Congratulations to the team at Patuxent Elementary for winning the 17th Annual Orienteering Competition!!

(Please see bottom of this page for more photos!)

Orienteering is a competitive sport that involves the use of map and compass to travel a predetermined course, locating designated checkpoints or "controls" that are identified with orange and white markers.  In this competition, a team that uses map and compass skills to find the best route between controls, often beats a faster team that is not sure of the way.

The William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center held the 17th Annual Orienteering Competition Day on Saturday, June 2, 2007 from 9am-3pm. 

Start Preparing for Next year!! The Orienteering Day will consist of two competitive orienteering events, lunch (furnished by the Center), and awards.  It is a physically challenging day involving lots of rapid walking.  Students and adults should be in reasonably good condition.

Each participating school can send one team.  A team will consist of four 5th or 6th grade students and a parent/teacher sponsor.  Each participating student and adult will receive a certificate and an official orienteering patch.  The winning team in each competition will receive a school trophy, plus individual trophies.  Additionally, the team with the best overall combined score will receive a school trophy and be declared the Orienteering Champions for 2008.

If on the day of the competition your team drops below the minimum of four students, the team may participate, but will not compete for trophies.

The students should be familiar with using a map and compass and following directions given a bearing, distance, and landmarks.  The Schmidt Center staff is available to assist teachers with learning the skills students will need to know.  Teams may also visit the Center prior to the competition to become acquainted with the terrain and the facility.

The teams may use their own compasses or borrow some from the Center.  Preparation prior to the competition is essential.

If you are interested in entering your school, please click here for the registration form.  Please return the form by May 11, 2007.  

If you have any questions, please call us at 301-888-1185. 

The team from Perrywood Elementary!!

The team from Benjamin Tasker!!