My kid has no sense of cardinal NSEW direction or understanding of maps. I have failed her miserably there but suspect there's a visual processing component at work. She's also not enthused about hiking but when I take her I always find opportunities to take her off the trail then after a bit, lead us back. There was also a lot of discussion of what to do if ever separated, e.g., stay put (hug a tree), use the whistle and don't hide from searchers thinking you're in trouble. Fact remains that in heavy woods off trail she'd be hopeless finding her way.