PE and Health

• Orienteering


  An outdoor activity where participant's goal is finding the various checkpoints (with specific sequence) in a pre set course using a especially created detailed map and the compass to navigate in an unfamiliar terrain
• Orienteering


  • Can be done as a fun recreational activity or a very competitive sport requiring navigational skills, techniques, and decision making skills to bring a person from one pace to another at the least time possible
• In Scandinavia the term orienteering was a military word that meant "crossing unknown grounds"


  1886
• The world's first orienteering match was held in Norway


  1897
• Major Ernst Killander


  The "Father of Orienteering" designed a cross country competition where participants had to decide their own routes with the use of map and compass
• A Finnish army officer, Piltti Heiskanen, set up orienteering activities in Darthmouth College


  1941 - 1943
• The IOF or the International Orienteering Federation was formed


  1961
• Orienteering activities became part of the U.S. Marine Corps Physical Fitness Academy at Quantico, Virginia, under assistant director Jim "Yoggi" Hardin

  1967
• The first U.S. Orienteering Championships was held at Southern Illinois University


  Oct. 1970
• The birth of U.S. Orienteering Federation in Virginia

  1971
• Orienteering was accepted as a U.S. Olympic Committee Class C sport or an affiliated sport


  1988
• Equipment used in Orienteering

  • Map
  • Compass
  • Whistle
  • Map bag or clear plastic bag
  • Red pen
• Map


  A two-dimension representation of a three dimension surface, a graphic representation of the ground and the terrain
• Types of Maps


  • Locator Map
  • Highway Map
  • Topographic Map
  • Orienteering Map
• Magnetic North Lines


  Lines representing the magnetic north, including True North, Grid North, and Magnetic North
• Compass


  An instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it
• How to Use an Orienteering Compass

  1. Hold the compass level in the palm of your hand in front of your stomach

  2. Position the compass so that the direction of travel arrow (DTA) is pointing straight out in front of you

  3. Turn the Bezel so that the desired direction aligns with the DTA

  4. Turn yourself and/or your hand until the magnetic needle (red needle) points or is aligned with the North magnetic orienting arrow or with the lines inside the compass housing

  5. Check where the DTA is pointing, that is the direction you will be going
• Objective of Orienteering


  Finding all the control points indicated on a map given to the participants
• Forms of Orienteering


  • Score 0 (fixed time limit to visit as many control points as possible)
  • Point to Point (visit all control points in sequence in the fastest time possible)
• Pace


  Equivalent to two steps
• Pace Factor


  A way of computing or determining how many paces you need to travel between two points
• Navigation Skills in Orienteering

  1. Estimating Distance to Travel using the Map

  2. Precision and Rough Map Reading

  3. Precision and Rough Compass Reading
• What to do if you are lost along the course?

  1. Do not panic, stop and take a break

  2. Look at the surroundings and check the map for more recognizable features

  3. Check Compass and map for direction of travel

  4. Go to the nearest safety azimuth or prominent feature and reorient self using the map and compass

  5. Use a whistle to seek help
• Health-Related Benefits of Orienteering

  • Increases aerobic-capacity and cardiovascular strength
  • Develops strong heart, lungs and legs
  • Provides balance of mental and physical exertion
• Whistle is used as communication in case of emergency such as when there is significant injury or a participant is completely lost.
• Three short blasts mean “I need help, please come to me”, Two short blasts mean “I hear you, I am coming to you”
• Every event director advises the participants of safety azimuth. These are directions on the compass, which will take you easily to a recognizable linear feature such as road or paved grounds or something you cannot miss, usually done in emergency situations.
• Orienteering is a very intensive activity.
• Orienteering involves not only physical demands but also fast decision making skills.
• In Score 0, a fixed time limit is given for the participants to visit as many control points a possible and the one with the highest points wins.
• In Point to Point the participants must visit all the control points in the sequence indicated on the map in the fastest time possible. Whoever finishes first wins
• Compass is an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.
• Parts of a compass

  1. Direction of Travel
  2. Index Line
  3. Magnetic Needle
  4. Orienting Lines
  5. Rules/Scales
  6. Declination Adjustments
  7. Orienting Arrow
  8. Compass Housing
  9. Baseplate