This month’s community conversation focused on development plans. During the conversation we discussed the purpose of developments and explored how different clubs use their development plans. A number of clubs offered to share their development plans so we could see a wide range of approaches and potentially take some inspiration from other clubs. 

Imagine our sport thriving with lots of young adults swelling our numbers. Can we be more attractive?

We know we have demographic deficit with numbers dropping off in the late teens and not picking up until the 40 plus age group . Orienteering Edinburgh was an attempt to make the sport more attractive to a younger demographic. A trial approach to recruiting younger people into the sport through offering a simplified and united approach from clubs across the city of Edinburgh.

Pride Month is still an important time for progress towards inclusivity and equality. With the rising pushback against equal rights in countries like the USA and UK, many arguments focus on equality in sports. But inclusivity is equally important to many people; AUOC is fortunate enough to be an inclusive club with trans individuals and allies alike.

The Progress Pride Flag

On a club committee or have an interest in ensuring your club has a plan for its future? Tune in to the July Community Conversation where our development conversation will lead a discussion on club development plans. We have two clubs lined up to provide attendees with their experience of using a development plans and how they used them to drive their clubs forward. There will be time for lots of questions.

The session will be held online on Monday 3rd July at 7pm. To sign up please email nikki@scottish-orienteering.org for

After two weeks of delightful weather, it’s almost safe to say that Scottish Summer has arrived! Come rain or shine, the action-packed orienteering calendar continues unabated. Let’s delve into the exciting activities and  achievements that have taken place in and around the sport so far this Summer and get excited for upcoming Summer events. 

The first Friday of June must be a lucky date to hold an event as nobody can remember a year it rained at the annual Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival! This year the event was held at Callendar Park, Falkirk with over 340 pupils attending. The carnival-like atmosphere, good weather and enthusiasm made it a great event. 

Sunbathing before the awards ceremony at the Scottish Schools orienteering festival

The next Trail event in Scotland is during the Moray 23 event. Trail has potential to offer an accessible form of orienteering but does require some previous knowledge to participate effectively.

Forth Valley Juniors claim Jamie Stevenson Trophy for 2023

Scotland’s junior orienteers gathered in Plean Country Park near Stirling yesterday to compete for their club in the Jamie Stevenson Trophy.  The Jamie Stevenson Trophy event is Scotland’s junior inter-club competition and acts as a fund raiser for the Scottish Junior Orienteering Squad (Scotjos).

Feedback from the Club Conference in April showed that clubs want to hear more examples of good practice from within and from outside of the sport. By exchanging knowledge and learning between clubs we can use our resources more effectively. Learnings from outside of the sport can bring in fresh perspectives. 

In light of this, we are delighted to share the Solway Orienteers coaching series. From Solway’s coaching series we can learn how smaller clubs can put on coaching for all levels of experience and engage with new members to join the club. 

Having picked the Jedburgh Race the Abbeys event as the June portion of the Inter-club Championship, we were not expecting Roxburgh Reivers to have organised the weather as well. It was a great weekend of fabulous weather, glorious backdrops to the orienteering round Kelso and Jedburgh and the planners had provided us with some amazing courses which tested how well the brain reacted when an orienteering challenge was combined with the warmth of summer.

After the Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival, the ScotJOS juniors headed off for a weekend of orienteering in the sunshine in Northern Scotland.

Warm up drills in the sunshine