Orienteering is a sport that The sport involves a
requires the participants to large mental element. navigate with a map through The participants make unknown terrain with the many decisions every purpose of finding certain race. checkpoints marked with an Foot “O” is the most orange and white flag. popular form of the Think of a mixture of a sport. scavenger hunt, and a car Orienteering is a rally on foot through the tremendous aerobic wilderness. activity. Origins of “O” The sport was originally Orienteering was fully designed for military established in Canada purposes in Sweden. during the early 70’s. The sport is very popular The annual national in the whole of Europe, championships attract especially in the between 300-500 Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark, participants. Norway, and Finland. Every province has a Mass events in these provincially funded countries attract more the governing body except for 10,000 participants. P.E.I., and Saskatchewan. Imagine that!!! Equipment: What is needed… Clothing: you need to wear Compasses: there is a something that will keep you wide variety to choose feeling comfortable throughout from. Orienteers use either the activity. A lightweight, stretchy suit that allows for a thumb, or base-plate maximum movement even compass. when wet is ideal. Control card: to prove you Shoes: light strong shoes with have been to each point, a non-slip gripping are ideal. you will use the punch on Cross-training type. the flag Map: a detailed topographical map is needed so you know to leave an where to go!! These are Impression. provided for you at the events Orienteering Controls/Flags The orange/white controls On the are located in the middle of flag you will the circles on your map. notice a punch Each control has a number that you will or letter code that distinguishes them from one use to show another. This will tell you you have whether or not you have been to the correct location. found the right one!! Smaller versions for They are usually hanging school events can be made between 2-5 feet off the very easily using ground from a tree or on a construction paper. pole. School Applications Orienteering is an excellent Senior: at this age the lifetime sport/activity that all students are quite capable students should have the of finishing lengthy opportunity to try. courses (5-10KM.) in Competitive orienteering is forest terrain. They can all individual, but when also organize their own starting with young children courses. it is a good idea to use partners. Orienteering has obvious P.E./H.E. connections, but Grades 4-8: great age to begin to introduce the is also closely tied to sport/activity. Students at Math, Geography, this age learn very quickly Science. how to start. How does this all work? One of the drawbacks of 2. Find an accurate Map of organizing this type of an the area you would like to activity in your schools is use. the time/leg-work the 3. Do some field work to teacher needs to put in. ensure the map is to scale, Before you start an and is accurate. introductory course you 4. Set out the need to do the following: controls/markers in the 1. Find a suitable area to area, and mark them on Orienteer (inside of your master map. school, school grounds, 5. Draw/Copy the appropriate city park, mapped areas) number of maps for your students. 6. Once you have everything in place you need to make sure that all of the controls are still in the correct places. 7. Start!!! The student should go in partners the At the end of the event first time, and should be you need to retrieve all the staggered about 2-3 min. controls, and ensure that between each group. the area you are using is 8. Make sure you time your looking the same as when students so they can you got there. compare results with each other. Strategy/Technique The object of the Map contact is key. You orienteering is to find each should always have a rough control in the correct order idea of where you are on in the shortest possible the map. time. Look out for key features. To do this you need to Keep your eye out for make smart route choices. certain landmarks such as The route you should take fences, trails, large hills, is not marked on your map. boulders that will assist you You need to decide where in finding the control. to go!! Don’t give up….frustration Remember “the shortest is inevitable!! route is not always the fastest.”