The Youth Mapping Program September Map of the Month is Auburndale Park in Newton, MA. This map was created in 2020 for use in youth and adult orienteering classes.
“I learned so much from this process that it helped me better understand orienteering…The more people orienteering, the better!” said Recreation Manager Channon Ames.
Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.
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.
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.
The Youth Mapping Program June Map of the Month is Fisher Hill Reservoir Park in Brookline, MA. This map was created in 2024 to teach students to identify landmarks and properly orient themselves, which has led to planning future orienteering activities!
Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.
The Youth Mapping Program May Map of the Month is Abrams Park in Ridgefield, WA.
This map was created for the city of Ridgefield. Since then, the city has hosted orienteering events and Boy Scout trainings in the park, and even installed a permanent orienteering course!
Interested in having a map made of your school? Learn more about the program and apply here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
