NNAS Navigator Awards

One Spark Outdoor Adventures is one of 300 registered providers of the NNAS Navigator Awards.

Date	Course / Event Name	Location	Duration	Price	Spaces
TBC	NNAS Bronze	South Ferriby, North Lincolnshire	2 Days	£125	Yes
TBC	NNAS Silver	Hope, Derbyshire	2 Days	£125	Yes
TBC	NNAS Bronze	South Ferribly, North Lincolnshire	2 Days	£125	Yes
TBC	NNAS Silver	Hope, Derbyshire	2 Days	£125	Yes

To book on any of the listed events please complete the booking form HERE

The National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) was launched in 1994 at the Royal Institute of Navigation in London, and since then over 50,000 people of all ages have gained awards.

The scheme continues to be a great success and thousands of people of all ages have benefited from the skills learnt on an NNAS course.

The aims of the National Navigation Award Scheme’s Navigator Award are simple – to give lovers of the outdoors, whatever their sport, age or fitness, the freedom to explore the paths, trails, hills and mountains of Britain and abroad.

Gaining an award does not give you a qualification to teach or lead. It is a recognition of the level of skill at which you can navigate.

There are three levels – the Bronze Award, the Silver Award and the Gold Award. Progressing through the three awards will take you from being an absolute map and compass novice right through to be an expert navigator at Gold. The NNAS also runs the Outdoor Discovery Award.

The NNAS Navigator Awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold) are accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 4, 5 and 6 respectively and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

You don’t, of course, have to start at Bronze, although it expected that you will have completed the Silver award at least before you start a Gold Award course.

For further information visit NNAS’s website by clicking HERE.

Bronze

Bronze covers the essential map reading skills. You’ll learn about using “handrail features”, like paths and walls, to guide you along your way. You’ll also learn the basics of how to use a compass and how to use it with your map to ensure you don’t get lost. A bronze course will take you from relying on friends or guidebooks to being able to plan a walk and follow it successfully.

The Bronze National Navigation Award is a practical hands-on award. It is aimed at people with no navigation experience whether you are new to the outdoors or have been relying on others, guidebooks or easy well-defined routes.

It is also the starting point for many Duke of Edinburgh students, scouts and guides and cadet groups who are looking to develop their outdoor skills. NNAS Bronze award is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 4, and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

The syllabus of the Bronze National Navigation Award teaches navigation in the countryside using paths tracks and other linear features. Basic map interpretation and compass work is also included.

Silver

Silver is when you’ll start to leave the paths behind. You’ll navigate in open country on short bearings. As your confidence increases you’ll learn more advanced compass skills and add timing and pacing into the mix too. Silver courses take place on more difficult terrain and away from easy-to-follow paths and trails.

The Silver National Navigator Award develops the navigation skills acquired at the Bronze level. It adds skills required to navigate to features and places some distance from paths and tracks. It teaches accurate compass work. It will also teach you to select the suitable navigational techniques to cross open country.

Silver National Navigation Award courses are taught in areas with access to open country and involve periods where you’ll be navigating away from paths and tracks.

The NNAS Silver Navigator Award is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 5 and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

Gold

Gold marks the pinnacle of your navigation skills. You will be happy and familiar with all the bronze and silver skills and now wanting to get even more out of your navigation. The Gold Award is all about reading the landscape and comparing it to the ground. You’ll use contour features to enable you to identify where you are on your walk and be able to navigate to small and subtle contour features. If you’re looking to complete a Walking or Mountain Skills course, or even preparing to take your mountain leader assessment, then the skills learnt on a Gold Award course will be invaluable.

The Gold National Navigator Award builds on the skills acquired at the Bronze and Silver levels and adds techniques and skills for dealing with complex contour features both large and small.

The Gold National Navigation Award has recently been review and updated, and now includes pre- and post-course question papers. These will be given to candidates when they book with their chosen Course Provider.

The NNAS Gold Navigator Award is accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Level 6, and 2 SCQF credit points are awarded on completion.

Gold courses are run by Course Directors who not only have plenty of top-level navigation experience but also have been on a special NNAS-run course in tutoring Gold courses.

The Gold Navigator Award marks the pinnacle of your navigation skills. You will be happy and familiar with all the bronze and silver skills and now wanting to get even more out of your navigation. The Gold Award is all about reading the landscape and comparing it to the ground. You’ll use contour features to enable you to identify where you are on your walk and be able to navigate to small and subtle contour features.`

If you’re looking to complete a Walking or Mountain Skills course, then the skills learnt on a Gold Award course will be invaluable.

Outdoor Discovery Award (ODA)

We are also an accredited provider of the Outdoor Discovery Award (ODA)

This is ideal for people of all ages who wish to learn basic navigation skills at a gentle rate, encouraging them to gain and improve personal confidence to get out and get active. The Awards has been developed to help group leaders introduce the basic elements of navigation to people who want to explore outside.

Previously known as Young Navigator Star Awards (YNSA), the revamped and updated ODA continues with the core ethos of the YNSA: Encouraging exploration and journeying in local areas using simple maps such as street maps, pictorial park maps and orienteering maps.

The ODA levels are aimed at all age groups and abilities.

There is a gradual learning progression via One Star, Two Star and Three Star levels, with certificates and badges available for achieving participants who have undertaken the ODA with a group leader who is registered with NNAS as an accredited ODA Course Provider.

The syllabus operates at three different levels – 1 Star, 2 Star & 3 Star

At each level the syllabus uses five headings:

Engage with the outdoors
Making your own map
Journeying
Understanding the concept of symbols and scale
Setting the map

1 Star

Make simple maps and sketches to show journeys
Undertake journeys for fun, using a simple map or plan
Gain a basic understanding of symbols, scale and map setting

After taking part in the 1 Star ODA, participants will have acquired basic navigational skills and will be able to make short journeys in familiar terrain using their own and other people’s sketches or representations of the area.

2 Star

Use building interiors and / or the immediate outdoor area when learning skills
Develop mapping and map setting skills
Undertake slightly longer journeys, considering scale and distance

After taking part in the 2 Star ODA, participants will be able to make journeys in their local area using their new and revised navigational skills to interpret maps and will have an understanding of standardised symbols.

3 Star

Plan and follow straightforward journeys around familiar and unfamiliar areas
Discover and investigate points of interest during the journey
Understand basic walking safety issues and have respect for the environment

After taking part in the 3 Star ODA, participants should be able to plan and follow journeys in unfamiliar local areas using appropriate maps.