The Tree Climbers Guild: Maps & Compass Guide takes dads, mentors, and boys on a four-week navigation adventure where practical map and compass skills point to a greater spiritual truth. As boys learn to find north, read maps, understand terrain, and follow the right path, they discover that God is the one and only true God, His way is right, He knows what is best, and Jesus is the way to the Father.
Practical Purpose: Introduce boys to foundational map and compass skills while developing observation, problem-solving, confidence, and the ability to navigate safely with the guidance of a dad or mentor.
Boys Will Learn:
- How to identify the basic parts of a compass and use bearings to determine direction.
- How to read printed maps, recognize common map features, and choose routes between locations.
- How topographic maps and contour lines represent hills, valleys, ridges, slopes, and other terrain.
- How to combine maps and compass bearings to navigate toward a destination.
- How careful preparation, following reliable directions, and staying on the right path are important both in outdoor navigation and in life.
Projects:
- Practice Reading a Compass by identifying compass parts, finding north, and taking simple bearings.
- Practice Reading a Map and planning routes using streets, landmarks, roads, and other map features.
- Build a Topographic Model and create a corresponding map using contour lines to represent changes in elevation.
- Complete a Treasure Hunt using maps, compass bearings, distances, and clues to reach a destination.
- Create an optional four-week Adventure Map, adding a compass and key, roads, terrain features, a bridge, and the King’s City as the accompanying story unfolds.
Spiritual Goals:
- Recognize that there is one true God who is powerful, good, and in control of all things (Isaiah 45:5a).
- Learn that God’s way is right and His Word provides trustworthy direction for the choices we make (Psalm 25:4).
- Understand that God knows best because He sees the whole picture even when we can only see what is immediately around us (Psalm 121:2).
- Discover that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
- Grow in trust that just as a reliable map and compass provide direction on a journey, God and His Word provide the direction we need for life.