Your First Orienteering Adventure
What to Bring
Here’s a simple checklist to help you feel prepared:
Comfortable clothes for walking or running
Grippy shoes (especially if you’ll be on trails or wet ground)
Water bottle and sunscreen (for outdoor events)
A compass
Most important: a curious mind and a spirit of adventure!
What to Expect on Event Day
Arrival & Registration: Friendly volunteers will help you sign in and answer any questions. Don’t hesitate to say you’re new!
Pre-Start Area: You’ll wait in a “Quarantine” area before your start time—this keeps the course a surprise and teaches patience.
Getting Your Map: You receive your map right when your race starts. You’ll need to orient yourself quickly, read the map, and choose your route—all at once!
On the Course: This is where the fun begins—navigating, making decisions, and solving problems in real time.
The Finish Line: Cross the finish, check in, and see how you did! Results are usually posted right away, and there’s always a sense of accomplishment—no matter your speed.
Sample Maps
Orienteering journey begins understanding various types of maps to understand the surroundings and learn. Each map is different based on location to location. The only way to get better is to get started and Orient more and more.
