Author: kellywatkinson

OH NO! Magnetic North is moving!!!!

Now what do you do about adjusting declination on your compass??? That’s so confusing!

Don’t worry…. Remember that Orienteering maps are designed to show you MAGNETIC north so you don’t have to worry about any adjustments! We do have to adjust our maps after some years to account for the changes.

In Central Texas the current adjustment to our maps is just over 3 degrees while in Salt Lake City it is closer to 10 degrees!!

Check out our maps. They all show MAGNETIC North!

See you at the Capitol Area Spring-O on March 29.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/01/21/science/magnetic-north-pole-new-position

We made a leaders guide to help make it easy for you to bring orienteering to your scout meetings. Sure to be the best meeting activity of the year! See the guide and video explanation.

What if there was a Scout meeting activity that could introduce your Scouts to Orienteering, was relatively easy to set up in a small area, and Scouts actually had a great time doing it?

What if Scouts working on the Orienteering Merit Badge could use this opportunity to Officiate (req # 9)?

What if someone else put this all together to make it easy for you?

Our team is working on a Leader Guide for “Maze-O for Scout Meetings”. That is MAZE ORIENTEERING and it is AMAZing. If you’re a Scout Leader…you’re going to love this. Stay tuned, it will be posted in June.

Don’t forget to save the date of the 2025 Central Texas Spring-O Scout Orienteering Challenge on March 29, at Lost Pines Scout Reservation. If you just can’t wait, keep your eyes on Austin Orienteering Club for more Orienteering.

Orienteering is the coolest sport you never heard of.

beginners often run a white course without a compass. You can normally orientent yourself to your surroundings on a beginner course. That said, it is helpful to quickly know which way is north. There is a wide variety of compasses availabale, that differ in quality, size and price. Some orienteering events and courses offer a possibility to rent or borrow a compass, which might be a good option before buying one, as you can try and see what suits you best. 

Thumb compass

A thumb compass functions like a regular compass, but is easier to use in combination with a map, as it is strapped around the user’s thumb while holding the map in the same hand.
The thumb compass is designed to fit naturally your hand and thumb and keep the contact with the map.
Thumb compasses come in left-hand (for right-handed people) and right-hand versions (for left-handed people), with wide and narrow needles. They also feature different designs and functionality – faster/ slower needles, with rotating/ fixed capsule. 
Majority of orienteering runners use left-hand version compass, but it might be the case that you feel more natural and comfortable using the right-hand version. So, it pays to think a bit about what would work for you. 

So much fun to watch the routes of our scouts. Watch this run, how could this scout improve next time?

So much fun to carry a gps in your pack so you can see what you did after the race is over.

Check out this App called Control Orienteering to map your route. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/control-orienteering-analysis/id1329182939

I prefer trail runners but this is a personal preference and may depend upon where you are and what you’re trying to get out your day orienteering. Let’s see was REI has to say.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/hiking-boots-vs-trail-runners-the-great-debate.html

Orienteering is such a valuable skill. Come try it out at the annual Spring-O. This event is Mar 2 in Central Texas and Mar 22 in North Texas (see Longhorn council).

Also, we share our teaching material and local maps with you here.

let’s see what REI has to offer about orienteering basics, but remember even complete newbies have a blast at the Spring-O.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/orienteering-basics.html

Get ready! Registration opens on thanksgiving and the first 50 registered participants will be entered in a limited raffle for a thumb compass that the winner will get at check in! Surprise!