Red Roos, the local Orienteering club in Canberra, is excited to promote Map Mates, a thrilling four-week adventure series designed for children aged 7 to 13. Perfect for beginners, this event takes place twice a year in May on Saturday mornings and in October on Wednesday evenings. Alongside the popular Saturday Metro Series and the Twilight Series, Map Mates offers an incredible opportunity for youngsters to delve into the exciting world of orienteering.
During the competition, teams of 2–4 children, accompanied by their enthusiastic parents, navigate through an easy and safe orienteering course. But that's not all – before each event, there is an optional 20-minute activity session filled with fun and engaging exercises that teach a different map reading skill each week. No compass is required, so kids can dive right into the adventure without any special equipment.
To support the young participants, parents receive four weekly emails containing coaching tips, hints, and optional map activities for their children. We believe in adding a touch of excitement to the experience, so prizes are awarded to each competitor. In fact, additional points are up for grabs in fun categories such as best team name, best team uniform, and even the best map of your backyard! Our aim is to ensure that every young orienteer has a blast while learning and exploring.
Registration for Map Mates opens approximately a month before each season begins, allowing everyone ample time to secure their spot. The registration period closes four days after the free Welcome Event, so make sure to mark your calendars accordingly. Unfortunately, Map Mates will not be running in 2023, but fear not! There will be a Learn to Orienteer program starting on October 11, catering to beginners of all ages.
We kindly request that participants note that photographs may be taken for publicity purposes. However, we understand that some may prefer not to be photographed, so please inform us in writing if you wish to opt out. At Red Roos, the safety of our orienteers is of utmost importance. However, like all outdoor adventure sports, orienteering does carry certain risks. Therefore, we regret to inform you that no refunds will be issued in the event of cancellations due to weather, government regulations, or any other circumstances beyond our control.
So, get ready to grab your team and embark on an unforgettable orienteering journey with Map Mates. Join Red Roos and let the spirit of adventure guide you every step of the way!
