ORIENTEERING

Orienteering, What Is It? Orienteering is a competition to find in in the woods. The person who finds all the in the fastest time, wins.

Who Does Orienteering? All ages and skill levels Orienteering is very popular with JROTC cadets. Many orienteering competitions just for JROTC.

Is Orienteering Difficult To Learn? This is not “Rocket Science.” Learn some basic map & compass skills and you are ready to compete!

Why Should I? Continued IT’S FUN!

Competitions

Cross Country & Score O Two main types of Orienteering Cross Country Orienteering Score O style Orienteering

Cross Country O Competition A typical cross country competition will have several different courses based on difficulty and distance covered. The courses are identified by color. From easiest to most difficult these courses are: yellow, orange, brown, green, red, and blue. JROTC cadets typically compete on the yellow, orange, brown, or green course.

OK, How Does This Work? You are given a map, a Control Description List (CDL) often called a Clue Sheet, and a Control Card. The CDL gives you clues to help you go directly to the control. The Control Card is used to verify you were at the correct control.

Cross Country Competition Continued You then go to the start point and will have a compass, whistle, and a Control Card. You may have been given a map prior to the start. Competitors are started at approx 3 minute intervals. There is usually a 3 hour time limit.

Cross Country Competition Continued You pick your own route to the control points. You must go to each control in a numerical sequence. You may pass or be passed by others as you proceed along the course.

Cross Country Competition Continued You continue this process until you reach the finish point You then turn in your Control Card to the finisher. The finisher will record your time and check your Control Card against a pre-punched master. The individual or team with the fastest time visiting all the control points, wins.

Score Orienteering Competition The course consists of a large number of controls spread over the mapped area. Controls are given varying point values based on difficulty to locate and distance from start/finish. You may go to the controls in any sequence

Score Orienteering Continued All competitors start at the same time There is a time limit There is a severe penalty for being over-time The individual/team with the most points wins In the event of a tie, the individual/team that collected the most points in the shortest time wins

Typical Score O map

In both Cross Country and Score Orienteering The control point will be identified by an orange and white marker. There will be a control ID card and a plastic punch hanging with the marker. After verifying that you are at the correct control point, you will punch your Control Card. The punch makes a unique pin pattern on your Control Card. This proves that you were actually at the control point.

Control Marker & Control Card

OK, We Know What It Is, But How Do We Actually Orienteer? Remember, this is not rocket science. Learn to read an orienteering map. Learn to look at your map and match what you see on the map with what you see in the surrounding terrain. Learn to use the base plate compass.

Now Let’s Talk About That Map An orienteering map is a multi-colored map designed specifically for orienteering. You will use your map, your compass, and what you see by looking around you, to navigate along your orienteering course.

Terrain Association This is the process of looking at the terrain around you and associating what you see on the ground with what is depicted on the map. Champion orienteers always possess Excellent Terrain Association skills. Keep your map in your hand, you can’t accomplish Terrain Association without frequent reference to your map!

Orienteering Map The next slide is an orienteering map with several important components highlighted.

Typical Yellow Course The next slide shows a typical Yellow course. Pay close attention because you will be running a Yellow course on your first competition.

ORIENTING THE MAP TO NORTH This is a critical step in using the map Once the map is oriented to North you will be able to navigate using terrain association The process is simple

ORIENTING THE MAP

THE MAP IS ORIENTED-NOW WHAT? Look to North and find a physical feature (road, building, etc., then find the symbol for that feature on your map Look to East and find a physical feature, then find the symbol for the feature on your map. Continue the process until you can match several physical features that you can see to the symbols on the map.

OK, I matched features to symbols You are ready to navigate. For example, say your first point is a small building southwest of the start point. You observe that there is a road and parking areas just southwest of the Start (in front of you). With the map oriented to north, when you face southwest, the road and parking areas is in front of you.

Using the map to navigate You note that if you go to the road, you will see the small building where Control #1 is located. You also note that if after punching Control #1, if you go back to the road and turn right you will pass several parking areas, a left curve in the road and see a junction of road and trail. You are at Control #2.

Using the map to navigate Continued CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE NAVIGATING USING TERRAIN ASSOCIATION!

Now let’s look at the Compass The compass is NOT your primary navigation tool! It is used to Orient the map and ASSIST you in navigation. You will learn to:  Calculate a heading between two points  Follow the heading you calculated  Follow an emergency heading

The Base Plate Compass

To Calculate a Heading  To go from the trail intersection A to rock B  Place edge of compass along line of travel  Insure Direction of Travel Arrow is pointing in the direction you intend to travel!

Heading Continued  Turn the Rotating Dial until the North Orienting Arrow is pointing to the top of the map and the Orienting lines are aligned with the North/South lines on the map.  Read Travel Heading at the Index Line

To Follow a Heading  Set the desired heading at the index line  Hold compass level, about chest high  Insure Direction of Travel Arrow is pointing straight ahead  Turn your entire body until the North Compass Needle is directly over the North Orienting Arrow and pointing at the “N” symbol

Heading Continued  With the compass properly set, look in the direction that the Direction of Travel Arrow is pointing.  Pick out a prominent landmark that the Direction of Travel Arrow is pointing to.  Walk to that landmark and then repeat the above procedure.

Questions?