What is Orienteering?: Orienteering is the sport of skilled navigation. The goal is to find a series of checkpoints (called controls) shown on the map, choosing routes both on and off trail to find those checkpoints, and return to the finish.
These controls are marked in the terrain with an orange and white flag and on the map by a circle with a control number. They also feature a timing unit to check in with and a verification code to confirm you’re at the right one.
With only the course map and a compass to guide you, navigation is all important. It’s a sport for all ages and abilities; easy to get started, but difficult to master.
Participation can be at recreational level, a family experience, or a competitive sport.
Perhaps your child has tried out the sport at school. Orienteering Ottawa has partnerships with the OCSB and the OCDSB and has introduced the sport to thousands of students over the past few years.
As a recreational activity, orienteering allows you to:
• explore the outdoors in a safe and fun manner
• gain confidence navigating in parks, woodlands, and urban areas
• run or walk while stimulating the mind
As a family experience, orienteering enables:
• youngsters to discover the outdoor world with parents, grandparents and friends
• young athletes to strive to excel and be the best they can
• youth to gain confidence and independence
As a competitive sport orienteering helps you to excel in:
• speed and agility in running off trail in varied terrain
• the skill of map reading at speed to choose the best route
• the ability to read the terrain and relate it to the map
• the ability to think when exhausted
Sound interesting? You can show up to one of our events and take a mini-lesson, then try it out, or jump into one of the Learn-to programs.
Learn-To Programs – Youth
What is it? The Program consists of once-per-week sessions designed to challenge participants both physically and mentally. Kids will improve their running speed, agility, endurance, strength, problem-solving and navigational skills – all packaged for the most FUN possible.
Who can take part? Our programs are designed for all youth aged 6-16 years, and all of our program levels are aligned with Orienteering Canada and Sport for Life‘s guidelines for age-appropriate sport and orienteering. If you are not sure if your child is a good fit for the program or if you are wondering which program level is best for your child, please contact us.
Program schedule: All sessions run for 1 hour between 6:30-7:30pm. Our West-end program will run on Tuesday evenings beginning on April 14. Our East-end program will run on Wednesday evenings beginning on April 15. The program is 8 weeks long, with week 8 culminating with our first Summer-Solstice event (race) on June 2nd.
Our FUNdamentals program is catered to our youngest participants, offered for youth aged 6 to 9 years old. This level is suitable for youth with no orienteering experience, or beginner level experience.
Our Learn to Train program for ages 10-12 is designed to help develop sport-specific skills by providing participants with both physical and mental challenges. Suitable for participants with no orienteering experience or beginner level experience.
Our Adventure Program for ages 13-16 is our non-competitive program for youth aged 13 to 16 years old who already have beginner level experience. This level is for those who want to continue past the Learn to Train level, but want to continue developing their skills before joining our competitive training programs.
Already completed one of our programs in the past? No worries! If this is the case, consider moving one level up in our programs, regardless of the age of your child.
If you are not sure if your child is a good fit for the program or if you are wondering which program level is best for your child, please contact us.
Programs will be delivered in English, although some program instruction in French may be available. Please contact us so that we can deliver the best coaching we can in French or English.
Learn-To Programs – Adults:
Our Basics & Beyond program is an 8-week course designed for adults and teens over 16, running at the same time and place as the youth programs. In this program, we start by teaching you the basics of orienteering and then we progress to guiding you through the skills needed to comfortably complete novice and intermediate orienteering courses. This is a skills course, in which we emphasize the development of basic orienteering skills rather than physical fitness. In other words, during the program you may run or walk at whatever speed you wish!
What to bring? We supply maps and compasses when needed. You should wear running shoes with a good tread and long pants. Be prepared to get dirty as we will be moving on trails, grass and through forested areas.
Your child will be walking and running during the program – rubber boots or casual sneakers are not recommended. Remember to dress ready to explore in clothes that are appropriate for the weather. Most importantly, bring a sense of adventure!
Give orienteering a try – you never know where it may take you!
Find out more at OttawaOC.ca.