The National Navigation Award Scheme Night Owl course is aimed at people who want to use their navigation at night, or be able to navigate in the dark for those times where the day has gone slower than expected and the dark has come in.
These courses are perfect for those who have taken the Silver Navigator Award and above. .
It is a practical course covering the most widely used and fundamental skills in night navigation.
If you would like to discuss this course for a club, society or other group of people, please see the Adventures for You page or just get in touch to discuss options and prices
Next Courses:
The next course is on the evening of Friday 28th February 2025.
Where they are Run:
The courses are run on the magnificent Cleveland Hills on the North York Moors National Park.
We meet at ca 18:00 at Clay Bank. We meet at the long layby at the top of the hill rather than the car park which now has ANPR and a significant parking fee - even at night.
Clay Bank and Urra Moor is in the north western corner of the North York Moors National Park near Osmotherley, Stokesley and Northallerton.
Please click on the link to see the start point on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
What the course involves:
It is expected that you are proficient in orientating your map using a compass, taking and following a bearing while also timing and pacing.
The NNAS Night owl will build on the skills covered in the Silver Navigator Award and can act as a refresher for those who have done the Gold Navigator Award. It looks at going cross country using compass bearings and other poor visibility techniques.
We will have a brief refresher to ensure everyone has recalibrated their pacing and is happy on a compass bearing before we begin properly. For those who have passed Silver (or perhaps are LL or HML trained), you'll probably know the tools we'll use. It's just bringing them together in a different way from use during good visibility and daylight. We also have to make far greater use of contours (which we deal with a lot on the Gold course). We have fewer tick off features and it can be challenging to confirm location at night.
The instructor:client ratio is 1:8 with a minimum of 3 clients to ensure that everyone gets the most benefit from the course. Peer-experience and sharing is an important aspect.
By the end of the course, you will have a good understanding of:
Slowing your speed at night.
The need for a solid Storyboard.
Contour interpretation.
Relocation and a positive use for 'the 180'
Breaking the journey down
You will need to have completed the Silver Navigator Award to get the most benefit from this course, though experience Bronze Navigators will still benefit.
Tutors:
Fabian is the Course Director for all of our NNAS courses. He has a particular passion for teaching. He's taught outdoor skills over the past 20+ years to a range of audiences. He sat on the NNAS Board of Directors between 2017-2023. He also designs, develops and delivers multi-day practical courses on health innovation for universities and the NHS. He's a very experienced tutor and absolutely loves teaching.
Equipment:
We can provide you with a map and a compass for the course. If you'd like to buy a brand new industry standard Silva Expedition 4 compass with a full professional set up, you can buy one from our shop in advance and we can set it up for you when the course begins. In addition to the usual kit list, you must also have a map case and decent headtorch (not a hand held torch). It must be fully charged or at least you should bring spare batteries!
Prerequisites
It is suggested that you have completed the Bronze or Silver Navigator Award, want a refresher if already a Gold Award holder, are LL or L trained or assessed, or Summer ML trained. If in doubt please get in touch.
It is expected that you have some good hill fitness.
Cost:
Each evening course costs £32 per person. You will need to provide your own accommodation (if needed), transport and travel insurance. This includes a £1 registration fee to NNAS.
There is an e-certificate on successfully passing the award (you can buy a physical certificate from the NNAS office).
Images from Past Events
To Book
If you want to chat to me about the course then please feel free to do so - email is a good start as I'm often out and about with limited phone reception. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions too.
Please ensure you've read the booking Terms and Conditions and you are aware of what you need to bring by downloading the gear list.
To book simply click the link below for the dates that you are interest in. You will be redirected to JustGO which is the NNAS Candidate Management System to book.
NNAS Night Owl will return in the Autumn when the clocks go back!