1. Orienteering

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

3. What is Orienteering?

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. Why Orienteer?

11. Enjoy the Outdoors

12. Challenge Yourself Physically

13. Challenge Yourself Mentally

14. Gain Navigational Skills

15. The Orienteering Map

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

17. White: Open Forest

18. Yellow: Open Land

19. Green: Thick Vegetation

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

21. Blue: Water Features

22. Black: Man-Made & Rock

23. Basic Orienteering Skills

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

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

26. 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.

27. Types of Competitions Classic Orienteering Score Orienteering 1 6 2 54 1 4 6 3 3 7 5

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

29. 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

30. 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)