So you want to learn orienteerring but you need to know where to start. Well this is a good place!
USING POWERPOINTS
Here is a powerpoint created by long time orienteering club member David Fischer. It was created for the Boy Scout program and goes into great detail with lots of relevant information on the sport and some beginner techniques.
This second powerpoint was created as a shorter introduction. This is a good place to start if you want something quick.
USING VIDEOS
If videos are more your thing, here is a longer video that goes into great detail. This was designed to explain how to navigate in an adventure race, which is orienteering but doing so not just on foot, but also while biking and paddling. Adventure Racing is its own sport with lots of information out there but the foundation is knowing how to navigate with a map and compass and that is what orienteering is!.
This video was created by Emily Korsch, Scott Erlandson, and Dave Frei of the Alpine Shop for the annual Castelwood 8 Adventure Race which occurs in St. Louis every December.
IN PERSON
OK, so you really learn best from a person. We got you covered there too. You have two options. Check our meet calendar and before any meet, reach out to the SLOC president, Josh Borgmeyer, jb.balancedbody@gmail.com, and let him know. He will notify the meet director and SLOC will arrange for a knowledgeable club member meet you before the meet for personal instruction.
The second option is by appointment. SLOC maintains a permanent orienteering course at Rockwoods Range. If you are interested in getting a FREE private lesson, just reach out to the club and we will arrange for you to receive a free lesson at the permanent course. The cost is $5 which is the cost of the map download. Contact Nathan Graves at cavemelon@hotmail.com for more information on this opportunity.
BOOKS
OK, so you want to read a book. Yep, try some of these titles, there are many out there
The Winning Eye – How to Succeed Through Map Reading by Michel Gueorgiou
Squiggly Lines: Map and Compass Navigation in Adventure Races and Rogaines by Mark Lattanzi
FOREIGN INTEREST
Wait, so you want to learn from down under. OK, here is a series from down under and our friends from across the big pond, Orienteering Australia. Enjoy.
THE FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS
Orienteering USA is the national governing body and has a wealth of resources:
https://orienteeringusa.org/resources/training/
The INternational Orienteering Federation has some as well: https://orienteering.sport/orienteering/