Category: Youth Mapping Program

YMP August Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program August Map of the Month is of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. This map is used in classes for Outdoor Education students and in classes for general Physical Education students. In the future, the university plans to share this map with local ROTC and scout groups.

According to Outdoor Education professor Chris McCart, this map is “user-friendly. It gives credibility to our program.”

Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.

YMP July Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program July Map of the Month is Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, PA. Since this map was made in 2020, it has been used consistently by many teachers across age groups and in varied subjects.

“Several of our class have used it for math classes, and for discovery/history of our campus classes. It can be used by any class, and it’s an asset to every division, K-12. It’s fabulous!”

Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.

YMP April Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program April Map of the Month is Lexington Montessori School in Lexington, MA. This map was created in 2021 and is still being used extensively!

This course was first used for an 11-week orienteering course for middle school students, and has since been used for a shorter Intro to Orienteering course for younger students, to teach general map skills, to map noteworthy trees for an outdoor education project, and even to map sugar maples for tapping!

“We love being able to use the woods and fields in a more deliberate way. It adds visual-spatial learning to the outdoor experience and gives us a new purpose for outdoor activities.”

Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.

YMP March Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program March Map of the Month is MetroWest YMCA Outdoor Center in Hopkinton, MA. This map was created in 2021 and is still being used extensively!

The YMCA’s summer camps introduce as many as 650 youth per day to orienteering. They also use the map for hiking, geocaching, and to teach basic map-reading skills. In addition to their own programming, MetroWest YMCA has partnered with local scout troops to utilize their orienteering course and with the New England Orienteering Club, who use the space for their large annual Intro to Orienteering event!

“It has certainly been a huge asset that greatly benefits our ability to serve the community and engage youth into outdoor education,” said Adventure and Outdoor Ed Director Tyler Reynolds.

Have you received a map from OUSA’s Youth Mapping Program? We want to hear how you’re using it! Let us know here.

YMP February Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program February Map of the Month is Santiago High School in Corona, CA. The school’s AFJROTC (Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program uses this map to train Orienteering Team members, for school competitions, and as part of an orienteering lesson aligned with California Common Core State Standards. According to Senior Aerospace Science Instructor Michael H. Manney, the best part of having the map is that it “allows students to be introduced and practically practice orienteering on an approved OUSA course map.”

The map above includes controls added by Santiago High School for their orienteering lesson.

Have you received a map from OUSA’s Youth Mapping Program? We want to hear how you’re using it! Let us know here.

YMP January Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program January Map of the Month feature is Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville, CA. After successfully teaching his fifth-grade students orienteering skills using a YMP-made map at his school, local teacher Danny Lulla wanted to expand his course options by utilizing the historic area surrounding the school, Wakamatsu Farm. Danny worked with the landowner, the American River Conservancy, who include orienteering classes as part of their environmental education program.

Between Danny’s students and the American River Conservancy’s classes, hundreds of young people have been introduced to orienteering and learned valuable navigation skills using this course. According to Danny, the best outcome of having this map is “getting students outdoors and working with maps in a cooperative and fun environment.”

Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.

YMP December Map of the Month

The Youth Mapping Program December Map of the Month feature is Sprague Woods School Forest in Caledonia, MN. This city park was recently dedicated as a school forest and remains open to the public, but school groups are especially encouraged to use the space. Teacher Robbie Sobczak, who provided eye-on-the-ground support for this map, plans to use the map to introduce his 9th-grade Geography class to the sport of orienteering.

Are you interested in flexing your cartography skills and joining the growing team of YMP mappers?  Sign up here.  Note: Mappers for the YMP are remote cartographers with field checking performed by persons from the recipient organization collaborating with you remotely, with support from the core YMP consultant.

April OUSA Forum: Youth Mapping Program

Please join us this Thursday, April 11th, for a presentation and discussion about Orienteering USA’s Youth Mapping Program (YMP).

The presentation will take place on Google Meet at 8:30pm EDT and can be accessed at: https://meet.google.com/ama-bpex-yrv

Our goals are to introduce orienteering to as many youth as possible, to develop orienteering mappers, and to create small teaching maps to start new orienteering programs in schools and other youth-serving organizations. We aim to support the first 3 of the 4 elements of OUSA’s mission.

Who should attend:

  • Aspiring map-makers, interested in being able to make your own maps for training with friends or for your club, the YMP can provide mentorship. 
  • Small clubs without resources to adequately respond to queries from local schools.
  • Larger clubs looking to form connections with local educators.
  • Orienteers who want to see our sport thrive.

You can learn more about the YMP on the OUSA website: https://orienteeringusa.org/resources/ymp/