Who? The Southern Darts is a training squad for junior orienteers aged 8-12 most likely learning easy-beginner moderate navigation. We are a social squad focused on helping children

• to become more independent with their orienteering skills to move away from shadowed orienteering with a parent and
• for those coming from primary school orienteering and wanting to learn more advanced skills in a competitive setting.

What? Each year Orienteering SA hosts a number of training sessions for the Darts. These are usually held in the first and second half of the year. The training at the beginning of the year is to help juniors become more confident with their skills to help them with SA Schools orienteering champs and other bush competitions. The training in the second half of the year is to extend those skills learnt in the beginning of the year as the juniors transition into Summer orienteering events and into the new year. Juniors aged 8-12 are welcome to join at any stage of the year. New members are always welcome!

When? Trainings for the first half of the year will be held in conjunction with orienteering events. The trainings will be held 30mins before the events start using the same map the event will be on. The aim of the training is to learn a new skill before the event to practice in the event after. The trainings are free but you must register for the event on Eventor as normal. Parents are more than welcome to also participate in the trainings (in fact, be prepared to get involved!)

Training days (in conjunction with events that you must register for on Eventor)

27th March- Belair NP - Which way is north? How to make rough bearings

3rd April- Stony fell - reading the map and learning what the symbols mean

1st May- Morphett Vale - using a linear feature to find your control

15th May- Wadmore Park - Relocation. Using the features around me to figure out where I am

29th May- Mt Crawford - Using bearings to go cross country (cutting corners)

If you wish to attend the trainings before the events, Please contact Bridget Uppill to let her know. Please be there 5 mins before the training starts to be ready to go (be at training at 9:25am for training to start at 9:30. Events after start at 10am)

Bridget Uppill- coaching coordinator for Orienteering SA

coaching(at)orienteering.asn.au

The new Light’s Vision map used for the Twilight Series event on Friday 21^st January, is the final map sector that completes the Adelaide Park Lands Project. This project has upgrade previous disconnected parklands maps to the Sprint Mapping Specification. The project started back in 2016 when our first Coach in Residence, Stefano Raus, mapped Veale Gardens in the South Parklands. Since then a number of mappers have contributed to the project – Manu Jurado, Oliver Williams, Max Grivell, Angus Haines, Dante Afnan and Adrian Uppill (who also coordinated the project).

The Light’s Vision map uses some new sprint mapping symbols (will be published soon in a new Sprint Mapping Specification) used to better define two level areas.  Initially two level areas were largely shown in paved areas with a brown stripe for the upper level.  Now additional stripes are used depending on the nature of the levels. In this map the main roads are shown with cross hatch to indicate they were “Forbidden to Cross” for the extent of the cross hatch. A purple diagonal stripe is used where the underpasses are permitted to be used, but the upper level is not.

Another new symbol is the line of small triangles – to show where you can access the lower level, but you cannot leave the upper level.  The line of small black squares is an existing Sprint map symbol which shows access under a top level which may be a road or building for example.

The example belwow shows the line of small triangle symbols as an entrance to a two level area.

The team at Orienteering SA, in particular Bridget Anderson assisted by Leila Henderson, have been working hard making clear and concise pathway promotional posters to use for new and current orienteering members.  We have made two posters focusing on youth members 0-18 and for adults as there are different pathways for each group.

We are hoping everyone can use these posters to help them understand where they can go with their orienteering.

For juniors their orienteering journey may begin with their families who are orienteers or through school and after school orienteering programs.  For activities to improve their orienteering skills and move to more advanced orienteering, they can participate in the Southern Darts (7- 12 years) or Junior Arrows (12-17) training activities. From here the more competitive may become part of the state schools team, or the Southern Arrows team (juniors 17 -20 and seniors) competing in National Orienteering League events.

However many may follow the same pathway as adults, by participating in local urban events, joining a club and depending on their level of activity, attend state bush events or in some cases interstate events. However the more recreational orienteers may participate in orienteering as a social activity, attending events with their friends and families, and other club members.

So both juniors and adults can choose the pathway that suits them, and take a more competitive or more social approach to their orienteering.  Whatever the pathway, orienteering is a “Sport For Life” as all ages can participate at the same time in programmed events.