Is your child interested in orienteering? Or are you interested in your child having a go at orienteering?
Generally orienteering is something to do with the whole family, or maybe they can tag along with their school friends, but is not a sport where you can drop your children off for a training session on a Thursday and then collect them some time later. However, we do offer some activities specifically for juniors.
There is no need to join a club or turn up to every event - though we'd love it if you did. Every event will give you a different experience. The key thing is to turn up and have a go.
WA Orienteering School Team
Juniors between the age of 12 and 19 (as at December 31) are encouraged to nominate for the Western Australian Schools team. Being part of the team is an opportunity to travel to the Australian Orienteering Competition during the September school holidays. We stay together with all other teams including the Australian states, ACT and New Zealand competing over several days.
More information about the selection events for each year and skill level required can be found in the Orienteering for Schools article under "Off-campus Orienteering", or contact the OWA Coaching Convenor.
Junior Training Events
Weekly training sessions will help prepare you both physically and technically for orienteering competition. OWA often runs mid-week evening training sessions, as well as weekend training sessions when there are no scheduled events.
Further information on these and other training events can be found on SandgrOpers Facebook Page, and the OWA Enews, which provide details of weekly training sessions throughout the year. You can also contact the OWA Coaching Convenor for further information, or ask for more information at one of our events.
Junior Training Camp
The yearly junior training camp takes place in the July school holidays for our junior members. Often a summer camp is also held towrds the end of the summer school holidays. In the past few years winter camps have been held at Camp Kerem (Bullsbrook) and Swan Valley Adventure Centre (Perth), and summer camps at Camp Quaranup (Albany), Eaton Scout Camp (Bunbury) and Ern Halliday Recreation Camp (Perth).
The camps are run by our accredited coaches, who provide for a wide range of orienteering abilities. The camp is suitable for young people who enjoy orienteering, want to learn more about it and have a fun time with other young people.
The camp is open to orienteers aged from 10 to 20 years who have participated in at least one bush event or NavDash event in addition to any school events. To attend the camp you need to be (or become) a member of Orienteering WA.
Contact the OWA Coaching Convenor for more information on junior camps.