Rangitīkei tamariki give orienteering a go

Rangitīkei tamariki swapped the classroom for the outdoors as they put their navigation skills to the test at the Give It a Go Orienteering event at Tūtaenui Reserve in Marton.

Held on Tuesday 11 August, the event gave Year 5–8 students an opportunity to build on the introductory orienteering lessons delivered in local schools by the Healthy Active Learning team.

Working in pairs, Year 5 and 6 students tackled a 3.9-kilometre course around the lower dam, while Year 7 and 8 students completed a 5.2-kilometre course that circled both dams. Armed with a map and a sense of adventure, the tamariki navigated the reserve while developing problem-solving skills, teamwork and physical confidence in the outdoors.

Sport Whanganui Healthy Active Learning Rangitīkei Advisor Libby Rayner said it was rewarding to see students applying their learning beyond the school gate.

“We have absolutely loved the time spent in our local schools teaching the tamariki an introductory lesson on orienteering, so it is awesome to see them out here being active in our local environment and running up these hills with maps in their hands and smiles on their faces!”

“The tamariki we have worked with during our in-school orienteering sessions have loved this activity so much. It’s beautiful to now see their whanau and school support them to continue to get involved outside of school hours.”

“Orienteering and Adventure Racing are gaining momentum, and huge numbers of tamariki are involved around various parts of the country. We feel that our local environment creates a beautiful landscape for this activity that can be done individually, in pairs or in teams, so this has been a great opportunity to showcase it to our local schools.”

Last year Sport Whanganui Healthy Active Learning Advisor Margot Bennets visited Active Southland and attended a huge adventure race organised for year 7-10’s.  She was blown away by the number of students that attended, the fun they were having and the skills they were learning by participating in this team event, all in the natural environment.  “Orienteering was the piece missing here in our rohe, so we have started on this adventure racing journey by introducing orienteering to our schools and hope to progress this to adventure racing in the future (including cycling and potentially kayaking as part of the event) as a long term goal”.

By creating opportunities for young people to be active, learn new skills and explore their local surroundings, the event reflects Sport Whanganui’s commitment to activating, connecting and strengthening communities through physical activity and recreation.

Sport Whanganui and the Healthy Active Learning team thank Kym Skerman, Rangitīkei District Council and Visit Rangitīkei for their support in making the event possible.

Tamariki interested in continuing their orienteering journey can take part in the Manawatū Schools Orienteering Individual Championships at Holly Farm, Marton, on Sunday 23 August. The event includes courses for primary through to secondary school students, with starts from 10am. More information and registrations are available through Red Kiwi at redkiwi.org.nz/events/353895.