Orienteering involves navigating between points using a map and compass. It can be enjoyed leisurely or competitively. An orienteering course consists of a start, controls to visit in order, and a finish. Controls are marked on the map and terrain with a flag and punch. Orienteers choose their own route between controls and verify visits by punching their control card. Orienteering provides mental and physical challenges in nature for people of all ages and skill levels. Basic orienteering skills include orienting the map, map reading, and relocating when lost. The Ottawa Orienteering Club hosts various event types for beginners to advanced participants.

1. Orienteering

2. Overview What is Orienteering? Why Orienteer? The Map Basic Orienteering Skills Course Walk Through Ottawa Orienteering Club

3. What is Orienteering?

4. The Basic Idea Participants must navigate from one point to another using a map and compass.

5. An Adventure Orienteering can be enjoyed as a leisurely walk in the woods or as a competitive race.

6. An Orienteering Course… Consists of a start , a series of control sites to be visited in order, and a finish .

7. Controls The circles are centered on the feature to be found. A control marks the location. The description sheet describes the control placements and codes.

8. Punching To verify a visit, the orienteer uses a punch hanging next to the flag to mark his or her control card .

9. Route Choice The route from one control to the next is up to the orienteer. Run over the hills… Or through the marsh !

10. Why Orienteer?

11. Enjoy the Outdoors

12. Challenge Yourself Physically

13. Challenge Yourself Mentally

14. Gain Navigational Skills

15. Suitable for all Ages

16. As Competitive as You Want

17. Alone or in a Group

18. The Map

19. Magnetic North Orienteering maps have grid lines pointing to magnetic north.

20. The Scale Map Scale The distance on the map relative to the distance in the terrain. 1 : 10,000 1 cm on the map = 100 m on the ground 1 : 15,000 1 cm on the map = 150 m on the ground Contour Interval The difference in elevation between two contour lines.

21. White: Open Forest

22. Yellow: Open Land

23. Green: Thick Vegetation

24. Brown: Shape of the Land Contour lines represent elevation in the landscape.

25. Blue: Water Features

26. Black: Man-Made & Rock

27. Basic Orienteering Skills

28. Orienting the Map Line up the map to match the features you see. Ensure North on your map matches North on your compass.

29. Folding/Thumbing the Map Fold the map parallel to the direction of travel. Move your thumb as your position changes.

30. Basic Map Reading Always keep the map oriented. Always stay in contact with the map. Constantly take note of features on the map, and make sure you can identify them in the landscape around you, and vice-versa. Navigate along linear features such as trails, streams, fences, and vegetation boundaries.

31. Relocating Stop. Orient the map with the compass. Try to match the features on the map to the terrain around you. Try to determine where you could have gone since your last known location. Return to the last place of known location or bail out to an obvious linear feature.

32. Course Walk Through

44. Ottawa Orienteering Club

45. www.magma.ca/~ottawaoc

46. Types of Events B-Meet 4 courses: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Long Advanced A-Meet Pre-registration is required. Score-O Find as many controls within a certain amount of time. Mass start.

47. What to Bring… Comfortable walking or running clothes. Hiking boots or running shoes. Whistle (available to buy). Compass if you have one.

48. See you in the woods!