World Orienteering Week

This year, World Orienteering Week will take place between 18th and 26th May 2024. During this time, orienteers around the world will enjoy a week of activity and new people of all ages will be encouraged to try out the sport. We have downloadable resources to help you organise an event so that more people across Scotland can enjoy orienteering than ever before!

What is World Orienteering Week?

World Orienteering Day was started by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) in 2016, to raise the profile and participation in orienteering as a global sport.

It’s now grown to become a week of encouraging people – especially young people – to try or take up orienteering. The aim each year is to break the world record for the number of people participating in orienteering activities globally.

Each year so far, the record has been broken – 250,000 people took part in 2016, 290,000 in 2017, and 360,000 in 2018 and almost 400,000 in 2019. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whatever your experience of orienteering, we encourage everybody – non-members and members, clubs, scout groups, running groups and businesses – to get involved or help organise a wee event on one day in the week.

How you can get involved

If you’re a teacher, group leader or activity organiser:

Look at the list of activities below and choose the one you think is best for your group, and register your event online at worldorienteeringday.com

If you have any questions, contact your local Scottish Orienteering Regional Development Officer. They’ve helped many people – even complete orienteering beginners – to put on events and will be more than happy to help you.

If you’re someone who would like your group to get involved, please point your teacher or group leader towards this web page!

2024 World Orienteering Week Activities

While you can register any orienteering event as a World Orienteering Week activity, here are three we recommend, depending on the age and experience or your group:

“First Steps” Activity – Cone Grids

Perfect as a first step introduction to orienteering for children, this exercise introduces the basic concept of a map and keeping it set (always oriented in the direction you are going)

Download Cone Grids activity guide here

“Next Steps” Activity – Maze Challenge

Great for older youngsters and those looking for a more challenging session which encourages map reading and competition, this activity gives a chance to choose routes and practice keeping the map set.

Download Maze Challenge activity guide here

“Further Steps” Activity – Simple Courses

Setting up a simple course in a park or playground is easier than you think! We can help you make an event for children to practice orienteering, making it a fun and challenging activity more akin to the real sport.