how to design orienteering course scouts

Set up a 100-foot course near your meeting place. As Scouts arrive, have them walk the course and calculate their pace (how far they travel every two steps). Draw a large chalk circle on the parking lot.

Full Answer

How do you set up an orienteering course?

Set up a display of items related to orienteering courses, including controls, punches, control cards, maps, bibs, etc. Explain what orienteering is. Obtain topographic maps of your meeting place, a favorite campsite, and/or other familiar locations. Point out landmarks on the maps and explain the symbols that represent those landmarks.

What is line orienteering?

(2) Line Orienteering. At least five control points are used during this form of orienteering training. The competitor traces on his map a preselected route from a master map. The object is to walk the route shown on the map, circling the control points on the map as they are located on the ground ( Figure F-1 ). Figure F-1. Line orienteering.

What is a score orienteering map?

A score orienteering map. (a) Conducting a score event at the start is basically the same as the cross-country event. The competitor is given a map and an event card. The event card lists all the controls with their different point values.

What are the different types of orienteering competitions?

Line orienteering. (3) Cross-Country Orienteering. This is the most common type of orienteering competitions. It is sometimes called free or point orienteering and is considered to be the most competitive and intriguing of all events ( Figure F-2 ). In this event, all competitors must visit the same controls in the same order.

What is Scout orienteering?

The Scout Orienteering Camporee is an event where Scouts will learn Orienteering skill development and racing to have fun, and to learn map-reading, navigational, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Scouts will also complete many requirements of the orienteering merit badge and rank advancement requirements.

How do you make an orienteering map?

What Are the Steps in Making an Orienteering Map?Select a suitable area.Obtain permission to use the area.Prepare a base map.Select the map scale.Do the field work.Draft the map.Print the map.Archive the map.

How do Boy Scouts use compasses?

With N on the compass housing touching the direction of travel arrow, set your compass alongside the Magnetic North arrow on a map. Slowly turn the map until the compass needle rests inside the orienting arrow. The compass will be aimed at Magnetic North while the map is oriented to True North.

How is winning determined in orienteering?

Winners are usually determined based on who completes the course fastest, who finds the most checkpoints, and who chooses the best route (or a combination of the three).

How does a cartographer make a map?

A cartographer uses data from geodetic surveys and remote sensing systems along with satellites and aerial cameras to create maps and provides aerial surveys to governments to help with regional and urban planning which may have information on population density and demographic characteristics.

What are the basic orienteering skills?

Basic Orienteering SkillsFolding the map.Thumbing the map.Orientating the map to north (with ground or compass)Reading features on the map.Taking a compass bearing.Following a compass bearing.Pacing.Judging Distance.

What is Scout mapping?

mapping is an important item in the progressive and attractive training program for Scouts/Guides, Rover and Rangers. Maps provide an efficient and unique means for reading and understanding the earth. The earth has a surface area of 197 million sq. miles pitted and roughened by mountains, plains and seas.

How do you use orienteering map and compass?

Place the compass flat on the map. Rotate the map until the "north lines" on the map (a series of evenly spaced parallel lines drawn across the map, all pointing to magnetic north) are aligned with the compass needle. The map should now be oriented to the terrain.

What do all good Orienteering compasses have?

A good orienteering compass has these features:Clear base plate that allows you to see the map underneath.Straight sides for aligning two points or for drawing lines.Liquid-filled needle housing that keeps the magnetic needle relatively steady when taking readings.More items...

What are the six orienteering courses?

In the US, orienteering uses a standard system of color-coded courses as follows:White - suitable for absolute beginners. ... Yellow - for slightly more advanced beginners. ... Orange - intermediate difficulty. ... Brown - short advanced course. ... Green - an advanced course a bit longer than brown. ... Red - a longer advanced course.More items...

What is the most fundamental skill needed in orienteering?

orienting the mapThe most important skill in Orienteering is orienting the map! Maps are not supposed to be held with the top up the top, but instead in the same orientation as the terrain around you. Look for a prominent feature around you like a fence or a road, and rotate the map to match.

Why is orienteering not an Olympic sport?

In the 1980's we were told that the IOC was saying Orienteering lacked the required number of member countries on the required number of continents to be considered. Orienteering has long since passed those modest threshholds but it seems no closer to being on any Olympic program.

What is the first class requirement for orienteering?

First Class Requirement No. 2 is specifically, "Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.).".

What can a Boy Scout do?

As a Boy Scout, when the First Class rank is attained, a scout has learned all the basic camping and outdoors skills of a scout. He can fend for himself in the wild, lead others on a hike or campout, set up a camp site, plan and properly prepare meals, and provide first aid for most situations he may encounter.

What to expect in orienteering?

What to expect. There are many different kinds of orienteering, but they all have a few things in common; a map, control points and you. Using a map and sometimes a compass, you’ll navigate your way around a small area to find ‘control points’. At each one there may be a number, letter or stamp that you need to write down or collect.

When was orienteering invented?

The term ‘orienteering’ was first used in 1886 at the Swedish Military Academy Karlberg and meant the crossing of unknown land with the aid of a map and a compass. Since then, it’s become a popular sport, with world championships held every year. There are also world championships of ski orienteering, trail orienteering and mountain bike orienteering held annually.

How to keep hydrated while orienteering?

Bring a water bottle. Orienteering can involve lots of running, so make sure you have plenty to drink to keep you hydrated. Grab some extra whistles. Having a whistle when orienteering can help you in an emergency, so bring some spares with you just in case anyone forgets. Spare waterproofs.

Where does orienteering take place?

Orienteering can be done individually or as a team and takes place in lots of different locations, including forests and fields. Run around, have fun and visit as many control points as you can.

Do you need a permit for Terrain Zero?

This activity can be led by you or someone else in Scouts: The activity leader must have an adventurous activities permit with the right level and permissions for your group. You don't need a permit for activities in Terrain Zero.

Can you adapt orienteering?

Orienteering can often be adapted so more people can give it a go. Many outdoor centres have facilities that cater for people with additional needs and experienced instructors to help everyone achieve their goals. Get in touch with your local provider to chat through the needs of people in your group.

What is the difference between a map and an orienteering map?

While a regular map displays basic land features and elevation changes, the orienteering map provides much more detail.

How to read a compass in tandem with a map?

To precisely read a compass in tandem with a map, follow this order of operations: 1. Imagine a line of travel between your position and the destination. 2. Place your compass on your map along this imagined line of travel. 3.

Why is a compass important?

The compass is the second most important tool for navigation. By combining the map and the compass successfully, you will be able to navigate your surroundings. While the compass is a useful tool, remember that it is secondary to the map in its utility.

Is orienteering a competitive sport?

Not only is this skill a useful thing to have, but it is also a competitive sport. Usually referred to as orienteering, the sport takes place over a large area in which competitors compete to locate the flags, or "controls", in the quickest way possible.