Orienteering

This project was developed by the John Abbott College Physical Education Department and its Outdoor Education teachers.
Sincere thanks to our Collaborators:

Une version française de ce site Web est disponible à l’adresse suivante : http://johnabbott.qc.ca/orienteering-fr/

First, you’ll need a map of your chosen orienteering course. You have three options:

1. Install the free MapRun6 application MapRun6 – MapRun® (weebly.com) on your device. See above How to Use the MapRun6App for more instructions. Then choose your course map (Beginner, Intermediate, or Score O).
2. Print your own copy by downloading the map of your chosen course here:
   – Beginner
   – Intermediate
   – Score O
   Be sure to print both the map and the back of the map that includes the control descriptions, some basic instructions and your results card.
3. Purchase a course map from the Casgrain Sports Centre Reception Desk, Room C0069 of the College.

• Choose a course. We recommend that first-timers start with the Score O. You get 20 points for each control. Find as many or as few as you like in any order, then finish at the Finish control. For the Beginner and Intermediate courses the controls must be visited in order (1, 2, 3…).
• Begin at the Start control, located at the red triangle on the map. Scan the QR code on the Start control or write your start time on the back of your map.
• Find each control. Controls are located at the center of each control circle on the map. Control descriptions on the back of the map or in MapRunF documents will help you know what to look for.
• Control markers look like this:
  
• Scan the QR code on each control or write the two-letter code on each control on the back of your map. If you scan the incorrect control, ignore it and continue doing the course in order.
• Complete your course by going to the Finish control, located at the double red circle on the map. Scan the QR code on the Finish control or write your finish time on the back of your map.
• App users can check their results in the MapRun6 Printed map users can check their results by showing their results card at the Casgrain Centre Reception Desk, Room C0069 of the College.

Start location marked on your map (magenta triangle).

Control location (magenta circle).

Finish location (magenta double circle) on the map.

Sample Control Marker.

Did you enjoy your experience? Great! Orienteering has many levels of difficulty to explore, and many versions from walking to running on trails or in the woods, cross-country skiing, cycling and even canoeing.

For more permanent courses around Montreal, to learn more about how to improve your orienteering skills, or to sign up for a local orienteering event, contact the Ramblers Orienteering Club at www.ramblersoc.ca or consult the Fédération québecoise de course d’orientation website at https://courseorientationquebec.ca/en/.

Here are three key skills to develop. No compass is needed for these basic courses:

1. Keep your map oriented to the terrain. Maps are not meant to be held like books, with the top of the page always kept at the top. Instead, you continuously turn the map to keep it oriented to the main features in the terrain around you. If you see a lake in front of you, then turn the map in your hands until you see that lake in the same relative position on your map as well.
   
2. Fold and thumb your map. Folding your map helps focus your attention on the part of the map you are navigating at that time.  Now find your current location on the map and place your thumb on that spot. It is a simple yet effective tip for navigating with a map. As you move through the terrain, keep repositioning your thumb on the map to keep track of where you are as you go. See a trail intersection? Reposition your thumb to that spot on the map. See a big bend in the trail? Reposition your thumb. Keep doing so all around your course.
   
3. Choose your route. While more advanced orienteers do use a compass to orient their map and take bearings, a lot of orienteering relies on mastering the skills of reading the map and choosing the best route. Look at your map to identify the control that you are going to find. What looks like the best way to get there? What route do you think you can confidently execute? What features will you see along the way? A big grassy field, or bend in the trail? Keep an eye out for these features as you go, keep your map oriented, and keep relocating your thumb. That’s it! You are now orienteering!
   

Here are some more instructional resources:

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/orienteering-basics.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Orienteer
https://betterorienteering.org/beginner/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeSKpruL-vo

• Start by downloading the free MapRun6 app from your app store. You will need to provide some details about yourself. Tap Name and fill in all the required fields.
• To get to the maps of the permanent courses on John Abbott College tap Select Event / Canada / Quebec / Montreal / John Abbott College.
• Download your course. We recommend that first-timers start with the Score O.
• Tap “Go To Start”. The map will be displayed on your device. The Red dot you see on the screen is your current location.
• Go to the Start control at the red triangle on the map. Start your course by tapping “Scan for QR” and scanning the QR code on the Start control. The red dot for your location will no longer be displayed.
• Go to each control on your course. At each control tap “Scan for QR” to scan the QR code on the control.
• Go to the Finish control located at the double red circle on the map and scan the QR code on the control to complete your course.
• Your results and track are displayed on your device when you finish. Tap All Results to compare your results with others on the same course.
• If you scan a control that is not on your course a warning will be displayed and your device will not beep. Press OK to clear the warning and continue.
• If you scan a control in the incorrect order your device will beep but the control will not count. On classic orienteering courses the controls must be done in order. Go to the control you should have scanned, then carry on to the next control.
• If do not want to start your course now, press the house icon in the upper left corner of your screen, then press exit.

We appreciate hearing from you to help us improve. Send your comments to: andrew.plimer@johnabbott.qc.ca