Outdoor Centres
There are many centres and individuals offering Orienteering activities.
These providers are a valuable resource to continue development of the sport
beyond your school or youth group.
For Group Leaders - Planning a visit to a Provider
If your school or youth organisation is visiting a provider and Orienteering is one of the activities being offered, here are a number of suggestions on how you, and the provider may gain the most from the activity.
The type of terrain used for Orienteering may range from basic on-site grounds to challenging forest areas, which may be suitable for groups who attend Orienteering competitions. There are a number of centres who have activities for special needs' groups and they have developed special sessions to cater for special needs participation.
| Has your group been Orienteering before? |
| If No … | | If Yes … |
|---|
- Let the provider know, as this will help the instructor running the session.
- Ask how long the session is to run for?
- What size of group do the instructors work with?
- Can you see a copy of the map(s) to be used?
- Will the skill based "Step System" be followed?
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- Inform the provider as to what level of experience your group is at, as this will help the instructor running the session.
- If you have any specific skills from the "Step System" you would like your group to undertake.
- our group is involved in the BSOA Explorer Challenge, ask if the provider can offer accredition of their log books.
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For Providers - Suggestions and Resources
British Orienteering (BOF) has Participation Managers around the country whose role is to assist, promote and develop Orienteering within schools and youth organisations.
Providers are welcome to make contact with your local PM and see what resources they have available.
Link to list of Participation Managers
As part of their pre-visit paperwork:
you may want to ask groups:
• What Orienteering experience have they had
• Do they have any requirements such as skill development.
you should tell groups:
• If you are able to offer coaching in adventurous terrain.
If you have access to a variety of types of terrain you could develop training camps aimed at schools interested in developing Orienteering on a competitive level.
Centre Accreditation
British Orienteering has an accreditation scheme for providers. This scheme involves the provider having
• permanent staff who hold the minimum qualification of Instructor or above
• maps specifically produced for Orienteering
• sessions are well planned and delivered at a level appropriate to the group involved
• centre has been inspected by a member of the British Orienteering Federation
Centres who have not gone through the accreditation process should not be viewed as less worthwhile. They have chosen not to apply for the scheme which does incur a financial cost.
Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)
A number of providers have listed Orienteering on their AALA Licence.
The provider can offer Orienteering sessions at a higher skill level or in more challenging terrain than the centre grounds or local park type of terrain.
Providers who do not have Orienteering as a listed activity on their licence can offer Orienteering under current legislation at a basic level.