Ready for adventure? Orienteering Ottawa’s Learn-to programs are back for this fall! Come and learn to navigate with a map and compass alongside our experienced instructors in a new location each week.

Our programs are suitable for:

• Youth aged 9 and up, and adults 18-80+
• Those who are new to the sport of orienteering or with beginner-level experience

For youth and adults who currently compete at the Intermediate Level at our meets, we suggest that you register for the Thursday evening programs which will include instruction and practice courses at the Intermediate and Advanced levels, and feedback discussions.

Program Overview

The 2023 fall Learn-to programs will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 beginning September 12, 2023. Each weekly session will introduce a new orienteering technique through an orienteering course set at a new location. The instructional exercises will include learning about map symbols, how to handle the map, using features in the terrain for navigation, choosing a navigation route and navigating with a compass. Each evening, a lesson with a brief exercise will be led by a coach, and there will be a practice course.

There will be no FUNdamentals program for participants aged 6-8.

The program will include lessons for youth beginners, for youth with some experience and for older youth or adults (Basics and Beyond).

Locations are selected and courses set so that adult shadows will not be required. We do expect that youth will work together in small teams for safety and collaboration. Locations may be changed due to conditions but participants will be advised in advance.

Program Fees and Registration

The cost for the Learn-to program is $110. This registration fee includes:

• Support from our club coaches during the 7 weekly sessions
• An Orienteering Ottawa annual membership for the participant
• Free entry to a fall event

SIGN UP HERE

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Refunds: See our refund policy in our policy manual.

Coming prepared

Please plan to bring the following with you to the program each week: 

• Running shoes
• Long pants
• Clothing that can get dirty
• Water bottle
• Safety whistle
• A good headlamp
• A sense of adventure!

Weather and safety policies

Orienteering is a rain-or-shine sport. Only in the event of dangerous weather conditions (e.g. lightning, likelihood of hypothermia) will a program session be canceled, in which case we will send out an email no less than 2 hours prior to the start of the session.

We do not guarantee refunds for cancelled sessions. If we cancel more than one session in the season, we will look at how we can compensate families for the missed sessions.

Ticks, poison ivy, and wild parsnip are common wildlife risks found in the Ottawa area. We will teach about basic safety precautions in the first week of the program. It’s also a good idea to read through our safety page (page de sécurité et éthique).

To see the club’s full weather policy as well as our program behaviour and safety policies check out our policy manual.