Orienteering Merit Badge –General Information
Participating in an Orienteering Event–An Outdoor Activity
Introduction
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in Orienteering. I think that you may find that
Orienteering really grows on you –the more you participate in it, the more interested you
may become. That is certainly the case with me.
Orienteering is a sport (like a race, or game) that is played world wide. If scouting is
having fun with a purpose, then Orienteering is hiking with a purpose. Your goal in
Orienteering is to visit locations marked on a map with the help of a compass.
These locations are known as control markers and in some courses, you will have to
prove you were there by punching a card that will be given to you at the beginning of
your participation. The card will be time-stamped and then you will be off to find the
control markers.
After you find the markers, you make your way back to the original start point, or end
point on the map, (depending on the course designer’s preference) and get your card
time-stamped again.
Other courses may be set up such that you will have to use a compass and take bearings
from marker to marker.
Although there are many types of orienteering courses, there are two main types of
orienteering events you will likely see. One such type of Orienteering course is score
orienteering, and the other is cross country orienteering course. Each event should also
have a pace course, and a compass game. One event may have both courses available.
In Score Orienteering, your mission is to visit as many control markers as possible in a
specific time frame, say anywhere from fifteen to sixty minutes. Each marker you visit
will be assigned points and your objective is to get as many points as possible.
In Cross Country Orienteering, your goal is to visit the control markers in order, and
accomplish this in the best time possible. Cross Country courses are art least one mile in
length.
There are several types of Orienteering courses, so we will specify what type of course
will be at the event you may be interested in attending. A Boy Scout working on his
Orienteering Merit Badge will most likely be designing the course and will let you know
the basic rules for the specific course.
What to Bring
Since orienteering events are held outdoors, you should dress appropriately as you might
for hiking. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. Also bring water and wear a pair of
comfortable sneakers.
For safety, it’s also a good idea to bring a cell phone and maybe even a whistle in case
you get lost. There should be patrol scouts out on the trails for your assistance. We will
have safety lane where you can go and rest or ask questions of event staff.
Please check details for the particular event for any additional items you might have to
bring. You may be asked to print some materials found online or they may be available
at the event.
What to do when you get to The Event
Please register with an event official when you arrive. You will receive a control
description sheet, and a maybe punch card. The punch card will require you and your
buddy’s name, time stamp in, and time stamp out. The course will have a name and a
designer which will be indicated on the punch card.
Please remember that all scouts must have a buddy.
Merit Badge Requirements
Field Requirements for Your Merit Badge
In my opinion, the toughest parts of the Orienteering Merit Badge are the requirements
that state you must set up two courses, a score orienteering course, and a cross country
course- and that’s only because you need to coordinate date, time and, place. I have all
the equipment.
The Boy Scout that designs the course should give it a name and provide the following:
Instruction Sheet (optional)
Map (required)
Control Description Sheet (required)
Warm-Up Course Guide Sheet (optional)
Control marker cards if used
The Merit Badge also requires that the scout set up a pace course, and learn how to take,
and follow a bearing in the field with a compass.
Class Requirements for Your Merit Badge
The Boy Scout interested in getting his Orienteering Merit Badge will be required to
demonstrate the he knows the following:
First aid
Compass Skills
Topographic Maps
International Symbols
Various types of orienteering courses
Various types of orienteering techniques
How to set up an event
Please refer to the Orienteering Merit Badge Workbook, which can be found and printed
at Meritbadge.org for more specific details.
These topics will be covered in class, or the scout can research them on his own (online
information, or purchase the Orienteering Merit Badge Book available at the Scout
Shop), and then present the knowledge to his Merit Badge Counselor.
Staff Supervision
The course coordinator will be the Boy Scout seeking to meet the requirements of the
orienteering merit badge. He will be the designer of the course. At the event his duties
will be to register participants and issue punch cards.
The time keeper will also be a Boy Scout who will meet requirements for the
orienteering merit badge. He will be responsible for clocking in and clocking out
participants.
The monitors (two or more Boy Scouts) will be responsible for patrolling the safety lanes
and assisting participants. They will earn the merit badge requirement that states they
must participate as officials.
The instructor will be a Boy Scout that will assist participants at the pace course,
facilitate the warm up compass game, and answer questions about the event. He will act
as an official and receive the merit badge requirement as well.
Types of Events
At most events, we will try to provide the following activities
Pace course
Warm up compass game
Score Orienteering
Cross Country Orienteering
Thank you for your interest in orienteering. Please check the eMails section of this web
site for current orienteering events and news.
If you are interested in getting you Orienteering Merit Badge please contact me at (321)
254-6644 or cmdelgado@bellsouth.net.
Sincerely
Carlos M. Delgado