Orienteering Training

Are you interested in getting started in orienteering or improving your skills? Are you a teacher or youth leader hoping to learn how to introduce orienteering to young people? Perhaps, you are already experienced in orienteering and looking to plan and organize orienteering events. These training sessions have designed to suit participants of a variety of experience and skill levels. See details below.

To be considered for any of these training opportunities, please indicate your interest by emailing Linda at victoria.orienteering@shaw.ca. Sessions will be organized once a sufficient number of interested participants have been identified. Dates and further details will be posted when available.


ORIENTEERING SKILLS - BASIC

This course is suited for those new to the sport that would like to learn basic skills in order to participate in club events. This 1/2 day session will include:

  • An introduction to the sport of orienteering (equipment, rules, course categories etc)
  • How to interpret an orienteering map (colours, symbols, etc)
  • How to orient a map
  • How to visualize and identify object in the terrain using an orienteering map
  • Basic route choice strategy

This session will include several practical exercises to introduce new participants to map reading and simple route choice. Participants are encouraged to follow-up their training by attending a Victoria Orienteering club event. Note: all Victoria Orienteering Club events will provide some quick beginner instructions at the start of each event. Beginners, regardless of experience level, are always welcome at our events. This session is intended to provide you with a more thorough overview, a practice session and more individualized instruction if you are just getting started in orienteering.


ORIENTEERING SKILLS - ADVANCED

This course is suited for those who have participated in the sport and are ready to improve their orienteering techniques and skills, get faster and take on more challenging courses. This 1/2 day session will include:

  • How to use the compass
  • Keeping track of distance (Pacing)
  • Advanced Orienteering Techniques (Attack Points, Aiming-off, Contouring etc)
  • Using a systematic approach C-A-R-T
  • Advanced route choice strategy
  • Error Recovery Techniques

This session will combine some theory exercises along with several practical exercises to practice compass use, bearings, pacing and advanced orienteering techniques.


BASIC ORIENTEERING INSTRUCTOR

This course is designed specifically to help prepare teachers, youth group or recreational leaders to introduce the sport of orienteering to young people. Unless already experienced in orienteering, Orienteering Skills - Basic and Orienteering Skills - Advanced are perquisites for this course. This one-day session will include:

  • Planning an orienteering event/activity
  • Designing an orienteering course matched to the age and experience level of participants
  • Organizing a basic orienteering event/activity
  • Safety considerations

This session includes a classroom theory session followed by a practical session to provide participants with an opportunity to practice course design, course setting and running a basic orienteering activity as a confirmation activity.


ORIENTEERING LEVEL 100 OFFICIAL

This course is designed for active orienteering club members ready to take on the responsibility of running a local club event.This one-day session will include:

  • An overview of the athlete development program
  • Course design considerations
  • Organizing a club level event
  • Orienteering Safety

This course is theory-based and will be followed up with a practicum phase, which will require the participant to course plan, organize and plan a local club event. Graduates of this course will receive a certification endorsed by the NCCP and Orienteering Canada.


To be considered for any of these training opportunities, please indicate your interest by emailing Linda at victoria.orienteering@shaw.ca. Sessions will be organized once a sufficient number of interested participants have been identified. Dates and further details will be posted when available.