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Share  Tweet Monday 10th May 2021

British Orienteering is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May)

Mental Health Awareness Week: 10 - 16 May 2021

This year's theme is nature and the environment. The evidence is clear that access to nature is crucial for our mental health, and millions of people discovered that during lockdowns in 2020.

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Did you know?

Orienteering is a sport that challenges both the mind and the body.

Orienteering is an outdoor sport that involves participants following a course marked on a map and finding their way to a series of checkpoints.  It is up to participants to decide which way to go, which is all part of the fun and sets it apart from just a walk or run. 

With current guidelines such as social distancing and restrictions on numbers limiting some sports, orienteering is very well placed to offer a family-friendly adventurous challenge for all ages and abilities.  From courses with permanent markers to discover, to virtual courses that you can complete with your smartphone or GPS watch, there has never been a better time to start your next outdoor adventure with orienteering.

Permanent and Virtual Orienteering Courses are a great way to get outside and go orienteering with family and friends (in line with Government restrictions). They are a great way to explore outdoors at a time and place that suits you. 

Permanent Orienteering Courses

Permanent Orienteering Courses are exactly that - permanent.  Checkpoints to discover are in the form of posts or plaques, in forests, heathland, parks and green spaces across the UK.  A Permanent Orienteering Course is the perfect opportunity right now for getting active, enjoying the scenery and stunning locations with your family.  You can also try a course as part of your training routine.  Courses can be completed at any time, and at your own pace. You just need to download a map either from the British Orienteering website or your local orienteering club and away you go!

Virtual Orienteering Courses

Some clubs have also developed these virtually, so you can simply complete courses with your smartphone or GPS watch.  Check out our virtual orienteering page for more information.

Orienteering Courses are great for…

  • Enjoying the fresh air and getting outdoors and active.
  • Discovering a different area.
  • Learning new life skills like navigation and map reading.
  • Available at a time or day that suits you best.

British Orienteering and orienteering clubs around the UK are working together to promote Permanent and Virtual Orienteering Courses as a way of discovering and enjoying the outdoors in a socially distanced way.

For more information and how to find a course click here.  

A video has just been released by the Orienteering Foundation, a charity supporting orienteering in the UK, explaining how to get started on a Permanent Orienteering Course.

If you want to talk about how you can experience orienteering or how you can get involved, click here to find your local club.

Are you interested in orienteering, but don’t know enough about the sport?

This set of Frequently Asked Questions will help you find out more.

 

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

#ConnectWithNature

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