Night Navigation - NNAS Night Owl Malvern Hills

The National Navigation Award Scheme sets a limit of eight people on the NNAS Night Owl course so you're always guaranteed the attention of our instructors. The NNAS Night Owl takes place over one evening and typically lasts around four hours. We usually start at 4 pm and aim to finish around 8 pm.

Group Size: Max 8 people

What’s Included: 4 hours of practical teaching, maps and compasses (although you are welcome to bring your own if you have them), Completion certificate

What’s Not Included: Torch / head torch, please bring your own food and drinks, Accommodation, Personal clothing and equipment

CORE SYLLABUS

Syllabus Point One: Speed, time and distance

KLPs

1. Speed is slower therefore timings learned for day will not be “right for night.”
2. Legs should be shorter so that timings will be less precise due to % error in a shorter leg.
3. Consistent speed makes time estimates more accurate, and we need more time to think at night to allow your brain to catch up with your body.

Syllabus Point Two: Pacing

KLPs

1. Steps will be shorter at night so that there will be more paces in 100m than by the same individual over the same ground in daylight.
2. Usually, 80% of the time we do not go far enough which is accentuated at night
3. Adding paces for slope angle and going underfoot must be done by “feel” rather than by a visual assessment of the ground covered.

Syllabus Point Three: Contours

KLPs

1. Feeling the ground
2. Anticipate the change in height
3. Tum off the torch to see the ground

Syllabus Point Four: Relocation

1. Set the map and go back if needs be. Pacings are important
2. Basic search process of adding 10% and pacing a set amount right and left of the line of travel.

Syllabus Point Five: Spatial awareness

KLPs

1. Knowing where you are is linked to knowing where you have been and often relies on visual confirmation which is difficult at night.
2. Less relevant if you are dead reckoning, no spatial awareness
3. You are the only moving part.

Syllabus Point Six: Navigation strategies (attack points, collecting features aiming off hand railing) etc.

KLPs

1. "Walk the line all the time”, night navigation is about finding a line to walk along- handrailing is good
2. "Go through not to”
3. “Short legs good, shorter legs better”

Syllabus Point Seven: Appearance

KLPs

1. It all looks dark
2. It all looks further away
3. It all looks different with/ without the lightof

Syllabus Point Eight: Dead reckoning

KLPs

1. Night navigation is sometimes dead reckoning rather than holistic navigation due to the challenge of “seeing” the contours.
2. More reliance placed on compass and accurate judging of distance
3. Night navigation becomes easier due to not being able to see contours and so not trying to make the ground fit the map.

Syllabus Point Nine: Kit use/practice

KLPs

1. Excellent torches are required with batteries
2. Tie your map and compass to your body or else you WILL drop
3. Consider GPS, phone can affect night vision