Orienteering

Orienteering is an activity that combines map reading and running, walking or jogging. The aim is to navigate between checkpoints, known as controls, marked on an orienteering map and decide the most efficient route to complete the course either against the clock in the fastest time or as a training tool for improving your navigation skills. It's up to you to decide which way to go and to find your way there (and you're not allowed to use your phone!).

You'll have a few minutes to study your maps and discuss in your teams which direction to take and then it's on your marks, get set, go!

As a team you will run, walk or jog to the checkpoints on the map known as controls. Each control is marked by a marker so you know when you have reached one, and each control will have a unique code, letter or number that you will mark down on your orienteering sheet.

Once you've visited all the control points and marked down each code on your sheet you'll make your way to the end point as quickly as you can and in the hope that you've beaten the other teams to get there first! 

Our friendly instructors will split you into small teams and give each team an orienteering map and compass and show you how to use them. Orienteering maps are very detailed and show footpaths, fences, streams and other features on the landscape. They also show the type of environment such as fields or woodland so you can decide on the best route to take. There is no set route to follow - the fun comes from you finding the best route to take. 

1. Developing leadership: by giving support and encouragement to those in the team who may be slower or less confident. Everyone gets an opportunity to lead the group and make decisions on which direction to take
2. Improving communication: by listening to your team's ideas and suggestions and sharing your own opinions on the route options to take
3. Improving decision making skills: by navigating and problem solving to find each control; decision making is key
4. Building teamwork: by working together as a team to identify a suitable route to complete the orienteering course in the fastest time, and helping each other with map reading and compass work
5. Getting close to nature: by being outdoors, exploring the natural environment and switching off from everyday life - no phones are allowed! 
6. Self-reflection: opportunities to reflect on how you worked as part of the team, what input you had and how you contributed
7. Gaining valuable skills: map reading, understanding the landscape and using a compass are all valuable survival skills which can be used for years to come

Orienteering can take place in many different places including forests, parks, moorland, in villages and town centres, school playgrounds or even on our University campus! 

Around the UK at various locations there are orienteering courses which have a set of permanent orienteering control posts that have a letter and number on them and maps available locally. The letter matches a letter on the orienteering map and you write the number onto your orienteering sheet to prove you've found the post. There are different colour trails available for different ages and abilities from beginners to more experienced navigators. We can run an orienteering session at one of these permanent courses, and we will source the maps and provide the instructors to oversee the activity. 

The aim is similar; to navigate to different checkpoints. Photographs of locations are provided and as a team you must use your problem solving skills to identify the place and get to the location in the photographs. Once at the correct place you will find a marker - usually a letter or it may be a question or clue, which you write down onto your orienteering sheet. Photo orienteering sessions are ideal for school grounds, university campuses, town centres or conference locations. We can come out to your chosen venue in advance and set up the photo orienteering course for you.

We can provide orienteering sessions utilising any one of the 500 fixed orienteering courses across the UK or set out a bespoke course in your local area utilising an appropriate space such as parks and woodlands. 

Some of our most popular fixed course venues for orienteering are:

Yorkshire

• Otley Chevin Forest Park 
• Gisburn Forest 
• Our Headingley Campus grounds in Leeds

Lake District

• Grizedale Forest 
• Whinlatter Forest