Who is Navigation Games?
Navigation Games is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with the mission to develop, share and
deliver navigation education for children, engage families and enable access to the sport of
orienteering, and promote public health through outdoor exercise. We believe orienteering is one of
the best ways to not only encourage map navigation and outdoor physical activity for youth, but also
to provide experiences and an environment where they can develop important life skills.

Specifically, we
● Teach children the sport of orienteering through map navigation games and fun activities
● Develop lesson plans and materials
● Enable others to deliver orienteering-based education through workshops and consulting
● Raise awareness about the sport in the Boston area and beyond

What is the Orienteer-in-Residence Program?
Navigation Games invites applications for foreign visitors to participate in a voluntary service
program. The program is typically for 3 months but longer stays may be possible, and are subject to
the time limit that an individual can stay in the USA.

The visit could be during spring, summer or fall with flexibility around start and end dates. The type
of volunteering varies according to the timing of the visit.

Spring and Fall:
● Support Physical Education (PE) teachers in primary schools teach orienteering, including
supporting their use of SPORTident.
● Coach middle school teams after school (3 days/week, for ~6 weeks)
● Plan, manage and deliver events open to the public

Summer:
● Manage 6-9 teenage interns as they (1) learn orienteering, (2) teach younger children
orienteering, and (3) take on other projects to support our mission.
● Teach orienteering classes for various summer programs.

Throughout the year:
● Organize and maintain equipment
● Help with our curriculum project (e.g. review lesson plans; make accompanying videos)
● Help deliver workshops for teachers and coaches
● Update and create orienteering maps of small urban spaces for teaching children; train
others to create maps.
● Other projects to further our mission, as needs arise and based on your experience and
interest

Volunteer Commitments:
● 12+ weeks of unpaid work
● 35-40 hours of volunteering per week

The volunteer agrees to at all times faithfully, industriously, and to the best of their skill, ability and
talents, advance the mission of Navigation Games through their work.

Navigation Games Commitments:
● Housing for the duration of the volunteer stint – Individual or shared room. Everyone is
expected to help out with household chores like shopping, meals and cleanup.
● Travel support of up to $750 USD
● Sufficient flexibility to permit volunteer to take trips to explore the USA and attend local
orienteering meets / training sessions
● An invitation letter to the USA, which may be used to support a visa application (see below)

Navigation Games provides a letter inviting the volunteer to participate in a voluntary service
program in Cambridge, MA for the planned duration of the visit. The letter states that Navigation
Games will provide housing, that the individual will be a volunteer and will not replace any paid staff.
This letter may be useful for obtaining a visa and a hard copy should be brought with the volunteer
and presented at immigration, when entering the USA.

What can I do when I am not volunteering?
A previous Orienteer-in-residence made this video, which focuses more on what she did with her
free time, when she was not volunteering. What would you do with your time, if you visited
Navigation Games?

How does the Recruitment Process Work?
The Navigation Games volunteer recruitment process typically involves completion of the application
questionnaire, a virtual interview, a background check and reference checks.
During the process, Navigation Games focuses on understanding the experience, skills set and
interests of the volunteer. The volunteer should focus on fully understanding the expectations for the
volunteer involvement – what the work will be (e.g. program delivery and teacher support), what the
requisite skills / experience are (e.g. level of English, teaching skills) and whether they are interested
in using and helping to develop the Navigation Games approach.
Upon agreement that there is a match between Navigation Games and the volunteer and both sides
want to pursue the collaboration, full details of the experience are agreed upon. Navigation Games
then sends an invitation letter to the volunteer outlining this information.

How do I apply for the Orienteer-in-Residence Program?
To apply, please complete the application questionnaire. If you have questions, please email
Navigation Games: admin@navigationgames.org. We can’t wait to hear from you and learn more
about you!

Navigation Games, 116 Henry Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+1 617 335 4847 – navigationgames.org – admin@navigationgames.org