Go for a bush walk

Sometimes there's no better way to put maths into practice than in the great Australian outdoors. Take your child or teen out on a hike at a national park, and work together to plan your adventure by applying their knowledge of position.

Things you need

Paper map
Hiking gear (proper shoes, water, food, sun protection)
Compass
First-aid kit
Mobile phone.

The challenge

If your teenager has grown up with a love for the great outdoors, encourage them to develop their positioning skills by navigating a bush walk or hiking trail.

The conversation

Talk to your teen as you’re doing the walk. Ask questions like:

"How much longer until we get to our destination?"
"How are you measuring the distance?"
"How are you identifying the position of key landmarks?"
"I'm tired! What is the right way to get home?"

These questions about positioning will also apply to any form of driving or travelling.

The career

If your teenager is interested in a career working in nature, or travelling, they’ll need a good knowledge of position. Pilots, museum curators, forest rangers, farmers and surf instructors all use a deep understanding of positioning on a daily basis, as do planning officers, engineers, architects and military personnel.

Remember: before you both set out, it’s important that you have the right supplies – water, food, a first aid kit, a whistle, a torch and sun protection should come in handy. Let your teen select the walk, use the map, navigate and lead the way. For this activity, a physical paper map and compass are best.