Orienteering for
schools
Read
what teachers and students say about their experiences
Orienteering is a fun and challenging sport that
involves finding your way through woodland terrain, a park, or a
schoolyard area with the aid of a detailed map. The aim is to find the
specified spots (controls) which are precisely shown on the map and
described on an accompanying control description sheet. A special
orienteering control marker is placed in the terrain to correspond with
the exact position shown on the map. Beginners do not need to use a
compass.
Curriculum Links...
Orienteering is
an excellent educational exercise as it develops the following skills:
Reading:
"reading" a map and instructions.
Conceptual and
perceptual skills: relating the real surroundings to the symbolic
details on the map and vise versa.
Observation:
observing the surroundings, relating them to the map.
Self-confidence:
students will develop more confidence in their own abilities as they
progress in do-it-yourself activities. Students are usually grouped in
pairs to start.
Physical
fitness: encourages walking or jogging in a pleasant way; when
competition is introduced, students soon realize that fitness is a useful
skill.
Orienteering
for schools program is approved by Edmonton Public and Edmonton Catholic
School Boards.
Who...
Orienteering is a sport for life. We offer programs for
students from kindergarten through to university graduates.
Where...
Orienteering can be done in the
classroom, the school grounds, neighbourhood communities, community parks,
city parks, provincial parks, national parks and forested areas around the
world. The Edmonton Overlanders Orienteering Club has mapped nearly
all Edmonton Parks for orienteering.
Time Needed...
Fifteen minutes are enough for a small exercise in a
school yard or classroom. 45 to 90 minutes gives time for an
orienteering activity in the park. We have lots of areas to orienteer
outside the city; travel times range up to an hour to get to places like
Elk Island National Park or Morningside Natural Area.
Students
need...
A sense of adventure, durable running shoes,
appropriate clothing for the weather and a water bottle. Compass is
optional; we supply maps (and safety whistles for forest locations).
Services
Teachers
Introductory Course
- This course provides teachers with the knowledge they need
to introduce students to orienteering. This course covers setting up
simple orienteering games inside the school and the school yard.
Fee: $35 per teacher
Introductory
Classroom Session
- Class session(s) including a short orienteering video, hands-on
map reading and an orienteering fun event on the school grounds, Q&A
discussion.
Fee: FREE
Additional
Classroom sessions
Fee: $60 - $100 per day
Techniques
- activities geared to learning orienteering skills
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-
maps, map symbols and map walk
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-
map holding and handling
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-
pacing and distance
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-
route choice
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-
contour interpretation
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-
orienteering at a run
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Rundle Park Class set of maps
with course for a 'do-it-yourself' outing.
Fee: $15 for a set of 30 maps with pre-marked course.
Field trips
- choose a park you would like
to investigate or one near your school. Morning or afternoon sessions include:
C
Beginner instruction
C
Orienteering maps with course
marked on
C
Control flags set out in the
terrain
C Introductory orienteering game
(point-to-point)
C Post game discussion
Fee: $5 per student
School Yard Map Making - We
make
schoolyard maps using OCAD mapping program. We will keep your
school yard map up to date. Schools
already mapped
A map making session may be
possible for schools with computer labs.
Fee: school yard mapping FREE; map making
session negotiable.
Schedule
now ... or express your interest... email the following information ....
| Teacher/contact name |
| School
Elementary /
Junior High / High |
| Students: grade level
number of students participating |
| Possible date, morning or afternoon |
| Alternate date: |
| Contact phone: |
send
to
aoassn
"at" telusplanet.net
or phone:
Barbara at 780-427-8138
Overlanders Orienteering
c/o Alberta Orienteering Association
11759 Groat Road, Edmonton, T5M 3K6
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