Why you should be on the orienteering team!

Orienteering develops both mental and physical skills. Team members learn how to read terrain symbols, use a compass, and plot points on a map. As a member of the orienteering team, you will travel across a variation of terrain at distances up to three miles. Most teams will consist of two or three cadets. Together, you will plot points on your map and move to and locate each point as fast as possible.

 There are two different categories (novice and advanced) and three different competitions held for orienteering. The competitions are as follows:

• Cross Country: Teams will plot points on a map as fast and accurate as they can. They will then navigate the course as quickly as possible locating the points in order.

• Scoring: Teams will have one hour to plot, travel to, locate, and return with as many points as possible. Each location is worth 5 - 20 points. The harder the location is to reach, the more the point is worth. Every ten seconds over an hour the team is gone they will lose a point. Teams must manage time, plan travel routes, and know their own abilities in order to master this event.

• Relay: This event differs from the other competitions in the fact that you are in eight to ten member teams. Two cadets will navigate each leg of the event. Once two cadets locate their point(s) and return the next two cadets will start their leg. This will continue until all 4(5) legs are complete.

Orienteering teams run from the beginning of school until the middle of October.