Youth Learn-To Programs

Orienteering Ottawa's action-packed Learn-To programs have been running since 2015. This spring we've got loads of fun and exciting running and navigation activities planned. We will be exploring a great mix of park and forest spaces - perfect for fun games and orienteering challenges!

Registration for the Spring 2025 offering of Orienteering Ottawa’s Learn-To programs is now open. See below for sign-up links

Program Details

What is it?

The Program consists of once-per-week sessions designed to challenge participants both physically and mentally. Kids will improve their running speed, agility, endurance, strength, problem-solving, and navigational skills - all packaged for the most FUN possible.

Who can take part?

Our youth programs are designed for all youth aged 6-16 years. We offer our Basics and Beyond program for individuals age 16 and over. All of our program levels are aligned with Orienteering Canada and Sport for Life's guidelines for age appropriate sport and orienteering. If you are not sure if your child is a good fit for the program, or if you are wondering which program level is best for your child, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Programs will be delivered in English. However, we may be able to accommodate some program instruction in French. Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we can deliver the best coaching we can!

Program Levels

FUNdamentals (aged 6-9)

Our FUNdamentals program is catered to our youngest participants, offered for youth aged 6 to 9 years old. This level is suitable for youth with no orienteering experience, or beginner level experience.

Over the course of 8 weeks participants will:

Participate in fun games and activities
Spend time outdoors
Explore forests and natural areas on trails
Learn map-reading and navigation skills
Improve their running speed, agility, coordination and strength
Make friends

Learn to Train (ages 10-12)

Our Learn to Train program is designed to help develop sport-specific skills by providing participants with both physical and mental challenges. We offer the program to youth aged 10-12 years with no orienteering experience or beginner level experience.

Over the course of the 8 weeks, participants will:

Learn sport specific skills through games and activities
Advance program solving and planning skills,
Begin to explore forests and natural areas off trail
Advance map-reading and navigation skills
Improve their running speed, agility, coordination and strength
Make friends

Adventure Program (ages 13-16)

Our Adventure Program is our non-competitive program for youth aged 13 to 16 years old who already have beginner level experience. This level is suitable for those who want to continue past the Learn to Train level, but want to continue developing their skills before joining our competitive training programs. As a non-competitive program, the primary focus of the Adventure Program is on providing a fun social setting for progressing orienteering and athletic skills through different challenges. Our coaches will help participants get safely out of their comfort zone to try new adventures and learn new things.

Over the course of the 8 weeks, participants will:

Process their trail running skills
Develop off-trail running skills
Advance their map reading skills
Learn more advanced navigation and relocation techniques
Learn how to use a compass
Make friends

Basics and Beyond (Age 16 and over)

The Basics and Beyond program is for individuals age 16 and over. The program’s curriculum takes you through reading the map, essential compass skills and gets you comfortable with navigating on your own! Basics and Beyond is suitable for complete beginners and novice orienteers.

All of our programs are aligned with Orienteering Canada and Sport for Life's guidelines for age appropriate sport and orienteering.

Already completed one of our programs in the past?

No worries! If this is the case, consider moving one level up in our programs, regardless of the age of your child.

If you are not sure if your child is a good fit for the program or if you are wondering which program level is best for your child, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Participant age is determined by their age as of December 31, 2025.

Coming Prepared

Running shoes: Trail running shoes with a good tread are ideal as we will be moving on trails, grass and through forested areas. Other types of road running shoes may be suitable, but prepare to get dirty! Your child will be walking and running during the program - rubber boots or casual sneakers are not recommended.
Long pants: We recommend your child wear pants/bottoms that cover the full leg as we will be running in long grass and in the woods which like to scratch at bare legs.
Clothes that can get dirty: Remember to dress ready to explore in clothes that are appropriate for the weather. It is likely to vary greatly throughout the season so check the forecast before you leave. We guarantee that you will get to enjoy the mud at least once!
Water bottle: There will be a spot you can leave water bottle for the hour so you won't need to carry it with you.
Safety Whistle: A basic precaution for all Orienteering Ottawa events and programs.
A headlamp: In the fall, the sun sets early! A good headlamp allows you to see your map and controls in the terrain. A headlap is required for all sessions.
A sense of adventure! Do we really need to explain this one?

Registration

Registration for the spring of 2025 offering of our Learn-To programs is now open - Register here

Program	Cost
Youth Learn-to Program (16 and under)	$135
Adult Learn-to Program (16 and over)	$135 + HST

Your registration in the program includes:

An Orienteering Ottawa membership, which expires March 31, 2026
8 weeks of programming and coaching
Family pass to our popular Summer Solstice Event in June

All participants will be required to submit a liability waiver when registering.

Communication

All official communication for the Learn-to programs will be done through email, based on addresses provided in registration.

Attention! Please do not unsubscribe from the Learn-to program’s mailing list, as you will no longer receive important notifications about the program. Emails are removed from the list at the end of each season, so you won’t continue to receive emails about the program that aren’t relevant to you.

You will receive an email confirmation when you register. Then, expect to receive emails 1.5-2 weeks prior to the start of the program. An additional email will be sent a few days before your first session with important pre-season program information and details.

Note that program emails are sent from the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Some email systems will sort our emails into junk or spam boxes. Please check for our emails there if you do not get them when you expect to, and add this address as a contact.

Upon registration, the program coordinator will provide you with a phone number for urgent inquiries during program hours for faster communication.

Have questions? Contact our programs team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Program Schedule

The program runs each Tuesday evening from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Please be there promptly as we regularly move away from the start location for our evening's activities and it may be difficult to find us if you are late.

Dates	Location
Week 1-4 West - Tuesday, April 15 - May 6, 2025 East - Wednesday- April 16 - May 7, 2025	Wesley Clover Parks Ski Hill Park
Week 5-8 West - Tuesday, May 13 - June 3, 2025 East - Wednesday - May 14 - June 3, 2025	TBD TBD

This is a rain or shine program! Only in the event of dangerous conditions arising due to lightning or other extreme weather will practice be canceled. If we have to cancel a session at the last minute we will contact everyone by email using the information provided with registration. We will contact you by 4:30 on the day-of so if the weather is questionable check your email before heading out.

Complimentary Events

During the final week of the program, we invite you to the first Summer Solstice event! With registration for this program, you will receive a family pass entry to this event. It will be a fun adventure to show off all of your new skills you've developed over the previous weeks, and to explore with friends and family!

Bring a Friend Day

On a specific day during the first 7 weeks, we invite you to bring along a friend who you think might enjoy the program. We will be doing all of our most fun activities and want to share that fun with everyone. We ask that each participant bring along no more than a single friend to keep numbers manageable. Thank you for your understanding! You'll be given lots of heads up about this date in advance!

Get Involved: Volunteer!

We are always looking for help coordinating the Youth Learn-to program. If you are interested in volunteering and enjoy running (or even if you don't), please join us! You will be able to let us know your volunteer preferences when you register for the program.

We have three roles that we are looking for help with:

Group coach: Group coaches are responsible for delivering the material provided in the lesson plan by the program coordinator and works with the group assistants to lead a group of 10-15 kids.
Group assistant: Group assistants work with the group coach to make sure everyone in the group is present at all times, marshal kids where needed and keep the program running smoothly. We like to have two group assistants with each group of 10 to 15 kids.
On site assistant: On site assistants are responsible for making sure everyone checks in at the beginning of the program and checked out at the end of the night, keep an eye on equipment at the meeting point and point people in the right direction if they are running a little late.

If you don't feel prepared to help out, but still want to get involved, consider joining our Basics and Beyond program for parents and others new to orienteering. In 8 weeks you'll be brought up to speed while your kids enjoy their own fun-filled program.

Note: All parent volunteers will be asked to fill out a screening disclosure form prior to working with the kids in the program. We will provide this to you prior to the start of the program.