6 Week Junior Program Sign-up
April 18th 2013 5:00pm
Organizers: Meghan Rance (Event Director), Andrea Balakova (Coach), Graeme Rennie (Coach), Scott Muma (Coach), Karen Lachance (Membership)
6 Week Junior Program
Thursdays, 5-7pm, April 18 to May 23, 2012
Please register by April 15, 2012
Please complete the following survey before the first session: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G3MXBLV
Participants will need outdoor clothing and shoes, a pencil, a water bottle, and a compass (if they want it).
Sessions will be held rain or shine!
Session 1
April 18 – Cates Park, North Vancouver
Please arrive early with $60 cash (or cheque made out to Greater Vancouver Orienteering Club) and a completed membership form.
Meet at the picnic shelter near the water.
In session 1, we will be covering orienteering basics. First, we will divide participants into groups based on their age, fitness, ability, and experience. Then we will use games and exercises to review or learn basic map reading. The last activity of the session will be a fun (re)introduction course.
Session 2
April 25- Confederation Park, East Vancouver
Park in the parking lot off of Beta Ave. We will meet in the nearby picnic shelter.
In session 2, we will be focusing on orienting the map with a compass and without a compass. Some groups will also be working on compass skills and bearings.
April 28- Watershed Park, Delta
The Watershed Park Metro Vancouver Junior Orienteering Festival is a Sunday event that we are encouraging all participants to attend. We are hoping to have up to 200 junior orienteers participating in orienteering games and courses. Bring the whole family. Adults are also welcome to attend.
This event is included in the cost of the 6 week course. Additional participants who want to attend will have to pay $5 on the day and a $5 membership fee. Please inform us whether or not you will be attending by April 26th.
Park on Pinewood Drive near Pinewood Elementary. The registration, games, start and finish will be at the scout camp in the middle of the park. The route from the entrance to the park to the scout camp will be marked.
Session 3
May 2- Princess Park, North Vancouver
Park in the parking lot off of Princess Street. We will be meeting in the picnic shelter approx. 100m to the east.
In session 3, participants will learn strategies for planning and executing orienteering routes and for keeping track of their location while on course.
Session 4
May 9- Cleveland Dam, North Vancouver
Park in the parking lot at the junction of Capilano Road and Prospect Ave. We will meet at a picnic table near the washrooms.
In session 4, we will be practicing reading contours. Participants will learn how to interpret top from bottom and steep from flat. Some groups will examine more complex contour shapes.
Optional Sunday GVOC Event
May 12 - McCartney Creek, North Vancouver
Meeting location TBA
The entry fee for this event is not included in the cost of the program. The event will cost $5 per participant. We hope that all participants and their families will come out and orienteer with us on mother’s day!
Please inform us at the May 9th session if you will be attending.
Session 5
May 17 - Rice Lake, North Vancouver
Park in the Rice Lake parking lot at the end of Lillooet Road. We will meet in the gazebo at the entrance to the park.
In session 4, participants will learn and practice relocation strategies.
Regional Event (Optional)
May 17-20 – Sage Stomp, Kamloops
Sage Stomp is the first big out-of-town orienteering event of the season. The event is an instructional camp and race on the newly updated McQueen Lake map. The terrain is a combination of grassland and open pine forest with rolling hills.
Details TBA
Session 6
May 23- Deep Cove, North Vancouver
Park on Rockcliff Rd beside Deep Cove Park. We will meet in the picnic shelter down by the water.
In the final session, participants will run a race, which will challenge all the skills that they have learned over the program.
Families are encouraged to bring a post session picnic if the weather is nice.
Can I Participate in the Sessions as Well?
Yes! We encourage parents to come and participate with us. If you are planning on joining us for a session send an email to meghan.rance@gmail.com so that we know how many maps to print.
What Happens After the Course?
The Greater Vancouver Orienteering Club holds events throughout the year. WET (informal orienteering events) are held every Wednesday at 6:30 pm in parks around the city. These events are free for club members. There are also once a month Sunday events. The first event after the end of the program is in White Rock on June 16th.
Information about these events and many more can be found on the GVOC website
Please email any questions to Meghan Rance at meghan.rance@gmail.com!