Orienteering program for Vassal Lane 8th grade

Orienteering at VLUS8th grade

Navigation Games

Hello! This presentation is an introduction to the 8th grade orienteering program.1

What is orienteering?

Orienteering is a map navigation sport combining the ability to think with the ability to move quickly through terrain. In orienteering, your task is to visit each checkpoint on the map in order, as quickly as possible. The checkpoints are called controls. To prove you were there, you either punch a card with a mechanical punch, or use an electronic punch. The control locations are in the center of the red or purple circles on the map. 2

Field Trip

Next week, you and your classmates will spend a day in the woods. 3

4Mission: work in teams to visit checkpoints

You will work in small teams and use maps to find checkpoints. 4

When you go to the woods, you will need some navigational skills. Over the next week, you will have a chance to learn and practice these skills.5

Practice at Fresh Pond

On Thursday, you and your fellow students will practice your strategy and teamwork at Fresh Pond.6

Tomorrow (Wednesday): orienteering on the school groundsPreparationAdvisory vs Advisory RelayReflection

Advisory vs. AdvisoryEach advisory decides who will be on each team. Walking team (not timed): must visit map checkpoints in order.Relay (teams hand off to each other)Regular orienteering, short course #1Regular orienteering, short course #2Regular orienteering, medium courseRegular orienteering, long courseClue orienteering: solve map and navigation problems at each controlTeam leaders (optional, any number of people)Everyone cheers for each other

(Optional) Team Leader roleMake sure everyone understands what to doTell people when their turn is coming upHandle any problems or last-minute changes

Training session: 20 minutesWalk around the campus with your advisory and a map.

Make sure everyoneunderstands how to read the map in order to navigate between controlsknows how to orient the map to match the features around youCan read the symbols on the map

Orienting the map

Today, each Advisory will run a different station. The station locations are marked on the map. At each station students will learn skills useful in orienteering. For example, at one station, you will learn how to orient your map by turning it until it is correctly positioned.11

Orienting the map

Orienting the map

Orienting the map

Orienting the map

Useful navigational skills

Orienting the mapPace counting

At other stations you will learn things like distance estimation, 16

Useful navigational skills

Orienting the mapPace counting

Learning map symbols

How to read the specialized orienteering map symbols17

Useful navigational skills

Orienting the mapPace counting

Learning map symbols

Grid orienteering

How to keep your map oriented in a grid map 18

Useful navigational skills

Maze orienteeringOrienting the mapPace counting

Learning map symbols

Grid orienteering

And even how to navigate in a maze.19

How to RelayTeams of 1 or more. Numbered 1-5 (for relay courses), or WALKING. Mass start of first teams and walkers.Do not follow another team; they may have different controls on their course.Tag the next person(s), Then go to the check-in station so we can check your punchesThe tagged person(s) runs to the map board, takes their map, and does their course.

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ReflectionWhat worked well?What skills do you want to work on?What did you learn?

Third, you will return the equipment to station 7 and go back to your classrooms.

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(Map of long)

Evalin and Isabel: North American Champs

Questions?

More informationBarb Bryant president@NavigationGames.org 617-335-4847NavigationGames.orgCambridge Sports Union csu.attackpoint.comNew England Orienteering Club www.neoc.org