I went to my first orienteering junior camp in 2003. Back then the coaching I had from people like James Bradshaw, Neil Kerrison and Brent Edwards helped set me on the path to where I am in orienteering today. As well as learning a huge amount about orienteering I made friends from across the country. When the chance arose this year to coach at the 2011 junior camp I jumped at the chance.
Hawkes Bay Orienteering Club were to play host to the 81 camp attendees. All juniors between 12 and 17 from across the country with a spread of skills and experience. The plan for the week included some of HB’s classic maps and after a few solid days of setting back home in Waimauku, we had some equally classic training exercises to match. Matt, Greta, Imogene, Georgia, Nick, Tim and I were all ready Monday afternoon to begin coaching.
The two days of camp we headed out towards the Ruahine Ranges and Smedley Station. The area is rolling farmland criss crossed with river gullies filled with generally clean running native bush. The map is always a highlight of running in Hawkes Bay, it’s an awesome feeling to fly down the river beds picking of controls in the detail within the bush.
Day 1 out at Smedley Station
Our priority for the week was to make sure we offered a number of different perspectives on navigation. As coaches we all navigate slightly differently. We wanted our teaching to reflect that. We broke the 81 into 5 smaller groups and had a coach with each. This meant that for the week training in the terrain was supervised and lead by one of the coaches. In the evenings we discussed the days training and went through a techniques we had taught from a couple of different perspectives. The constant for the whole week a simple, 3 part plan for efficient navigation. These three were accurate compass, effective simplification and knowing where you are going (as opposed to knowing where you are).
To supplement the terrain sessions the evening sessions used portions of maps, GPS tracking and Catching Features to illustrate the techniques we had been focussing on during the day. One example of using the computer based methods was when we were teaching simplifying. Matt would leave the room while one of the other coaches brought a leg from catching features up on the projector screen. The audience would then have a minute to draw a simplified version of the leg on a piece of paper before the map was taken off the screen. Matt would then be given one of the drawn maps and have to use it to navigate to the control in catching features. This gave a rapid demonstration of both over and under simplification. I hadn’t seen the computers used like this before and it seemed to be a successful way of teaching.
Intently watching Matt on Catching Features.
By mid week at camp we had been through most of the fundamental techniques of orienteering. The only problem was the training was limited to farmland maps – forest areas are lacking somewhat in Hawkes Bay. The Friday and Saturday would be the time for us to teach and help with techniques more important in the forest. A breakdown of those trainings to come. In the meantime check out:
http://obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=classes&databaseId=19519&ct=true
for camp champs results and splits. Route gadget to come with camp champs courses.
