A Busy March for the Development Team

March has been a busy month for the Scottish Orienteering development team. Our March has been busy running taster sessions for educators and teachers to increase awareness of orienteering amongst educators.

Working with Universities

This month, SOA worked with Dundee University Primary Education students and Strathclyde University PGDE PE students.

The Strathclyde session was led by Terry O’Brien (STAG), linking in local expertise and his experience as a PE teacher. These sessions aim to give students a toolkit of ideas they can take away and use during placement and in their careers post-university. 

Teacher CPD

• We delivered a CPD session for Edinburgh primary teachers at Parsons Green Primary School. The teachers left the session enthused, and the host school is already planning an Orienteering Families Afternoon for the Summer term. Thank you to David Robertson (ESOC) for making the school map. 
• We also headed to Gleniffer High School in Paisley to deliver CPD for the Scottish Association of Teachers of Physical Education (SATPE). Thanks to Ian Davidson and Klaas Wynne (Clydeside) for mapping the school and supporting on the day. 

The Introducing Orienteering Workshop

Beyond our shorter sessions, we hosted a  full-day Introducing Orienteering Workshop for educators working within Edinburgh Council. The attendees were from a mix of backgrounds from outdoor education to adult learning. This workshop gave attendees the skills and confidence to deliver orienteering and integrate orienteering into wider curriculum goals like numeracy and literacy. This workshop was delivered by SOA tutor Judy Bell (ESOC). 

Final Take Away 

All of these sessions share a common goal of increasing awareness of orienteering and building the knowledge and confidence to deliver the sport. Through these sessions we hope to support the wider mission of increasing lifelong participation in orienteering across Scotland. Thanks to all those who have supported these sessions.