The California Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Advanced Hunter Education Program offers a wilderness clinic in January that teaches and practices basic navigation skills. The two-day workshop begins at 9 a.m., Jan. 20, and lasts until 3 p.m. Jan. 21, at the Tejon Ranch, south of Bakersfield in southern Kern County.

Cost is $60, and space is limited.

The clinic will cover magnetic declination, the workings of a base plate compass, and map reading. Participants will also gain instruction in how to stay oriented naturally in the wilderness, taking bearings, and using magnetic bearings. Additionally, the course offers instruction on map coordinate systems, and the use of global positioning systems.

Clinic instructors use the Brunton hunter education land navigation curriculum, a set of courses intended to help students learn and practice basic navigation skills. Instructors use class training and lab exercises to hone the skills taught to participants.

DFG's Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment. Meals are not included.

Registration forms are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntclinics. After registering, each participant will receive an e-mail with a map to the facility, a list of items to bring, and a workshop agenda.

Camping accommodations are available at the Tejon Ranch. Offering more than 270,000 acres, the ranch is the largest span of land under single ownership in California. The ranch is located along Interstate 5, approximately 30 miles south of Bakersfield, and 60 miles north of Los Angeles.