# Orienteering Education and Research Around the World

This is a collection of resources for teaching orienteering, and about research related to orienteering, with an emphasis on children and youth.

It was started on 4/15/2020, and is under ongoing development.

Some of the best:

* [Navigation Games lesson plans](https://navigation-games-2.gitbook.io/navigationgames/) and [website](https://www.navigationgames.org)
* [Orange Marks the Spot](https://www.orienteeringalberta.ca/schools--communities.html) (Alberta Orienteering Association). 6 lessons using Google Earth maps.
* [Orienteering Canada's Skills and Development Database](https://skills.orienteering.ca/)
* [Orienteering for the Young](https://orienteeringusa.org/resources/youth-leaders/) (OUSA) - various resources including the [4-step orienteering skills recognition program](https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Rq5-sszlnE6CczbXqaoe35IRPRksfo2/view?usp=sharing), Safesport, the Youth Mapping Program, and information for schools, scouts and JROTC.
* [Lesson plans for high school](https://www.orienteeringalberta.ca/uploads/1/0/2/2/102233682/hela_lesson_plans.pdf) from Alberta Orienteering Association.
* [Go4orienteering](https://www.go4orienteering.org/schools/?lang=en). We LOVE these exercises (because kids love them) - highly recommended.
* [All About Orienteering](http://www.orienteering.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/AllAboutOrienteering_OrienteeringCanada.pdf) information sheet from Orienteering Canada
* COOL, AWESOME and EDUCATIONAL! [for ages 13-15](https://issuu.com/byorienteering/docs/silva_book_ages13-15_english_web). and [Ages 6-15](https://issuu.com/byorienteering/docs/silva_book_ages_6-15_english)
* [Kiwi-O school curriculum](https://www.orienteering.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Kiwi-O-Manual-2014-v2.pdf). Among other things, there are some good introductory classroom activities.
* Project Adventure

Additional resources to explore:

* [Organizing a class orienteering event](https://www.ocin.org/school/Teachkt.pdf) from OCIN
* [NZ Maths unit on describing location and directions](https://nzmaths.co.nz/ao/gm3-5-use-co-ordinate-system-or-language-direction-and-distance-specify-locations-and-describe-pa)
* [PE 352 syllabus for Grade 10 Orienteering](http://web.uvic.ca/~thopper/Pe352/2002/LarryKirstenOrient8/) from Larry Chernoff and Kirsten Odegaard
* [Orienteering lesson plan from the Waskowitz Outdoor School](https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1523663138/highlineschoolsorg/qcfcao2fyqrnqlv5hlxb/Lesson-Plan-Basic-Orienteering.pdf)
* [Understanding Orienteering](https://sites.google.com/site/sterlingnjrotc/orienteering/understanding-orienteering), from Sterling High School NJROTC
* [Orienteering in Schools](https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/get-involved/orienteering-in-schools/), the Scottish Orienteering Federation
  * They run a one-day [Introducing Orienteering](https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/download/57/schools-teachers/10672/introducing-orienteering-leaflet.pdf) course for teachers and outdoor youth leaders: learn basic orienteering skills; learn how to bring subjects to life through orienteering. 
* [Scottish Schools Orienteering Association](https://www.ssoa.org.uk/). This organization puts on annual orienteering festivals for schoolchildren.
* [Orienteering New Zealand's School Orienteering page](https://www.orienteering.org.nz/about-orienteering/school-orienteering/)

Research and books about orienteering

* "[Orienteering in Geography Education in Japanese High School,](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334378519_Orienteering_in_Geography_Education_in_Japanese_High_School)" Taketo Kobayashi. Proceedings of the International Cartographic Association, 2, 2019. 
  * Two important aspects; (1) it is outdoor education, which presents challenges and (2) different country environments influence how it is taught. 
  * In Japan, orienteering is taught in PE as opposed to from the viewpoint of learning maps. The author discusses using orienteering in geography education.
  * Matching the map with the actual place is a key skill in geography education, and is effectively taught through orienteering. This is a key "awareness".
* Kirby 1970, "The geographical sport of orienteering," Geography, 55-3, 285-288. 
  * Orienteering as a geography learning tool is effective in improving field observation, map reading, map-making precision, and field research techniques.
* [Boardman 1989](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40571740?read-now=1\&refreqid=excelsior%3A449c7ff481b8d65a7f77408003303e01\&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents), "The development of graphicacy: Children's understanding of maps, " Geography, 74-4, 321-331. 
  * Orienteering practices map skills for people with different abilities. 
* McNeill, Martland and Palmer, 2003. "Orienteering in the national curriculum: Key stages 1 to 3," Harvey Map Services Ltd. 80p.
  * Lesson plans for K-12 orienteering education
* McNeill and Palmer, 2005. "Orienteering in the national curriculu: Key stages 3 and 4," The World of Maps, Chapter 12, 1-5.
  * Lesson plans for K-12 orienteering education.

Articles about orienteering

* [An Introduction to Orienteering](http://www.getouttheremag.com/articles/3178/an-introduction-to-orienteering) from Get Out There magazine, Oct 6, 2014
* [Exploration comes to life with orienteering, geocaching](https://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/polar-explorers/exploration-comes-to-life-with-orienteering-geocaching) - an article on the OSU website
*