Presenter: Ed Hicks
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 7:30 pm
Location: Danbury Hospital Auditorium
by Tom Zarecki
Fun Session Simplifies Lives: A True ‘Map Adventure’ Program
Digital maps are everywhere these days yet most people struggle to use them on their phones or in their cars.
Ed Hicks, a pioneer in digital mapping education and the owner of Orienteering Unlimited, Inc. will offer an interactive and fun presentation on the use of mapping technology and “orienteering in everyday life” at the next general meeting of DACS, on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, in the Creasy Auditorium at Danbury Hospital, starting at 7:30 P.M.
“From road maps to weather maps, blueprints to floor plans,” said Hicks, “there are basic skills in digital mapping that everyone should have, if only to navigate their way through their world easier and faster!”
In addition to his talk, everyone in the audience will get up and participate in real-world exercises, designed to “get you oriented” to today’s digital maps so that you learn how they work and how to work them yourself.
“GPS” Should Mean, “Getting Places Simply”
Ed has been a DACS member since the 1980’s and has spoken at DACS meetings in the past, but he’s returning with a message: “The mapping landscape has changed big time!”, and his presentation will include ways to work the “maps app” that comes with your iPhone and other smartphones.
He will also offer tips and advice on using Google Maps and other mapping software packages, on the go on your mobile device, which can help you out in your everyday life.
Ever Teach Your Kids to Read a Map?
These days, other than as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, young people are rarely, if ever, given training and practice with digital map technologies. That means that someday as adults, they still won’t know the basics of “personal navigation”. Now’s the time to stop this trend, and get yourself (and your kids) the orientation they need to use digital map apps quickly and accurately.
Stop Being “Map Challenged”
Ed is a retired New York State science teacher who pioneered the outdoor education and computer programs for his school district in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. He was the founder of Orienteering Unlimited in 1979. Ed has led Map Adventure programs with countless schools, camps, youth groups, corporations, and teaches two 3-credit graduate courses on the subject. He has produced over 100 orienteering-quality maps of state parks, camps, conference centers and educational campuses.
After the meeting everyone is invited to the Danbury Hospital Praxair Café for additional networking.