ORIENTEERING

TEAM COMMANDER C/CPO HIGGINSON

Every element of the Navy Junior ROTC program was designed with the purpose of developing young leaders. Orienteering was included in our curriculum with exactly this goal in mind. It’s such a great blend of physical and intellectual effort: the higher order thinking skills of deciphering a map on the run, the physical and mental demands under time pressure; classroom theory coupled with in-field practice; both individual and team effort.

Your role as a cadet is not only to improve your own leadership skills, but also to improve your orienteering skills and in turn your orienteering team skills. You will improve your knowledge of orienteering rules and understanding of map symbols and control codes.

Through orienteering you will learn how to

make an orienteering map and how to set a fair, challenging course
run an orienteering team practice
prepare for a meet
use effective course strategies
analyze your team’s performance afterwards
host a challenging meet for other units to enjoy

Orienteering is the sport of navigation with map and compass. It's easy to learn, but always challenging. The object is to run to a series of points shown on the map, choosing routes—both on and off trail—that will help you find all the points and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time. The points on the course are marked with orange and white flags and punches, so you can prove you've been there. Each “control” marker is located on a distinct feature, such as a stream junction or the top of a knoll.

Orienteering is often called the “thinking sport” because it involves map reading and decision-making in addition to a great workout. Any kind of map may be used for orienteering (even a street map), but the best ones are detailed five-color topographic maps developed especially for the sport. Orienteering maps show boulders, cliffs, ditches, and fences, in addition to elevation, vegetation, and trails.

Orienteering is a sport for everyone, regardless of age or experience. The competitive athlete can experience the exhilaration of moving through the woods at top speed, while the non-competitive orienteer can enjoy the forest at a more leisurely pace. Most events provide courses for all levels—from beginner (white & yellow courses) to advanced (orange & green courses).

Lake Mary NJROTC participates in Orienteering meets all over central Florida to include Kelly Park in Wekiva Springs and Moss Park in Lake Nona.