Orienteering

Overview What is Orienteering? Why Orienteer? Orienteering Maps Basic Orienteering Skills

What is Orienteering?

The Basic Idea Participants must navigate from one point to another using a map and compass.

An Adventure Orienteering can be enjoyed as a leisurely walk in the woods or as a competitive race.

An Orienteering Course… Consists of a start, a series of control sites to be visited in order, and a finish.

Controls The circles are centered on the feature to be found. A control marks the location. The description sheet describes the control placements and codes.

Verifying To verify a visit, the orienteer uses a punch hanging next to the flag to mark his or her control card.

Route Choice The route from one control to the next is up to the orienteer. Run over the hills… Or through the marsh !

Why Orienteer?

Enjoy the Outdoors

Challenge Yourself Physically

Challenge Yourself Mentally

Gain Navigational Skills

The Orienteering Map

Magnetic North Orienteering maps have grid lines pointing to magnetic north.

White: Open Forest

Yellow: Open Land

Green: Thick Vegetation

Brown: Shape of the Land Contour lines represent elevation in the landscape.

Blue: Water Features

Black: Man-Made & Rock

Basic Orienteering Skills

Orienting the Map Line up the map to match the features you see. Ensure North on your map matches North on your compass.

Folding/Thumbing the Map Fold the map parallel to the direction of travel. Move your thumb as your position changes.

Basic Map Reading Always keep the map oriented. Always stay in contact with the map. Constantly take note of features on the map, and make sure you can identify them in the landscape around you, and vice-versa. Navigate along linear features such as trails, streams, fences, and vegetation boundaries.

Types of Competitions Classic Orienteering Score Orienteering 1 6 2 5 4 1 4 6 3 3 7 5

Competition - Variations Night Orienteering Bike Orienteering Street Orienteering Canoe Orienteering Memory Orienteering Rogaine

Getting Started Check schedule for event in your area Bring: Comfortable walking or running clothes. Hiking boots or running shoes. Whistle (available to buy). Compass if you have one. Arrive early to register Sign up for a beginner course

Course Levels C-1 Beginner (mainly on trails) C-2 Easy Intermediate (obvious routes, controls slightly off trail). C-3 Advanced Intermediate (more route choices, off trail controls) C-4 Expert (many cross-country route choices, difficult controls, good compass skills required)