Orienteering is part treasure hunt, part amazing race. It is as much a mental activity as a physical one. It can be conducted outdoors and indoors and it caters for all levels of fitness, for walkers as well as runners.
The program teaches students orienteering skills using a variety of active, fun and inclusive games. Some of the skills students will learn include reading maps, map symbols, orientating the map (cardinal points/NESW) and route choice. The program concludes with an orienteering line course around the school.
Orienteering Australia offers a program for both primary schools and Year 7 and 8 students as part of the targeted secondary school program.
Program Details
Orienteering Australia offers a range of Sporting Schools program packages that can be customised according to the age and experience of the students, as well as the number of lessons required.
An essential part of orienteering at school is having an up-to-date orienteering map for your school area. If your school has never been mapped, or the map requires updating, please choose the Mapping of School add-on in your booking.
Packages can be delivered as 45 or 60 minute sessions (dependent on class size).
Orienteering Australia has developed a Primary (Years 3-6) and Secondary (Years 7-8) Schools Program which gives school students the opportunity to be involved in a fun, safe and inclusive, modified orienteering program in their school environment.
The program incorporates a series of activities and support resources which seamlessly align to the Australian Curriculum in the learning areas of Health and Physical Education, and Mathematics, using engaging, group-based, modified orienteering activities as the vehicle for learning.
Coverage
ACT:
Orienteering ACT can provide services for all of the ACT and the surrounding region of SE NSW. Services include coaching for schools, mapping of the school and adjacent ovals and parklands, and professional development for teachers.
New South Wales:
Coach-led programs are available in Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, Illawarra, Blue Mountains, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga, Southern Highlands. Teacher-led programs are available state-wide with mapping services and NESA-accredited Professional Development in partnership with the NSW School Sports Unit. Orienteering NSW also provide online PD workshops to teachers.
Northern Territory:
Please contact Top End Orienteers for current availability of services.
Queensland:
Orienteering Queensland (OQ) provide mapping, coaches and teacher training to many areas in South East Queensland, and some parts of Wide Bay, Cairns and Townsville. Contact OQ for Qld services.
South Australia:
The area covered for coach-led programs in SA is Adelaide metro area, Adelaide Hills including the Fleurieu Peninsula, Mid North as far as Clare and Burra, Northern and Central Yoke Peninsula, Lower River Murray towns.
Tasmania:
Orienteering Tasmania can service the greater Hobart region, Launceston and the Tamar valley, and the Devonport region (the south, north and northwest of the state).
Victoria:
Orienteering Victoria (OV) can service coach-led programs, including mapping, to metropolitan Melbourne (boundaries are eastern Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Woodend, Healesville, Narre Warren and Mornington, and up to 50km from Ballarat). Please contact OV for availability in Bendigo. Teacher-led programs, including mapping and Professional Development, are available state-wide, through consultation with OV.
Western Australia:
Please contact Orienteering WA (OWA) for current services in your area. In general, OWA will not provide orienteering services north of Geraldton or east of Kalgoorlie.
Equipment
The essential requirements for teaching orienteering is a school map and a qualified orienteering coach. If your school doesn’t already have a map that can be used for orienteering, then this can be organised.
An orienteering map of the school is a great resource beyond this program – it will be of use to social science, maths, PE, and gifted and talented classes. It’s also a handy planning tool if the school wants to add new buildings!
The cost of mapping a small primary school starts at around $250 – $350. A larger school may cost around $600 to map. More information is available by viewing the Orienteering Australia website.
Teachers
Teachers can deliver orienteering in Sporting Schools by meeting the requirements below:
- Hold a valid state and/or territory teacher registration
- Confirm adequacy of insurance
- Attend a professional development workshop.
Please visit your state/territory association’s website for more information.
Coaches
To become a coach and deliver orienteering in Sporting Schools please ensure you are working towards the following requirements:
- Be aged 17 years or over
- Hold a current Working With Children Check
- Confirm adequacy of insurance
- Orienteering Level 0 Accreditation or above.
Please visit your state/territory association’s website for more information.
Coaching Providers
Sporting Schools is an Australia-wide program in partnership with more than 35 national sporting organisations (NSO), of which Orienteering Australia is one.
Orienteering Australia coordinates all Sporting Schools programs and does not require external coaching providers. For further information please contact Orienteering Australia.
Orienteering Australia Resources
Orienteering Australia has developed a Primary (Years 3-6) and Secondary (Years 7-8) Schools Program which gives school students the opportunity to be involved in a fun, safe and inclusive, modified orienteering program in their school environment.
The program incorporates a series of activities and support resources which seamlessly align to the Australian Curriculum in the learning areas of Health and Physical Education, and Mathematics, using engaging, group-based, modified orienteering activities as the vehicle for learning.
The Primary or Secondary School Delivery Guides including activity cards, coaching tips and other resources are provided electronically as part of the teacher delivered package when a booking request is submitted by the school, and accepted by the relevant state association.