BSOA Explorer Challenge
Have you heard of the BSOA Explorer Challenge?
The Explorer Challenge award scheme has been devised by the British Schools Orienteering Association (BSOA) "to encourage young people to venture into the outside world by using maps."
The Explorer Challenge is a four stage incentive scheme based on participants successfully locating checkpoints (ie controls). The four stages are:
- Tree Award (25 checkpoints).
- Copse Award (50 checkpoints).
- Wood Award (75 checkpoints).
- Forest Award (100 checkpoints).
Multi-coloured woven badges and A4 certificates (£ 1:50 per stage) are awarded by scheme "co-ordinators" at each stage.
We (Essex Stragglers) have adopted this scheme to help us to provide "our" beginners with an incentive to learn basic orienteering skills (as well as have lots of fun).
We are encouraging "our" beginners to:
- attend "coaching" sessions (facilitated by experienced SOS Juniors) after each of our Schools League events.
- earn their Tree and Copse awards by collecting checkpoints on White courses.
- earn their Wood award by collecting checkpoints on Yellow courses.
- earn their Forest award by collecting checkpoints on Orange courses.
We believe that the Explorer Challenge has helped (and will continue to help) us to increase the number of:
- local Primary School age children attending our colour coded events.
- local Primary School age children who orienteer on a regular basis.
- the number of local schools registered with the BSOA.
- Essex Stragglers Juniors.
Please contact me if you wish to find out more about our experiences with the BSOA Explorer Challenge.
Alternatively you could contact the BSOA directly by writing to them at the following address:
British Schools Orienteering Association
C/O Wallend Cottage
Wallend
Kirkby in Furness LA17 7UJ
Mark Johnson (SOS Explorer Challenge Co-ordinator)
Tel: 01245 442866
Email: markjohnson@tesco.net