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How
to begin orienteering
From
the event
list, find where the next meet is and join us. Better
still, contact one of us so that
we can welcome you to the event. Basic skills can be learned
in less than half an hour, and there is usually some form
of instruction and help from experienced members.
What
is needed?
-Durable
running shoes or light hiking boots
-Comfortable clothes
-A whistle (available at events - $2)
-A
simple compass (not essential to begin with)
Event organisers charge a nominal fee, about the equivalent
of going to the movies. Membership in Orienteering NB
reduces the cost and keeps you up to date with the sport,
which is nonprofit.
 Events
offer several courses, structured for increasing length
and difficulty. It's best to start off on the shortest and
easiest one, usually 2km to 3km in length. You may be given
a map with the course marked on it, or you may be required
to copy your course from a master map. (More on maps below.)
A
course consists of a start point (marked by a triangle), a
series of controls to be visited in sequence (marked by a
circle) and a finish (marked by a double circle).
 A
description sheet is carried with the map that helps
describe the location of each of the numbered controls. For
example, the description sheet may indicate that the second
control will be found on the south side of a clearing.
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To
verify that a control has been found, the orienteer punches
a section of a control card with a paper punch
that is attached to the control. |
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The
course map:
Scale:
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
Colour
guide:
White:
Open Forest
Yellow: Open Land
Green: Thick Vegetation
Brown: Shape of the Land
Contour lines represent elevation in the landscape.
Blue: Water Features
Black: Man-made & Rock
»
» Map reading tips
» » Control descriptions
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