This blog is about Orienteering at Port Ellen Primary School and how we are hoping to use technology to encourage children and the local community to get out and about and become more fit and healthy. Orienteering is a sport that uses maps and compass directions to find points in the quickest time possible. It is a sport that combines map reading and running and competitors have to find their way between a series of checkpoints, called controls, as quickly as possible.We wanted other people to know about our learning journey so we decided to write a blog, and we will use this to post courses on and maps. We thought that Orienteering would be a great project for this year because it will make us all very fit and healthy, and we received funding from the Scottish Government to buy equipment and training to help us develop this project.   Click on the pictures for links to other websites.

Our School Orienteering Map

Our Orienteering Planning

Orienteering is a good exercise to stay fit and healthy. You need to have good mapping skills in order to complete an orienteering course. You need quite an accurate map in order to see where all the controls are placed and you need the map where the course is taking place. Orienteering is a sport in which orienteers use a detailed map. Orienteering is not just for fast people, it can be for people who just want a go. The equipment that you need to have a proper orienteering course-

. Map of your course.

. Control points are flags which have the stamper attached and you have a card which you stamp in the correct place.  Each stamp is different.  You can also use QR codes.

. Recording cards.

We are trying to lower the obesity in Scotland and trying to keep everybody fit and healthy so that we live a longer and healthier life. We want as much people as possible to stay healthy and fit and that’s why we want you to join in and have a go at orienteering.