Do Anyone's DC go to an Orienteering Club at school?

[FuriousGeorge]

Dd1,who is in year 2,has brought home a letter about an Orienteering Club that the school are running after school.A professional instructor is coming in to teach them and there is no charge.I've put her name down for it,but beyond map reading,learning how to read a compass,identifying landmarks ect,I'm not sure what else they'll actually be doing.Has anyone elses DC done a similar thing and what did they do?I'd imagine it would be fun.

Thanks

[sowhatitsonlysnow]

Can't comment on specifics of school orienteering but I can say it's a great sport to get into. I love it and I have taken DS to small events since he was 3.

[sowhatitsonlysnow]

More details here and here

[iheartdusty]

I had a brainwave - get the DCs into orienteering - it will make them WALK and we will have such family fun, learn maps and compasses, etc.

grim reality = 45 minutes of wailing and dragging up hillsides, moaning all week in case there is another meet, boots being hurled from the car window as we set off, and so on. DD wrote in her notebook "the thing I hate most in the world is Orienteering".

not much help for you, sorry

[Oblomov]

I used to orienteer quite abit. My dad was very very good and went to all events.
can't comment on school teaching bit, but sorry, what si the q ? are you concerned about anything ? year 2 is a bit young, but not dso young thta they couldn't grasp the basics. what a fab fab sport to do. if they like it. if they don't thne no prob, right ?
what kind of child is your dd ? if they like running and might enjoy the mental challenge of working out the clues, best route, aswell, this maybe just what she needs ?

[IAmTheEasterBunny]

If you're interested there's a local school (google 'marlow school orienteering' and you'll get it!!) that does it with all the children (I think). It sounds brilliant.

[merrymonsters]

My DS1 did a holiday 'secret trails' activity last summer. They used GPSs and wandered all over Wimbledon Common. They found clues and a 'treasure' at the end of the week. He loved it.

As others have said, some children love it and others don't. It's worth a try.

[FuriousGeorge]

Thanks for all the input.I had no idea it was so popular in schools-I went to dd's school in the 1970's and they didn't offer that sort of thing then.

I'm not concerned at all,I think it is a brilliant idea and teaches many skills,I was very impressed that it is being taught at all,never mind being free.

DD had the first session after school today,indoors though,due to blizzard conditions here,and seemed to enjoy it.She is only 6,but can walk 4 miles or so across country,but boy do we hear about it.She is more of an indoor girl,but does love adventures,working out clues and following instructions,so that side may appeal.DD2 [4] is more like me,a real outdoors girl,she went beating with me over Christmas and walked for 3 hours through woods,cover crops and plough,without moaning once.I can imagine she'd be very keen to try it.

Thanks for the links too-they are really useful.

[FuriousGeorge]

snort at your DD Dusty