Orienteering: The Thinking Sport

EMPO's team at the US Relay Championships, 2008
Second place, 12-point teams

A mental and physical sport of Scandinavian origin, orienteering is a foot race, a puzzle-solving thought race, a cross country running sport, and a fun recreational activity.

Orienteering is for men, women, and children of all ages and abilities. All you need is a love for the great outdoors! The objective is to locate orange-and-white markers (placed at checkpoints called controls) in parklands or woods using a special, highly detailed topographic map; participants navigate their way to a series of controls before crossing the finish line. Courses vary in difficulty and length - beginner courses are typically 1-2km long with navigation entirely or almost entirely on established trails or other handrails (such as streams, stone walls, field edges), while the most advanced courses are 6-10km long and require extensive cross-country navigation. Participants can travel alone or in groups -- running, walking, or leisurely strolling the course. The sport can be enjoyed as a healthy form of family recreation, or as a highly competitive race involving navigational skill, speed, and physical stamina.