Identify the Big Dipper to show you the way. The Big Dipper looks like a dipper with a long handle and rounded cup on the bottom. Once you find it, look to the right for a lone bright star; this is the North Star. It is always visible on a clear night and indicates the direction of north.
Find east and west by watching the moon as it rises and the sun sets. If it is visible during that time, the illuminated side is facing west. If it rises after midnight, the illuminated side faces east.
Learn the "shadow-tip method" to determine east and west. Place a stick vertically in the ground where a shadow will be cast, making sure that the surface is flat. Mark the shadow with a stone or twig. After 10 or 15 minutes the shadow will cast in another direction. Mark it as before. Draw a line between the marks. The first mark -- or shadow tip -- is always west, while the second is always east.
Get out your watch -- the watch must be non-digital -- and point the hour hand at the sun. South is determined by finding the half-way mark between the hour hand and 12 o'clock position. Once you know one direction, you can calculate the rest.
Develop the ability to find your bearings on a cloudy day. Place a sharp pointed knife vertically on your thumb nail. Find the shadow and move your entire body to the thinnest point of the shadow. The direction is determined by the time of day. Morning up until about 11:00 a.m. casts a shadow to the east. Mid-day up until 1:00 p.m. casts a shadow to the south. Later afternoon casts a shadow to the west. While this method is not as accurate as some of the others, it is better than guessing.
