Schools Orienteering

Schools Orienteering Program in 2021

Words Brodie Nankervis

Amidst the ‘on again, off again’ year that was 2021 our schools orienteering program continued to adapt and meet the challenges. A variety of activities were undertaken that included Sporting Schools coach and teacher delivered programs, the Secondary Schools Championship, as well as various other one-off sessions.

Sporting Schools

Throughout 2021, schools conducted lengthy periods of remote learning. Despite this, coach and teacher delivered programs continued during the few short windows when onsite schooling resumed. During term 1 some sessions were even delivered via remote coaching. Toward the end of the year as schools reopened, a flurry of bookings saw a busy end to term 4.

Large intra-school event at Haileybury

In June, Brodie Nankervis coordinated an intra-school orienteering event for over 300 students at Haileybury in Keysborough. This was a fantastic opportunity to develop orienteering in the school and also led to a new update of a fantastic sprint orienteering area. Many thanks to the schools coaches who assisted on the day, including Pam King who also updated the map.

Secondary Schools Championship

Under the organisation of Carl Dalheim and Brodie Nankervis, the Secondary Schools Championship went ahead during a short reprieve from lockdown early in term 2. Patrick Jaffe’s course setting made good use of the Hawkstowe map, and with a pivot to online results the event was very successful with 18 schools represented.

New delivery materials

During 2020 David Jaffe and Brodie Nankervis contributed to an Orienteering Australia project developing a new delivery guide for the Sporting Schools program. The guide was released for use early in 2021 and has proved to be an excellent resource.

New Schools Officer

Brodie Nankervis stepped down from the Schools Officer role during term 2 and handed over to Richard Goonan. A smooth transition and quick learning curve enabled Richard to take up the role in earnest from June. While much planning went on for term three activities, the ever changing Covid situation abruptly ended most of the planned activities. Uncertainty prevailed until seemingly overnight mid-way through term four when school programs were on again with strong interest from schools for orienteering.