If you’re an ‘Orienteering Purist’, please read no further, as no responsibility accepted for raised blood pressure! Lack of a map; lack of time and covid – were just some of the factors against planning an orienteering introduction event for St Theresa’s Primary School. But, at this level, does it really matter if things don’t quite come up to IOF standards? Fun was the essential element considered in the race against time.

Dr Google was consulted. With help from one with superior internet skills, an A4 map was produced with the help of Google Maps – no scale, no contours (it was dead flat anyway), no north arrow, no legend and, in the tradition of GM, aerial photo in full leaf, hiding some of the features. Trees were ‘removed’, playground equipment added for a near-enough-map-of-the-grounds – probably for the Planner’s benefit – the kids knew the grounds so well, they could have run round just with a good bit of guessing.

Feeling the possible Wrath of The Purists on shoulders, purple lines, letters and circles were used – but, with the nature of the map, nothing showed up. Enter yellow! Perfect. Enter Mrs Radka with her great idea to include some challenges at or between controls – very successfully drawing out the sessions so that thumb twiddling wasn’t an option. Press ups, reciting the alphabet backwards along with other small challenges (not that anyone checked them) generated lots of laughs and chatter.

The result? A low-cost event (photocopying done by the school and using their equipment, be they clip cards – but what child doesn’t like clipping everything in sight, fingers included?) Happy kids. Happy teachers. Happy Planner. Lots of fun and hopefully some new orienteers on the horizon. And, (knowing this will hopefully provide relief for The Purists), ‘proper’ O maps were checked out along with what to expect at the Southland School Champs.

Below is the map, and yes totally unconventional as far as orienteering goes. There was no time to do one of the school grounds. We all had heaps of fun and I think a good positive experience for the kids, which is a good way to get  them to like orienteering. 

Then the next event was the Southland champs, and interestingly, the highest number of groups from any school attending the Southland School Champs was entered by St. Theresa’s – 16 out of a total of 72 teams/individuals. Also a big cheer to Halfmoon Bay Primary (Stewart Island) who made a very impressive effort by sending over a boatload of 9 teams, thanks to SOC member Letitia who taught them so many skills.   

by Sally Duston