http://harringtongreen.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] harringtongreen.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-06-01 11:28 am

Leadership and Outdoorsmanship, The Preserve, Thursday Morning

In the same clearing as last week, Honor stood at a folding camp table, leant over a map. To her right, a small, portable GPS device could be seen; to her left, two different compasses – one military issue, the other a simple device built into a short ruler, designed for orienteering. Several minicomps were lined up along the front edge of the table, enough for each student in the workshop.

On the other side of the clearing, the two large carafes have been set up again – coffee and hot chocolate – though some water in a closed, insulated pitcher has been added as well. It seemed that Mac decided the mornings were too warm for coffee alone.

Nimitz was stalking around the outskirts of the clearing. With his head lowered and eyes alert toward the trees, it was pretty clear he had staked out his playmates for the day.

Honor tossed a glance his way, then looked up as students began to arrive. "Good
morning," she said. A taut smile crossed her lips, not quite reaching her eyes. "I hope each of you had a relaxing weekend...in the air conditioning.

"Today, we’re going to go over the basics of map reading, using a compass, and orienteering. If each one of you would grab a minicomp, you’ll find that there are uploaded documents and programs to help you with this section of the workshop. I’ve also been able to install a GPS program – global positioning system program – to assist you as well. The minicomps are for you to keep until the end of the workshop; I ask that you return them in the same condition they were issued."

She waited a few moments until each student had taken a minicomp, then watched as they attempted to power them up and pull up the various programs. "They work on the same principle as the Palm Pilots or the Pocket PCs, though they’re a little more powerful. You can use your fingers on the touch screen, but if accuracy is an issue, I’d recommend the stylus."

The taut smile returned as she waited another few moments for the students to complete their exploration of the new toys. Finally, with time ticking away, she drew attention back to herself. "If you’ll find the directory of maps, you should find one marked ‘Alexandria_topographic’ with yesterday’s date. Please pull that map up..."

Honor spent the remaining class time reviewing how to read a topographic map; an overview of how to read a basic compass and a lensatic (military) compass; and basic orienteering skills and symbols. Interactive quizzes over the symbols and the map skills were included on the minicomps.

Those students tinkering further with the minicomps might also find access to the internet, and links to mapping websites and a local orienteering club for further reference.


"And with that," she said, finally, "I think I’ve overloaded you quite enough. You’ll be receiving instructions later in the week regarding next week’s location.

"Dismissed."

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter Pevensie.

Re: OOC

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Do we get to keep the computers? :)
demonbelthazor: (Default)

Re: Sign In

[personal profile] demonbelthazor 2006-06-01 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Belthazor
demonbelthazor: (Back&white shirt outside)

Re: New Toys

[personal profile] demonbelthazor 2006-06-01 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Bel fiddles with his minicomp, wondering if it could map the Underworld.

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter, having never used a real computer, took a very, very long time before he started to figure out the logic of this one.

Re: OOC

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
It's very nice that. And something only at Fandom. ;)

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Pippi Longstocking

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"You just touch the thing you want to look at." Pippi offered.

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Pippi is happily fiddling with her minicomp.

"Ohhh! Internet!"

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter smiled gratefully at Pippi. "I'd might have known this would happen the workshop before I start learning about computers."

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
S. T. Anders

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Anders had fiddled with the Palm Pilot that he'd gotten from Bridge for Christmas often enough that he wasn't hopelessly lost when it came to the minicomp's screen. He was, however, somewhat disappointed that it didn't dispense jujubes.

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Dude!" Anders looked over. "You can get online from these things?"

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ya! C'mere!" Pippi leaned over to Anders and showed him how she got her minicomp to connect to google maps. And then opens up her email.

"This is way cooler then my laptop!"

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"No worries." Pippi grinned. "My friend Annika had something kinda like this so I have a slight head start. The trick with stuff like this is to not be afraid. You may loose some information but it's not like it's gunna blow up in your hand!"

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Are you sure about that?" Peter asked as his made an odd whirring sound. Looking at the display, he realised that he had somehow accessed the map directory. "Oooh, neat!"

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] saltandammo.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Dean Winchester

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ooo!" Pippi tapped her own minicomp to get to the directory. After a bit she found it. "This would be useful for future spelunking expeditions!"

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter nodded. "This could be useful for all matter of expeditions." He turned it over in his hand, trying to find a power source. "I wonder how long the batteries last if that's what runs it."

Re: New Toys

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-06-01 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Whoa. Cool." Anders considered checking his email for a moment, then decided against it. He did, however, hit up Yahoo Sports to check on MLB scores and league standings. This would have no value whatsoever in an orienteering situation, of course, but you did have to keep morale up in case you were ever lost in the woods. Right?

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