Map Reader Scoutcraft Badge

The Map Reader Scoutcraft Badge is your gateway to exploring the outdoors with confidence. Learn how to use a topographical map and magnetic compass to find your way, understand the landscape, and plan safe and exciting adventures. Through practical navigation challenges, you'll develop the skills to make good decisions, solve problems, and navigate with confidence — essential abilities for every Scout who enjoys hiking, camping, and discovering unfamiliar places.

Badge Requirements

Your Map and Compass
1. Describe the purpose of a topographical map and identify the information it provides to help you navigate outdoors.
2. Demonstrate how a magnetic compass works, how to care for it, and how to use it correctly.
3. Describe common factors that can affect compass accuracy and demonstrate how to avoid or minimise these errors.
Find Your Direction
1. Demonstrate your understanding of True North, Grid North, and Magnetic North.
2. Using a suitable topographical map and a magnetic compass, locate and identify each north reference on the map and indicate its direction on the ground.
3. Describe what magnetic declination is and demonstrate when it should be considered during navigation.
Navigate with Bearings
1. Using a topographical map, determine the bearing and measure the ground distance between two clearly identified map features.
2. Convert map bearings to compass bearings, and compass bearings to map bearings.
3. Use a magnetic compass to follow a short route set by the Examiner, using a series of bearings and measured distances.
4. Demonstrate how to use back bearings to check your direction of travel or return to your starting point.
Read the Landscape
Demonstrate your ability to use a topographical map by:
1. Identifying common map symbols and explaining what they represent.
2. Interpret contour lines to identify landforms such as hills, valleys, ridges, spurs, and saddles, and determine the direction of slopes and river flow.
3. Orientating a topographical map accurately using:
  - A magnetic compass; and
  - Visible features on the ground.
4. Identify the scale of a topographical map and use it to measure distances, calculate actual ground distances, and estimate elevation gain or loss along part of a planned route.
Navigate a Street Map
Using a suitable street map supplied by the Examiner, plan a route between two points identified by the Examiner. Show the Examiner how you would navigate between the two points, identifying the streets, road types and significant features along the route, and explain why you have chosen your route.
Plan Your Adventure
Using a topographical map supplied by the Examiner:
1. Plan a hiking route of approximately 8–12 km between two designated points.
2. Select a suitable hiking route by considering the terrain, map features and any obstacles shown on the map.
3. Estimate the total hiking distance, elevation gain or loss, and the time required to complete the route.
4. Identify significant terrain features that you expect to encounter along your route.
5. Select suitable rest stops and identify a suitable emergency evacuation point.
6. Explain why your chosen route is suitable.
Complete a Navigation Challenge
Complete a practical navigation exercise of approximately 3–5 km using a topographical map and a magnetic compass.
During the exercise, demonstrate your ability to:
1. Orientate your map correctly throughout the route.
2. Navigate between a series of checkpoints by following bearings and interpreting the map.
3. Identify prominent terrain features and use them to confirm your location.
4. Regularly check and confirm your position using the map, compass, and surrounding landscape.
5. Make safe navigation decisions and demonstrate good judgement throughout the exercise.

Recommended Age Range: The Map Reader Scoutcraft Badge is recommended for Scouts aged 11 to 14 years. At this stage of their Scouting journey, Scouts are ready to develop the essential skills needed to navigate safely and independently in the outdoors. The badge provides a practical foundation in map and compass use, preparing Scouts for expedition activities and the more advanced navigation skills developed in the Mapping and Advanced Navigation Scout Interest Badges.. Badge Examiner: Training and examination for this badge should be conducted by a suitably qualified individual who has relevant experience or formal training in the specific field of expertise being assessed.

The ideal examiner should be an experienced Adult Leader or other suitably qualified person who regularly uses map-and-compass navigation in outdoor activities. Suitable examiners may include experienced hikers, mountaineers, adventure guides, search and rescue personnel, environmental educators, orienteering officials, or similar fields.

Note to the Examiner:

The purpose of this badge is to assess a Scout's ability to confidently use a topographical map and magnetic compass to navigate in the outdoors. The emphasis should be on practical application rather than theoretical knowledge.
Wherever possible, assess the requirements during hikes, camps, or other outdoor activities instead of through classroom questioning alone.
Scouts should demonstrate that they can use a map and compass together to make sound navigation decisions, rather than simply recall information or definitions.
During the practical navigation challenge, allow Scouts to work at their own pace, but ensure they make their own navigation decisions without relying on GPS devices or direction from others.
Navigation errors should be corrected as soon as they are identified. Assess the Scout's ability to regularly check their position, recognise when they are uncertain or have gone off course, and safely stop, reassess and correct their route. The emphasis should be on safe and accurate navigation rather than expecting perfection.
The Examiner should provide a suitable street map for Requirement 5 and identify the two points for the Scout to navigate between. The exercise may use a printed or appropriate digital street map and does not require the Scout to physically follow the route. Where necessary, the Examiner should provide a map of an area unfamiliar to the Scout.
The navigation challenge (Requirement 6) may be completed individually, with another Scout, or in a Patrol of no more than four Scouts, depending on the Scouts' age, experience, the terrain, prevailing conditions, and the level of supervision available. Regardless of how the exercise is conducted, each Scout must independently demonstrate all the required navigation skills before the badge is awarded.
The navigation exercise should take place in terrain that is appropriate to the Scouts' age and experience and should provide a genuine map-and-compass navigation challenge, including identifiable terrain features that can be used to confirm position and direction. The terrain and conditions should not expose Scouts to unnecessary risks, with suitable supervision and appropriate safety measures in place.

Safe From Harm: Whilst completing the requirements for this badge, Scouts must not be placed in hazardous or dangerous situations under any circumstances. All activities must comply with SCOUTS South Africa Safe from Harm framework and be supervised by responsible adults. Participation should offer meaningful learning or service experiences while ensuring the Scout's safety and well-being at all times.

Badge Requirements in printable PDF format

Map Reader Scoutcraft Badge (PDF)

Next Steps - Where This Badge Leads

Completion of this badge is required for the following Scoutcraft and/or Interest Badges:

Mapping Scout Interest Badge

Last Update

August 2026

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