Orienteering Highlights in 2022

      

      

2022  Junior World Orienteering Championships  (JWOC)

We had two juniors from Alberta attending JWOC this year! Congrats to Robyn and Andrew!  It's been quite a different JWOC - with the forest races being rescheduled for the fall, because of the forest fire risk and heat wave in Portugal.

This JWOC was all about the Sprint races this summer. In the Individual Sprint race, Robyn Astridge was 81st and Andrew McLaren was 91st; other Canadian team members included Isak Fransson from Hamilton (121st) and Lukas Raz from Ottawa (139th). In the Sprint Relay, Canada was 7th in the B final. 

The Forest events were held November 4-6, and Alec Le Helloco (from Ottawa) represented Canada in the forest disciplines.

On the radar for next year...

• May - Spring Training Camp
• June - 2023 WCOCs in Kelowna
• July - 2023 California O-Fest and NAOC (North American Orienteering Championships)
• August - 2023 COCs in Montreal
• 2023 Alberta Orienteering Championships hosted by FWOC

Message from the AOA President

Hello Alberta Orienteers, from those just starting out, to those who have run the forests and plains for years.  Welcome, all to the 2022 orienteering season!

I am crossing my fingers and holding my breath, hoping that we can get back to more in-person events this season.  The one common thread that I have heard this winter is that people really miss seeing their fellow orienteers in person.  To that end, the AOA has increased its budget for events where people can come to together and share their mutual enjoyment of our sport.
Something special to look forward to in July is the running of the much-postponed Western Canadian Orienteering Championship, put on by our friends at FWOC, and the associated Canadian Orienteering Championship, put on by our B.C. friends at the Kootenay Orienteering Club.  A special opportunity between these two events, will be to take in two Barebones events near Blairmore, in southern Alberta.
For those chomping at the bit, FWOC is hoping to put on their traditional spring opener at Rumsey on Sunday, May 1st, and EOOC is also hoping to put on an event in Morningside two weeks later.  So, dust off your compass, and get ready for orienteering in 2022.  I hope to see you on the trails!

Save the date:

 Alberta Orienteering Association 
AGM

7 pm, April 19, 2022

Planning calendar for Alberta 2022

Save the Date!

AGMs to Start the Season

 O Season Starters 

Return to Sport Guidelines

What happened in 2020?

Regardless of the many challenges posed by the pandemic, the clubs and AOA were able to provide opportunities to over 6000 participants to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment. With Orienteering Canada's support and extensive work on Covid 19 guidelines for orienteering safely, the clubs were able to return to the sport through the summer and fall.

  

Highlights:

• Thanks to our Club's organizers for many activities in the form of online programs and individual-based GPS orienteering.
• In-person events and kids programs ( KRW and SOGO)
• Try it sessions
• School and small group programs
• 3 coaching courses and two outreach school programs in Grande Prairie
• Thanks to Marion Owen who mentored the O100 courses (run online)
• Thanks to our mappers ( Don Bayly and Teresa Winn ) who completed two forest maps ( Lusk Creek / Crowsnest Pass) and a couple of outreach maps.
• Maintained our PSO ( Provincial Sport Association) grant and obtained two new grants to support clubs and outreach programs 

 

  

Return to Sport Guidelines

Return to Sport Guidelines

AOA Outreach
In-person Activities

JOIN US!
AOA is organizing a couple of Try Orienteering activities. Everyone is welcomed; please come out if you are in the area. There will be an intermediate course for old-timers too but no SI at this time.

• Cochrane Ranche: July 22, 2020, Wednesday 3-7 pm
• Airdrie Nose Creek Park: July 29 or Aug 5  - permit dependent
• Red Deer College: Date TBD-  permit dependent

Follow our website or social media for updates.



If you would like to see an activity in your neighbourhood to promote Orienteering please let us now: Info@orienteeringalberta.ca

Did you know?

We had close to 10,000 kids through the school programs last year. In collaboration with the Clubs, we had over 32 schools engaged. We have many options for schools and communities:

1. "TRY IT " Programs 
2. Residency Programs
3. Outdoor Adventure Community Programs
4. Free resource guide and program management tools

Our sessions include:

• PHYSICAL LITERACY games,
• Fun AGILITY stations
• NAVIGATION & MAP READING 

Thanks to Dorothy from Kids Run Wild, Lenora from SOGO, the AOA outreach programs & Lisa from Red Deer and of course our fantastic Volunteers and Board Committees who support this important work.
Help us spread the word to your community that we can provide  fun, engaging outdoor programs. For more info visit our webpage or email us.
 

  

Officials Challenge 

O100 News 

The O100 course is available online!
FWOC's orienteering officials' guru, Marion O, has agreed to lead the course. Send us an email (info@orienteeringalberta.ca) or contact Marion directly (m.owen001@gmail.com) if you are interested in taking this course online.

Why should you do it?

• To feel more confident with your volunteering at club events.
• To learn the best practices for organizing a local event, including registration, timing, and safety.
• To understand the basics of planning courses - this is super fun!
• To get familiar with some cool Software applications useful for course planning.
• To become a certified O100 official - which is vital for our insurance!
• It is free!
• You (might) have time on your hands??

NCCP Community Coaching Course 

AOA Policies 

Orienteering in a "COVID 19" Alberta

We recognize that getting outdoors can be very beneficial for physical and mental health, both of which are very important at this time. Many of the club volunteers and staff are coming up with orienteering activities that you can do on your own while maintaining social distance. Please ensure that any outdoor activities that you do comply completely with the regulations and recommendations of your health authorities and governments. Follow the updates at the Public health orders website.
 

Check out these self-guided activities:

•  NEIGHBOURHOOD ADVENTURE: learn to create a map, plan your course and get outside with Google Maps. Beginners and family-friendly. Got over 8000 interactions on social media and some teachers started to use it in their online curriculum. Check it out!
•  PARK ADVENTURE: starting in May we ware planning to set up some self-guided courses in some parks which you can complete at your own times
• SOGO@Home : FWOC is developing great orienteering-focused activity ideas every week for all the parents and kids out there to do at home and in their neighbourhoods. There are activities for all ages. Check out the website!
• Kids Run Wild: doing social media challenges and activities. follow them at Facebook or Instagram @kidsrunwild

Stay safe and healthy.

2020 AOA AGM

1. establish a new annual timing for the AGM which allows us to better align with Government timelines.  Members can expect to have the AGM in the spring going forward.  Hopefully next year we will be able to meet in person and enjoy an event at the same time.
2. present the new AOA Safe Sport Framework;
3. approve the obligatory reports;
4. elect the Board of Directors for 2020;
5. and appoint the auditors for 2020.

Details may be found in the meeting documents, located here: https://www.orienteeringalberta.ca/agm-meetings.html

Thank you to all those who took the time to attend.  We appreciate your participation. 

O100 News 

The O100 course is available online!
This option was in the works way before the pandemic hit, but the timing could not have been more opportune. The online course will be launched on May 1st.  FWOC's orienteering officials' guru, Marion O, has agreed to lead the course. Send us an email (info@orienteeringalberta.ca) if you are interested in taking this course online.
Why should you do it?

• To feel more confident with your volunteering at club events.
• To learn the best practices for organizing a local event, including registration, timing, and safety.
• To understand the basics of planning courses - this is super fun!
• To get familiar with some cool Software applications useful for course planning.
• To become a certified O100 official - which is vital for our insurance!
• It is free!
• You (might) have time on your hands??

Officials Challenge 

Alberta Orienteering is inviting all Level O200 and O300 certified officials to participate in a course planning activity/competition.  The competition is outlined in the document attached. Thank you for Don Riddle for organizing it. Don't hesitate to join this fun activity.

Please email info@orienteeringalberta.ca if you are interested in participating.

More Orienteering in the face of the pandemic!

• OC has been posting safe orienteering activities on their Facebook page.  Check out the daily ideas at https://www.facebook.com/orienteeringcanada/.
• OC is also scheduling some Club Connect calls over the next month on various topics.  Our first topic was Map Reading. It was A LOT bigger than planned.  We had 297 people sign up.  About 200 people attended with many international attendees. Don't worry if you missed it; they will post the recorded sessions online so follow the OC news channels.
• The High Performance Program of OC is also offering simulation exercises for free; these ones encourage you to get outside and run while doing the activity!  Check it out on OC's website.

AOA thanks our COVID 19 Front-line Workers