This is probably one of the best sites for map reading I have ever seen. Lots of downloadable powerpoints. The author also covers the use of the military compass (brings back old memories).

Scouting in my view does not adequately cover land navigation and compass work. Some time ago it was decided that scouting would cover orienteering, not map & compass. There is a distinct difference.  Orienteering is more map/terrain reading oriented. Orienteering itself is a spirited game where the objective is to get to relatively close control markers as fast as possible (compass work is not a big part of it). Orienteering is a lot of fun and there is challenge and map work involved, so I understand the switch. Furthermore, there really is very little time to cover map & compass in much more detail and by in large, most scouts don’t go out on remote, off trail, wilderness backcountry excursions. Those few that do have acquired these skills somehow. I’d like to see kids really learn about declination diagrams and the use of the protractor to develop azimuths and plot coordinates. Frankly, I think most scouts want to be better at compass use then they are. 

 http://landnavigation.org/

I had posted this previously – I will keep it up as it covers the more familar plastic compass. This is not mine, it came from someplace on the web. It is a start but not that good (yet). Take it and run with it if it helps. Send me back an improved version. I’m sure others can use.

map-and-compass.ppt

Here’s a helpful doc from the Purdue Outing Club:

orienteer.doc