Yarnak's Map Exercise

This is an introductory exercise to encourage Cubs to think about maps, what they are, how and why they are used, and provide a simple map-making exercise (Yarnak’s Map). It is taken from Programs for Cub Scout Leaders, Volume II, Program 24.2, prepared by the Development Department, Victorian Branch, Scouts Australia.

Preamble

Let us imagine we are gathered around a fire. Our hunters have come home safely and there is meat cooking. One of the hunters, maybe the oldest, or the bravest, is telling us about the hunt. As questions are asked, he describes what happened and starts to scratch lines and symbols in the dirt in front of him with a stick.

This is the sort of situation where the idea of maps began. Others would have copied the idea and as they met people from other tribes they would show them where they had travelled and the main landmarks along the route. From the earliest hunters or travellers using landmarks to find their way and passing the information on by word of mouth, we progressed to simple maps, marked out in the dirt or sand, and then to burning or scratching markings into bark or animal hides. We have come a long way since then!

The Yarnak's Map exercise develops this story and asks Cubs to draw a map of the path followed by the hunters.