Navigating & Orienteering Tips

Good instruction videos   

•  A good video to explain a basic orienteering event to kids. 
•  How to read a map for beginners and kids. 
• More advanced Instruction Videos filmed in Canberra starring our own athletes.

Useful links for beginners 

• Sporting Schools and Juniors . 
• To buy SI-sticks, compasses  
• Map Symbols  ( the colour legend).
• Phone numbers and contact and Links page    
• List of current coaches names  in Canberra
• People to contact  in Canberra  

Useful links for moderate level

•  Control Description Symbols (  black and white ) and a Control Description Quiz .
• Apply for Coach-in-Residence Scholarship .

Basic Orienteering Techniques

• Lesson 1: Orientating the map
• Lesson 2: Thumbing the map
• Lesson 3: Planning each leg
• Lesson 4: Reading the contours

Scotty’s coaching tips

• Approaching controls from the ‘back door’
• If it doesn’t fit, don’t try to wear it!
• To plan ahead or not to plan ahead, that is the question?
• Racing your rivals and getting lost
• Beware the ‘suck factor’!
• The clever navigator in gully-spur terrain (New 29 Aug 14)
• Planning each leg (New 29 Aug 14)
• Navigation outline-summary (New 29 Aug 14)
• Making life simple-following lines (New 29 Aug 14)
• Granite orienteering (New 29 Aug 14)

Helpful hints

• Hints for Sprint Distance events
• Hints on Out of Bounds rules
• Uncrossable Features  In a sprint format event the map is usually 1:4000. It is forbidden to cross some features such as certain garden beds, some low walls and fences . This article from Australian Orienteer magazine explains with pictures. 
• Uncrossable features out of bounds symbols - diagram
• Beginners Guide to Major National, Relay  or Overseas events
• Beginners video - Your first event - good for kids.   ( new Sep 2014 ) 

Twilight Series

• Successful course setting

Navigation Workshops   

• Each year we conduct many sessions to help you learn to read a map better. These include
• Monday evenings at street orienteering
• Wednesdays in summer at twilight events
• Thursday evenings - "armchair workshops" - theory 
• Saturdays and Sundays
• These are held on demand for adults and kids. See the events page for the next one or email the office office@act.orienteering.asn.au 
• Weekend workshops are usually held every Feb , May and November.
• The next scheduled workshops are listed on the events page.