow flexible teaching approaches to suit the candidates and type of maps available locally.  The awards are aimed at all age groups and abilities.  These courses are fantastic for youngsters to actively learn outside the classroom, and the Gold level is often used as a lead-in for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award.

 NNAS ODA Bronze:

Starting in the classroom this course looks at map concepts, symbols and legends as well as scales and orientation.  Drawing maps and routes from a desktop landscape. 
By the end of the session, learners will be able to:
  • Make simple maps of interior and exterior building features
  • Undertake journeys around the inside and outside of a building using a map
  • Orientate the map at different locations

 NNAS ODA Silver:

Moving outside now, learners are introduced to the basics of compass use for orientation and navigational route planning.  Spatial awareness is developed by judging relationships between objects.  By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
  • Follow a route around a large outdoor area or small park using paths and tracks
  • Orientate the map against handrails and major point features
  • Understand basic map symbols
  • Discover and investigate points of interest

 NNAS ODA Gold:

Line navigation is introduced following paths and walls (handrails) and learners participate in numerous activities, equivalent to NNAS Bronze Navigator.  Compass bearings and contour appreciation are introduced and developed.  By the end of this session, learners will be able to:
  • Plan and follow a journey around a large area using paths and tracks
  • Identify prominent collecting and catching features on map and ground
  • Discover and investigate points of interest during the journey
  • Understand basic walking and navigating safety issues

The awards are aimed at all age groups and abilities. The Young Navigator Star courses are fantastic for youngsters to actively learn outside the classroom, and the Gold level is often used as a lead-in for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award.  The above syllabus content is structured to allow flexible teaching approaches to suit the candidates and type of maps available locally.