The Orienteering Skills program is a sequential four-stage program to improve navigation from beginner to advanced orienteer. Each level contains concepts, training, and skill demonstrations that build on each other, as well as a patch to complete. This is intended to be used by coaches and aspiring orienteers to ensure proper skill development and can be integrated with the three programs above.
This programme is particularly useful for youth organizations and schools, whether used as a stand-alone programme or as an informed orienteering activity to support navigation, mapping activities and badges already developed elsewhere.
Each level consists of a series of requirements that need to be met in three categories:
- Concept requirements require you to learn concepts related to orienteering and then explain them to someone to show that you understand;
- Skill requirements require you to show that you can perform certain skills related to orienteering;
- The application requirements require that you have participated in orienteering by taking courses, testing your performance, and helping out at competitions.
Recommended training activities are also included at the advanced level. These activities are especially recommended if you are serious about orienteering. If you are unable to find a qualified person to coordinate these activities for you, they are optional and not required to complete each level.