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Developed by Troop 434 with assistance from Scotty
An event designed for all levels of Girl Scouting to introduce them to the sport of Orienteering. These two events can be run concurrently with the appropriate support (knowledgeable adults and Program Aides) This Event was developed by Troop 434 girls in the process of earning their Orienteering IPP.
Typical Event Schedule
Daisy/Brownie Event
Junior/Cadette/Senior Event
Teaching Map
This is intended to be a simple training with enough information presented to be able to complete the subsequent activities. It should include the following topics:
Map as Representation of Physical Surroundings
This can be a simple discussion of "what do you see around you?" Then a simple sketch map can be made showing how to represent that. It works well especially for younger girls to tell them to look at their surroundings as if they were a bird flying in the sky -what would they see? and how would it look?
Map Legend
Play the Map Legend Relay (see resources below) with a twist. Have the legend reproduced on poster board with picture and description. Then play the game using the poster board as a reference for them.
Make sure that all the symbols you use on the maps (both String-O and regular course) are covered in this session.
Orienting a Map
A neat way to teach orienting a maps is as follows (credit Tierra del Oro Girl Scout Council for the idea):
Have a "course" staked out on the ground with rope. Make a "map" of this course on paper . Have a happy face in one corner. Make copies of map. At each turn in the course have a happy face at the stake turned the appropriate way (oriented properly to the map). Have girls walk their course using the map. Tell them to check each time they turn to make sure they have "oriented" their map properly. The happy faces should be going the same direction.
String-O
Use flagging tape to lay out a course. Make sure an accurate map of the "string" is made with legend items indicated along the way (trees, bushes, trash cans, etc.). At each "control", have a sack of stickers (each control has different stickers - maybe one has cats, one has hearts, etc.) The girls "control card" has a space for each control number and a place to put its corresponding sticker. All girls receive participation certificates. Awards may be made for the fastest times.
Teaching Compass
This is intended to be a simple training with enough information presented to be able to complete the subsequent activities. It should include the following topics:
Holding the Compass
The compass should be held waist high and cradled in flat hands. Make sure that the compass is positioned so that the "Direction of Travel" arrow is pointed in the direction you wish to go. Avoid placing the compass near a metal zipper or other metal source. Compasses should be available for each participant.
Reading the Compass/Taking a Simple Bearing
A demonstrator compass is useful for describing how to read a compass since it is large and easily seen from a distance. Explain how the compass is a circle and is divided into "degrees". Have the girls locate a specified reading (ie., what degree reading is South? East?, etc.) Explain how the compass housing turns and that you can set a specific "bearing" at the "Direction of Travel" arrow. Explain how you turn your body until the magnetic needle lines up with the orienting arrow on the housing to find a "bearing". Exercises at this point can include having girls find a specific bearing (i.e., 60 degrees, 315 degrees, etc.)
Sighting on an Object
Discuss the appropriateness of items to sight on (i.e, if an object is not stationary it is not an appropriate item, etc.). Have girls take a bearing then tell you what they are sighting on. Tell them to put down their compass and walk toward the object. A great exercise here is Hunt the Penny found in Your Way With Map and Compass by John Disley. It is basically as follows: Person has a penny (or other object) at their feet. Three bearings are given in succession which basically form an equilateral triangle (e.g., 60 degrees, 180 degrees, 300 degrees). Each time the bearing is given, the person walks ten steps to wait for the next bearing. After the third bearing, they see how close they came to the original spot they started from.
Simple Compass Games
Discuss Orienteering
Definition of the sport should be included as well as the following terms:
Orienteering Meet
Use about 6-8 controls depending on the area. I usually use a local park and get a map from the city which I reproduce eliminating unnecessary information. The girls run in pairs and go in order, trying to locate the "controls". At each "control" they find a letter on the control which they place on their "control card". This is a timed event. the team that gets the most correct answers in the least amount of time is the winner. All girls are given participation certificates.
Explain the object of the game: First, to copy down from the master map, the controls, then to visit each of the controls in order and return. The fastest time with the most correct answers wins. Explain about buddy system. Explain boundaries of course.
Compasses are not required to run simple courses held at city parks but I tend to teach them anyway since if they go to any regular orienteering meet, they should have one and know how to use it.
Resources Required to Run this Event
Following is the equipment you will need:
The following is available from A&E orienteering, 74 Decorah Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146 (They offer discounts to youth groups on certain items if order is over $130.00)
Good quality TOPO (f possible) map of area
Compasses for participants
Pencils for participants
Flagging Tape for String-O
Knowledgeable adults and Program Aides - 1 for every 10 participants,minimum
Participant Certificates
Things to Plan ahead of event:
Things to Do Day of the Event:
Things to Do At Event
To Sample Events Page
to Scotty's
Orienteering Training Outline including Resource links