Many
Cambridge Public School students in 5th through 8th grade have been
learning a new sport, Orienteering. In orienteering, competitors
navigate with a map and compass to find checkpoints, called controls, in
the woods. In September, the fifth-graders in Ms. Bishop’s class had
never heard of orienteering. Yet after three weeks of learning about
map-reading, route-planning, and navigation, the Morse students competed
at the United States orienteering championships held in Boston’s
Franklin Park on October 21st, 2011. At the championship, several of
them won medals for their exceptional orienteering skills. A highlight
of their preparation was a visit from U.S. team member Eric Bone, who
talked about training and competing for our country.
Graham and
Parks also has an orienteering program. This year, Graham and Parks’
fifth grade classes navigated to Fresh Pond, visiting checkpoints along
the way. At Fresh Pond, they solved a puzzle using an official
orienteering map provided by the Cambridge Sports Union. In October, the
Graham and Parks junior high went to the Middlesex Fells for their 6th
annual day of orienteering. In classroom sessions prior to the field
trip, teams planned routes and agreed on how to work together. By the
time they got to the woods, even though many had no experience in the
forest, the teams were able to navigate successfully to their controls.
Three former students and many parent volunteers handled the complex
organizing that helped make the trip a success.
Orienteering is a great way to build community, have fun, and learn! Some quotes from the students:
“My
high point today was when we all got really excited and happy when we
found a control. It reminded me that we all were working together. And
that we were all a part of this experience.”
“It was
good that we got lost. We were able to all get out of it together. We
also took turns holding the maps. We were so into it we didn’t even stop
for lunch.”
“After about 200 meters of thorns, and 70
meters of climbing a rocky hill, we stopped at an open area. While
taking a break to drink, I turned and saw an amazing view. In front of
me, there was a great view of Boston. I could see all of the buildings
and the skyline, and basically all of the city. It was awesome to
literally see how rewarding this trip was.”
“We really developed as a good working team.”
“My experience on this trip was so perfect and amazing that the low point probably was when the trip ended!”
“I
yelled ‘I found it!’ as I ran through the thorns and sticks, until I
reached up and pulled the control down out of the tree. I walked back
holding it high. I felt like I was actually important to the team.”