Youth Programs

Ready for adventure? Orienteering Ottawa’s Learn-to programs are back for spring 2023! Come and learn to navigate with a map and compass alongside our experienced instructors in a new location each week.

Our Learn-to programs are suitable for:

• Youth aged 8-16 and adults 17-80+
• Those who are new to the sport of orienteering or with beginner-level experience in navigation 

Program Overview

The 2023 spring Learn-to programs will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:30  to 7:30 beginning April 18, 2023. Each weekly session will introduce a new orienteering technique through an orienteering course set at a new location. The instructional exercises will include learning about map symbols, how to handle the map, using features in the terrain for navigation, choosing a navigation route and navigating with a compass. Each evening, participants will have the option to have a brief refresher session and complete the full practice course, or have a full instructional session with a program coach and complete part of the course.

There will be no FUNdamentals program for participants aged 6-7 during the Spring 2023 session.

The program will be split between one group for youth aged 8-16 and an adult group for participants 17 and over. For the Learn-to program, each participant aged 8-14 must be shadowed by an adult while out on course; participants can complete the course together in groups of 3 while being shadowed by 1 adult. We will have a girl’s group led by a female coach, if there is sufficient interest at registration.

The program will be split between one group for youth aged 8-16 and an adult group for participants 17 and over. 

Register here  

Information Session

An information session will be held March 28, at the Richcraft Centre in Kanata starting at 6:30 p.m. You get get to know the sport, details about the program, and meet coaches running the sessions. It  will provide details on the program for participants or adults with youth interested in the program, answer questions or concerns, and offer a chance to talk to some of the coaches.  For those new to the sport, we will explain the basics, and what they should expect to gain from the program.

We will take youths on a map-walk on the orienteering course behind the rec center while the adults attend the info session, or youth can attend the session.