Discovering Orienteering

Founded in 1971, Orienteering USA is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to promoting orienteering as a viable and attractive recreation choice for outdoor enthusiasts; increasing awareness of orienteering as a tool for education, personal development, and environmental awareness; and improving the competitive performance of U.S. orienteering athletes to world-class levels. Charles Ferguson, PhD, served as president of the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF) from 1999 to 2007. A former colonel in the Air Force Reserve, he became the initial vice president of academic affairs at Marine Corps University at Quantico Marine Base, Virginia, until retiring. A member of the U.S. CIOR team and an expert orienteer, Colonel Ferguson represented the United States as a competitor in eight competitions. In 1977, he led his team to the first U.S. win in the over-35 (veteran) category in the CIOR military competitions in the United Kingdom. His team again won the over-35 category in 1982 in the United States. Colonel Ferguson later served as orienteering coach for the U.S. CIOR team for 2 years and with his wife, Linda, as orienteering coach for the Canadian CIOR team for 3 years. Canadian teams finished 11th in orienteering their first year, in the top 10 the next year, and in first place their third year. He also served for 13 years on the NATO CIOR competition commission, leading the rewriting of the orienteering rules of the competition. At the summer military competitions, he was elected to the CIOR orienteering technical jury for 5 years, serving as chair for 3. Along with Coach Turbyfill, he teaches the beginning orienteering course, Zero to Orange in Three Days, and he holds OUSA Olympic level I and level II orienteering coaching certificates. A frequent orienteering competitor in the United States, he placed second in his age group in the 2007 U.S. individual championships. Dr. Ferguson currently serves in USOF as a director of the OUSA Endowment Fund (EF) and EF liaison to the OUSA board of directors. He is also a member of the executive board of the Adventuresports Institute. LTC Robert Turbyfill works as an analyst for the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC. He has served as a United States Marine officer for 11 years and as an Army National Guard officer for 14 years. He is a former all-Marine, interservice, United States, and North American orienteering champion. He has represented the United States 11 times at world-class competition (8 times as a competitor and 3 times as the coach of the U.S. orienteering team). A graduate and faculty member of the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Academy, he coached the 1977 and 1978 CIOR navigation event. The U.S. CIOR team won that event for the first time in CIOR history. In Army ROTC he has coached the Brigham Young University (BYU) ranger challenge team for four seasons to national titles. His record was third, first, third, and first in the nation by comparative score at the Fourth Army ROTC Region at Fort Louis, Washington. As a team consultant, he is coaching and teaching orienteering to the USMA orienteering club cadets at West Point. He is the current coaching certifier for Orienteering USA. He teaches a college-level orienteering course and an Olympic level 1 coaching course at West Point in conjunction with thee Adventuresports Institute at Garrett College in western Maryland. He has developed navigation certification standards approved by the OUSA board of directors in November of 2006.

• Chapter 1. Introduction to Orienteering What Is Orienteering? Why Learn to Orienteer? Basics of Orienteering Benefits of Orienteering Places to Orienteer History of Orienteering What Orienteering Is Not Coaching Certifications Learning to Orienteer Systematically Summary Chapter 2. Fitness, Nutrition, Equipment, and Safety Fitness Nutrition Equipment Clothing Shoes Safety Never Get Lost Again Summary Chapter 3. Map and Compass Maps Compass Map or Compass? Drift Terrain and Ground Summary Chapter 4. Navigational Skills Estimating Distance by Measure and Pace Map Reading Precision Compass Reading Rough Compass Reading Orienting the Map Putting the Skills Together Summary Chapter 5. Techniques Finding Attack Points Aiming Off Collecting Features by Thumbing Along Catching Features Following Handrails Using the Techniques With the Skills Teaching Tips Summary Chapter 6. Processes Orienting the Map Simplifying Selecting the Route Developing Map Memory Relocating Summary Chapter 7. Ethics, Integrity, and Rules Exhibiting Integrity Ethical Assistance to Other Competitors and Environmental Stewardship Ethical Use of Special Equipment Summary Chapter 8. Preparing Before an Event Find an Event Choose a Course Gather Your Equipment Dress Properly Know Your Start Time Pick Up Your Meet Packet View the Finish Location Study the Competition Map Summary Chapter 9. Getting Ready to Start Your Course Study Your Control Description Sheet Fold Your Map Properly Scope the Map Prepare Your Scorecard Teaching Tips Summary Chapter 10. Running the Course At the Start Line On the Course At the Finish Line Record Notes on Your Map After the Event Assess Personal Performance Summary

"Build your orienteering skills quickly using Ferguson and Turbyfill's system, which is sequential, logical, and thorough. Using Discovering Orienteering: Skills, Techniques, and Activities, you'll be ready to head off trail in a matter of days with confidence and enthusiasm."Mary Jo Childs-- Author, Coaching Orienteering, U.S. Orienteering Team Member, 1989 World Orienteering Championships "I have taught the National Park Service's Basic Search and Rescue course with Chuck Ferguson. I highly recommend Discovering Orienteering for improving land navigation skills, whether you are in search and rescue or the military; or you are a park ranger, hiker, or bird watcher; or you just love the outdoors and want to get into the middle of it."Dan Pontbriand-- Retired Chief Park Ranger and Former Chief of Emergency Services, National Park Service "Using these precepts, Coach Ferguson had our team of inexperienced orienteers soaring in an international NATO military competition in Denmark, capturing a long-sought-after first-place novice win. I have long used these skills and techniques in teaching Navy SEALs, so I endorse them fully."Grant Staats-- Commander, Navy SEALs and U.S. Navy Reserve, Team Captain, U.S. CIOR Team "This book provides a great baseline for anyone learning how to navigate and is an excellent complement to current military instruction. Using direct language and often hilarious anecdotes, Chuck has pared down land navigation to its essence, making an outstanding supplement for both beginning students and seasoned operators."Christopher Nelson-- Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Land Navigation Instructor, The Basic School