Orienteering
Field Activities
Walking geometric shapes (PDF)
Orienteering with cones in a grid (field activity google doc)
Lesson Plans
1. Introduction to Navigation: Cardinal Directions
2. Introduction to Controls: Applying Navigation
4. Bringing It All Together: Navigating By Memory
5. Placing and Finding Controls on a Course
6. Applying Navigation and Outdoor Exploration Skills
Condensed Lesson plan for beginners
Maps
NTS Topographic Maps
PDF Indexes of maps across Canada , alternate indexes
1:50k maps to download
The Basics of Topographic Maps (pdf)
Canada Topo Maps to Purchase
Mapping Software
Web tool to create a map (An easy option and some instructions)
How to create a basic Orienteering map with Google Maps (PDF) or Open Street Map
Purple Pen (for creating orienteering courses. Fairly easy to use but you need to have a background map)
Open Orienteering Mapper (software to create a background map)
QGIS (Full GIS software when you can't get it done with the above tools)
Orienteering Supplies
Parts of a compass
A. Base Plate
B. Magnetic Needle
C. Rotating compass housing
D. Direction of travel arrow
E. Orienting Arrow (AKA "The Shed")
F. Degree Markings
● North seeking arrow: This main arrow spins around to find Magnetic North and the tip is usually red.
● Direction of travel arrow / lines: These are fixed lines or arrows that sit outside the spinning compass compartment. They point in the same direction that you point the compass.
● Stationary index line: This thin line points in the same direction you are going. It doesn’t spin, but it is in or near the spinning compartment.
● Rotating bezel ring: The rotating ring around the Magnetic North seeking arrow that has the degree numbers from 0 to 360.
● Orienting arrow / lines: These are built into the face of the compass and points to 360 degrees on the rotating bezel ring. The orienting arrow and lines will point wherever you spin the bezel. The space inside the arrow is the “shed.”
● Base plate and straight edge: Whether it folds or not, a good compass can lay flat and has a long straight edge so you can create lines and take measurements on your map.