of that, someone is keeping track of the time it takes you.
Can you even gather the composure to start?
Educators & Coaches
Consider the following:
Orienteering Adds Value to Education
Orienteering teaches the adolescent mental skills. For most, these would otherwise not be developed until adulthood - if ever.
Orienteers use a map to navigate a course through unfamiliar terrain - generally forested - over a series of check points. The mental processes involved use many facets of the brain and draw on skills that must be learned.
In Orienteering one must evaluate two sources of information; a highly detailed topographical map and the actual natural conditions and lay of the land. From these the orienteer must identify candidate routes to get from one's current location and travel to the intermediate destination. The possible routes must be evaluated against the constraints of one's own personal fitness and current arsenal of navigational skills. From this the possible route choices are ranked. One is selected. Then the orienteer must navigate and physically traverse the terrain.
As the orienteer progresses on the course, new information is gathered along the way. The actual features of the terrain are checked against the map. The orienteer's physical location is tracked, and the selected route is modified, amended, or even completely changed, based upon the same original criteria and constraints. All of this is done while moving as quickly as possible over hill and dale.
Developed skills are
- Critical thinking
- Decision making
- 3-dimensional visualization
These are not just skills, memorized and followed like a set of instructions. These are learned like a language, hardwiring and altering the brain. They extend themselves to all disciplines, allowing the student to make better and faster decisions at all times.
The development of these skills will cross over into other academic pursuits. The student orienteer will improve both within and outside the classroom.
Orienteering teaches lifelong skills
Orienteering teaches specific skills that will be used for life. Many scholastic activities and sports train the athlete particular motor skills. Few of these (kicking, tackling, throwing, etc.) have practical carry over into everyday adult life.
Learned skills are
- Map reading
- Navigation
- Compass use
With Orienteering the student will learn to read and understand maps. An accomplished orienteer, after familiarizing himself with the legend and style of the map, can in a glance take in and translate the information into 3-dimensional space. The student orienteer will learn and master these skills.
With map in hand, the orienteer can navigate through, or around, any crossable terrain. Identifying alternative routes and then successfully following one of these routes is a skill beyond too many people. Yet a student will learn and master this over time.
The compass with a turnable dial and a protractor base stumps most adults in its proper use. The student Orienteer will easily master the use of this device; setting azimuths, orienting maps, and follow a rough bearing.
These three skills enhance the developmental skill of 3-dimensional visualization. Interpreting two dimensions of data into three dimensions of space is a talent that can be groomed and developed in most adolescents. Sadly, too many adults miss this opportunity, and struggle with it for life.
Interpreting a street map, a geological survey, aviation charts, military grids and coordinates; all of these and anything similar will forever be within the comfort zone of the student orienteer.
Orienteering builds confidence
Imagine yourself being dropped into an unknown wilderness.
You are armed only with a highly detailed map of the terrain; one that you have never seen before.
Many adults would be fighting - maybe not successfully - feelings of terror.
Add to the panic, that you are not just expected to find your way back,
but you must check in at a dozen random locations scattered about the forest around you.
On top of that, someone is keeping track of the time it takes you.
Can you even gather the composure to start?
Now imagine a young student facing the same challenge. Yet she is unafraid; not because of ignorance; but rather knowledge. As a result of a designed set of systematic training and practice, the student orienteers will gain confidence in their own skills and judgment. They will eagerly approach a start line, not knowing what they will encounter, but secure in the knowledge that they will be able to handle all of the unknowns with skill and self-assurance.
The student orienteer will develop a sense of confidence unparalleled at this point. Although all gain this sense of assurance, the females stand to be the most affected. In a society that remains to harbor and protect young girls from unladylike activities, it is the females that are changed the more. With an attitude of, "If I can do this, I can do anything", their self esteem is elevated to new heights.
Frequently it is the parents, some of whom have never developed this sense of confidence themselves, that are unable to see their child pursue what they did not. Like a mother bird that oddly did not learn to fly,and is compelled to hold back its young in the nest.
Orienteering is for all your students
Orienteering levels the field for everyone. There is no advantage to age or gender. Those born with few natural athletic talents will find themselves equals to all in this game. The shy, the timid, the introverted will step forward. Girls will frequently best the boys. Those that naturally excel at physical pursuits may quell their egos and see all others as equals in Orienteering.
Adult orienteers tend to have technical careers. They are doctors, engineers, and computer scientists. More often the analytically minded find a natural appeal to the challenges of Orienteering. Likewise, this activity will find a natural niche amongst your brighter students. It may or may not come naturally. The "Orienteering gene" - if one existed - has not been identified. With that said, in no way are any students at a disadvantage. Perseverance, resolve, and character frequently overcome lesser abilities.
Adult orienteers tend to come in every shape and size. Typically as their skills progress, they choose to become physically faster as well. At the highly competitive end of the scale, Orienteering becomes a high paced running sport. When all other skills are hewed, it comes down to speed. Over time your students will understand this as well. The fit and lethargic alike will want to improve physically. Physical training, proper diet, and all the habits of the successful, suddenly become the desire of the student.
Orienteering is graduated into many levels; one suitable for every skill and degree of fitness. At a beginners level it is more like trying to learn to play chess. One who moves the pieces very quickly will not have the advantage, when it is where you move them that weighs the most.
So boys, girls, jocks, nerds, fit, fat, scholars, and late bloomers; they will all find a place in Orienteering.
Orienteering skills and your academic curriculum
Orienteering teaches the student many concepts and skills. These easily tie back to the classroom. Teachers all across the United States have used Orienteering as an outdoor activity to experience and reinforce their in-class concepts. By using a topographical Orienteering map, a protractor base compass, and by being outdoors in nature, Orienteering has been used to integrate units on geography, math and science.
Although each state has their own curriculum, the following list is representative of what concepts Orienteering has been used to reinforce.
Personal Development Math Art Physical Education |
Technology Science Social Studies/ Geography Language Arts |
There are useful books available. One is entitled Orienteering in the National Curriculum. It gives an in depth explanation of how to incorporate Orienteering into Mathematics, PE and Geography. It includes 21 lesson plans. Although it is a British authored book, it remains useful for teachers setting up programs anywhere. (Scotland, 2003 -8 1/4 x 11 1/2, 80 pages) Available at A&E Orienteering.
You may download a scan of a chart from the book here: Download Curriculum Chart (jpeg file)
There are other books and training aids available at this and other sites
Orienteering is an easy team to start
Forming an Orienteering team at your school is quite simple. No money is required from the school. Very little ongoing manpower effort is needed. Once formed, the team will be supported by the Tristate Regional Orienteering League (TROL).
The league and all of the competitions will be governed and controlled by TROL, an arm of Orienteering Cincinnati, inc. (OCIN). OCIN is a tri-state area club and a not for profit corporation dedicated to youth, education, and sporting competitions. OCIN is an affiliate of the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF). Orienteering is not currently regulated or administered by any other association in the tri-state; specifically, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio High School Athletic Associations.
To get started the following must occur:
- Promotion of the new team
- Recruiting an adult liaison
- Locating a meeting room
All schools are different. But each has its own working methods of communication. It is up to you what methods you make available to get a team started. We, the TROL officials, can provide guest speakers, displays, printed materials, and written announcements. Orienteering is a lesser known sport. Its promotion relies more heavily on your cooperation and efforts than many other activities. Please let us know what we can do to most easily assist you in establishing a team at your school.
Even with TROL taking the lead in training, controlling, and organizing all of the Orienteering, it is best to have a 'go to' person at each school. This person would be a liaison between TROL and your schools team. This person might assist with organizing transportation to events and arranging locations and schedule for in classroom training. No prior knowledge is required of Orienteering. This person could be a teacher, coach, or parent. They only need to be friendly and willing.
A few hours of classroom style instruction is very helpful in learning and understanding the concepts and techniques used in Orienteering. TROL will offer this instruction at a variety of locations around the tri-state area. Members of school teams will be invited to meet together at public locations to complete this training. If your school or community has a facility or room available we would appreciate your offer of its use. Blackboards or whiteboards, a projection screen, and VHS/TV player would all be useful.
Once your school's team is organized each member should
- Join TROL
- Complete some initial events
- Begin a regimen of training
- Schedule and complete as many competitions as possible
- Check the ongoing season's rankings
- Recruit new additional team members.
If you are not completely convinced that forming a team and offering Orienteering to your student body is the right thing to do, let us know. We would love to hear from you.
If a team is not started in your school this season, then why not plan to do so next season
You may download the application and information flier here:
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