orienteering?

“I have to teach some kids (9-12 yrs old) the basics of orienteering. Is there any way that I can make this fun and interesting that anyone knows about?”

“Olga, a few years ago I taught between 200-300 girl scouts (3-5th graders) basic orienteering. It was fun but challenging. I looked for my outline and stuff that I had typed up but can't find it DRAT!

Anyway I used a little game sorta. Its called Fred in the Shed. FRED is the arrow on the rotating bezel on the compass face (the one that turns to indicate the azimuth). The SHED is the magnetic needle that always points north. I explained some basics regarding N,S,E,W and the 360 degrees on a compass. Then I told them about how FRED does loves to be in his SHED. We all took our compasses and pointed FRED to 360/0 degrees then we rotated out bodies until FRED was in his SHED. They caught on pretty quick. We would pick different points to find the azimuth to the objects. Then to complete the day we did a mini-course. I first had them walk out 25yds and count each time their left foot touched down. This established our pace count. Then they all spread out and put a tennis ball at their feet. They would then pick any direction between 0-120 degrees, set their compass (fred in the shed) and walk 25 yds (while counting their steps) in that direction. Then they would add 120 degrees and walk 25 yds in that direction.. And again add 120 degrees from that point and walk 25 yds. Ideally you end up exactly where you started (your tennis ball was a place marker). They loved it. I just found my sheet with the outline, if you want a copy, let me know.”

“Olga, I teach this same type course for the TPW (Texas Parks and Wildlife) in their "Becoming and Outdoors Women" program.

I agree with Hyper, keep it simple..Fred in the shed will work (I use "putting red to bed"). The basics are whittled down to ABC, really when you think about it..

Once you have "oriented" you map and compass:

A = Align your compass
B = Bearing, find your bearing
C = Course, walk your course of travel

I have an instructors workbook and exercises as well as student workbooks from the Brunton Company. If you would like copies of either, please email off list at lapb24@yahoo.com

I'd also like to recommend this book, it has some great exercises for all skill levels (I found it at REI):

"Be Expert With Map & Compass, The Complete Orienteering Handbook" by Bjorn Hjellstrom”

“If you have a Scout store nearby or if your local Boy Scout Council headquarters has a store, sometimes they sell a kit you can use to set up a compass course or compass activity. I used one once.

I also used a course where I they have to follow a three leg course and indicate where they end up. The team closest to the exact location wins a prize.

I'll bet there are directions for a compass course somewhere on the web. Orienteering organizations should be able to help you also.”

“Don't forget to show them how to roughly questimate distances...

Measure off a 50 foot section and have them pace off the distance a few times. Then take the average and you have your pace (1 pace = 2 steps) distance.

Determine distances between other objects too, and have them pace the distance and see how close their results are to the true distance.

I use this method all the time making rough-scale notebook field sketches for work.”

“Thanks for all the information. I've considered trying to set up a basic orienteering course. Unfortunately, the camp's rules don't allow us to go off of a trail. Right now I'm trying to teach them how to use the compass with the map to find out which direction they have to go. Any info you have would be appreciated. E-mail me at toomuchtimeoff@hotmail.com. Thanks.”

“Just don't do like I did when I worked at a Scout camp and set up a compass course through the woods that no one could ever complete. But it was a good prize if they ever did, as I remember...I swear (and so did the Scouts when they stumbled out of the forest).”

“Our orienteering course at camp has specific locations in the woods that we go to. There are no trails to theese locations and at each location is a task that they need to complete. A group building activity. It works pretty well.”

“There is only one problem with the concept of building an orienteering course, and that is... the camp won't allow the girls to go off of a previously marked trail. This basically ruins the concept of having to use a compass to find the direction you need to go. Any ideas on how to set up a course that is camp-rules friendly and allows girls to get the "feel" of what it's like to really do an orienteering course?”

“For one of the compass games available at Scout Shop all you need is a 100 foot rope with marks every 5 feet. You only need a clear area roughly the size of a large lawn. I've used it in a school gym.”