Wilderness Navigation Course Offered

A wilderness navigation course will be held May 7-9 at MacGowan Lake, Queens Co. The course is offered by the Nova Scotia Outdoor Leadership Development Program (NSOLD).

The course introduces leaders to skills that help them organize and lead safe outdoor activities. It combines theory and practice in the use of maps, compass, GPS and other navigational techniques. Participants take part in practical exercises that enable them to accurately and confidently travel through wilderness areas.

The NSOLD program is designed for volunteers and professionals, 17 years of age and over, who want to become outdoor leaders or who wish to upgrade their current outdoor skills. Groups from universities, private industry, government departments and volunteer organizations use NSOLD program training. Individuals who want to participate in program courses for their own personal development are also welcome. The NSOLD program is operated by the Office of Health Promotion'S Sport and Recreation division.

The program provides participants with the knowledge and training to become better informed, increasingly skilled and more experienced outdoor leaders. This results in safer, more enjoyable, and environmentally sensitive experiences in Nova Scotia's back country.

NSOLD was developed on three founding principles: experiential education, safety, and environmental sensitivity. For more information and a complete course schedule, visit the website at www.gov.ns.ca/src/nsold .