Make orienteering your next family activity

Are you looking for a new activity for the whole family?

Do you want to spice things up during your daily walk?

Do you love exploring new places?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, may we suggest orienteering?

Orient-WHAT?

Orienteering involves navigating a series of checkpoints in an outdoor environment. Regardless of whether you walk or run, orienteering builds the competence and confidence to be outside and is suitable for the entire family.

Why orienteering?

Orienteering is a fun group activity that requires no experience, equipment or expense. Forget costly program fees, just contact a local orienteering club to learn the basics and get outside. Kids can start in a local park or schoolyard and grow their confidence while exploring familiar environments.

Orienteering builds cognitive skills like decision making and map reading, and physical skills like climbing and jumping. For an added challenge, try finding the checkpoints as quickly as possible.

When is orienteering season?

All year round! It’s most popular between May and November, but orienteering is fun in any weather. Kids can develop skills on ice and in snow by participating in skate and cross-country skiing orienteering, respectively.

How to get started

The best way to get started is to contact a local club. If there’s not a club in your area, the Alberta Orienteering Association supports program development.

Orienteering in the community

Alberta Orienteering Association and Be Fit For Life Network have created an orienteering resource for school, recreation, sport and community programs. Lesson plans teach basic navigation and develop physical literacy. Add some adventure to your family outings… you’ll “find” that you love it!